Australian Government

Federal Register of Legislation

Telecommunications Act 1997

In force

Administered by

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Superseded version

View latest version

C2014C00717

17 October 2014 - 24 March 2015

Table of contents

Part 1—Introduction
- 1 Short title
- 2 Commencement
- 3 Objects
- 4 Regulatory policy
- 5 Simplified outline
- 6 Main index
- 7 Definitions
- 8 Crown to be bound
- 9 Extra territorial application
- 10 Extension to external Territories
- 11 Extension to offshore areas
- 11A Application of the Criminal Code
- 12 Act subject to Radiocommunications Act
- 13 Continuity of partnerships
- 14 Controlled carriage services, controlled networks and controlled facilities
- 15 Content service
- 16 Listed carriage services
- 18 Access to an emergency call service
- 19 Recognised person who operates an emergency call service
- 20 Customer cabling
- 21 Customer equipment
- 22 Customer cabling and customer equipment—boundary of a telecommunications network
- 23 Immediate circle
- 24 Extended meaning of use
Part 2—Network units
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 25 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Basic definition
- 26 Single line links connecting distinct places in Australia
- 27 Multiple line links connecting distinct places in Australia
- 28 Designated radiocommunications facility
- 29 Facilities specified in Ministerial determination
- Division 3—Related definitions
- 30 Line links
- 31 Designated radiocommunications facility
- 32 Public mobile telecommunications service
- 33 Intercell hand over functions
- 34 When a base station is part of a terrestrial radiocommunications customer access network
- 35 Fixed radiocommunications link
- Division 4—Distinct places
- 36 Distinct places—basic rules
- 37 Properties
- 38 Combined areas
- 39 Principal user of a property
- 40 Eligible combined areas
Part 3—Carriers
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 41 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Prohibitions relating to carriers
- Division 3—Carrier licences
- Division 4—Nominated carrier declarations
- Division 5—Register of nominated carrier declarations and carrier licences
  - 84 Register of nominated carrier declarations and carrier licences
Part 4—Service providers
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 85 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Service providers
  - 86 Service providers
- Division 3—Carriage service providers
- Division 4—Content service providers
  - 97 Content service providers
- Division 5—Service provider rules
Part 5—Monitoring of the performance of carriers and carriage service providers
- 104 Simplified outline
- 105 Monitoring of performance—annual report
- 105A Monitoring of performance—additional report
- 105C Monitoring of breaches by Telstra of an undertaking about structural separation
Part 6—Industry codes and industry standards
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 106 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Interpretation
- Division 3—General principles relating to industry codes and industry standards
- Division 4—Industry codes
- Division 5—Industry standards
- Division 6—Register of industry codes and industry standards
  - 136 ACMA to maintain Register of industry codes and industry standards
- Division 6A—Reimbursement of costs of development or variation of consumer related industry codes
- Division 7—Miscellaneous
Part 7—Layer 2 bitstream services
- 140 Simplified outline
- 141 Supply of Layer 2 bitstream services
- 141A Exemptions
- 141B Deemed networks
- 141C Certain installations and connections are not taken to be an extension, alteration or upgrade
- 141D Local access line
- 141E Alteration
- 141F Upgrade of telecommunications network
- 141G Small business customer
Part 8—Superfast fixed line networks
- Division 1—Introduction
  - 142 Simplified outline
  - 142A Definitions
- Division 2—Supply of eligible services to be on wholesale basis
- Division 3—Other provisions
Part 13—Protection of communications
- Division 1—Introduction
  - 270 Simplified outline
  - 271 Eligible person
  - 272 Number database operator and eligible number database person
  - 273 Information
  - 274 Telecommunications contractor
  - 275 Number database contractor
  - 275A Location information
  - 275B Emergency management person
  - 275C Emergency
  - 275D Emergency law
  - 275E Relevant information
- Division 2—Primary disclosure/use offences
  - 276 Primary disclosure/use offence—eligible persons
  - 277 Primary disclosure/use offence—eligible number database persons
  - 278 Primary disclosure/use offence—emergency call persons
- Division 3—Exceptions to primary disclosure/use offences
  - Subdivision A—Exceptions
  - Subdivision B—Burden of proof
  - 295 Burden of proof
- Division 3A—Integrated public number database authorisations
- Subdivision A—ACMA scheme for the granting of authorisations
  - 295A ACMA to make integrated public number database scheme
  - 295B Scheme must deal with certain matters
  - 295C Applications may be treated differently
  - 295D Scope of authorisations
  - 295E Provisional and final authorisations
  - 295F Conditions
  - 295G Varying or revoking authorisations
  - 295H Scheme may confer administrative powers on the ACMA
  - 295J Ancillary or incidental provisions
  - 295K Scheme making power not limited
  - 295L Variation of scheme
  - 295M Consultation
- Subdivision B—Ministerial instruments
  - 295N Criteria for deciding authorisation applications
  - 295P Conditions
  - 295Q Other reviewable decisions
- Subdivision C—Enforcing compliance with conditions of authorisations
  - 295R Offence of breaching a condition
  - 295S Remedial directions for breaching a condition
  - 295T Formal warnings for breaching a condition
- Subdivision D—Report to Minister
  - 295U Report to Minister
- Division 3B—Emergency warnings
- 295V Use or disclosure of information by emergency management persons
- 295W Use or disclosure of information by other persons
- 295X Effect on telecommunications network
- 295Y Coronial and other inquiries
- 295Z Offence—use or disclosure of information by emergency management persons
- 295ZA Offence—use or disclosure of information by other persons
- 295ZB Reports of access
- 295ZC Annual reports to the ACMA and Information Commissioner
- 295ZD Arrangements with States and Territories
- 295ZE Commonwealth immunity
- Division 4—Secondary disclosure/use offences
- 296 Performance of person’s duties
- 297 Authorisation by or under law
- 299 Assisting the ACMA, the ACCC, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman or TUSMA
- 299A Integrated public number database
- 300 Threat to person’s life or health
- 301 Communications for maritime purposes
- 302 Business needs of other carriers or service providers
- 302A Location dependent carriage services
- 303 Secondary offence—contravening this Division
- 303A Generality of Division not limited
- Division 4A—Relationship with the Privacy Act 1988
- 303B Acts taken to be authorised by this Act for purposes of Privacy Act
- 303C Prosecution of an offence against this Part does not affect proceedings under the Privacy Act 1988
- Division 5—Record keeping requirements
- 304 Associate
- 305 Authorisations under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979
- 306 Record of disclosures—general
- 306A Record of disclosures—prospective authorisation under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979
- 307 Incorrect records
- 308 Annual reports to the ACMA by carriers, carriage service providers or number database operators
- 309 Monitoring by the Information Commissioner
- Division 6—Instrument making powers not limited
- 310 Instrument making powers not limited
Part 14—National interest matters
- 311 Simplified outline
- 312 ACMA’s obligations
- 313 Obligations of carriers and carriage service providers
- 314 Terms and conditions on which help is to be given
- 315 Suspension of supply of carriage service in an emergency
- 316 Generality of Part not limited
Part 16—Defence requirements and disaster plans
- Division 1—Introduction
  - 333 Simplified outline
  - 334 Defence authority
- Division 2—Supply of carriage services
  - 335 Requirement to supply carriage services for defence purposes or for the management of natural disasters
- Division 3—Defence planning
- Division 4—Disaster plans
- Division 5—Delegation
  - 347 Delegation
Part 17—Pre selection in favour of carriage service providers
- 348 Simplified outline
- 349 Requirement to provide pre selection
- 350 When pre selection is provided in favour of a carriage service provider
- 350A Declared carriage services
- 351 Pre selection to be provided
- 352 Exemptions from requirement to provide pre selection
- 353 Use of over ride dial codes
Part 18—Calling line identification
- 354 Simplified outline
- 355 Calling line identification
- 356 Exemptions from calling line identification requirement
Part 20—International aspects of activities of the telecommunications industry
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 364 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Compliance with international agreements
  - 365 INTELSAT and Inmarsat—directions to Signatories
  - 366 Compliance with conventions
- Division 3—Rules of conduct about dealings with international telecommunications operators
Part 20A—Deployment of optical fibre etc.
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 372A Simplified outline
- Division 2—Deployment of optical fibre lines
- Division 3—Installation of fibre ready facilities
- Division 4—Third party access regime
- Division 5—Exemption of certain projects
  - 372P Exemption of certain projects
- Division 6—Miscellaneous
Part 21—Technical regulation
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 373 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Interpretative provisions
  - 374 Part applies to networks or facilities in Australia operated by carriers or carriage service providers
  - 375 Manager of network or facility
- Division 3—Technical standards about customer equipment and customer cabling
- Division 4—Disability standards
- Division 5—Technical standards about the interconnection of facilities
- Division 5A—Technical standards relating to Layer 2 bitstream services
  - 389A ACMA’s power to determine technical standards
  - 389B Compliance with technical standards
- Division 6—Connection permits and connection rules
  - Subdivision A—Connection permits authorising the connection of non standard customer equipment and non standard cabling
  - Subdivision B—Connection rules
    - 404 Connection rules
    - 405 Procedures for making connection rules
- Division 7—Labelling of customer equipment and customer cabling
- Division 8—Protected symbols
  - 417 Protected symbols
- Division 9—Cabling providers
- Division 10—Remedies for unauthorised connections to telecommunications networks etc.
- Division 11—Prohibited customer equipment and prohibited customer cabling
  - 450 Declaration of prohibited customer equipment or prohibited customer cabling
  - 452 Operation of prohibited customer equipment or customer cabling
- Division 12—Pre commencement labels
  - 453 Pre commencement labels
- Division 13—Penalties payable instead of prosecution
  - 453A Penalties payable instead of prosecution
Part 22—Numbering of carriage services and regulation of electronic addressing
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 454 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Numbering of carriage services
- Division 3—Regulation of electronic addressing
Part 23—Standard agreements for the supply of carriage services
- 478 Simplified outline
- 479 Standard terms and conditions apply unless excluded
- 482 Concurrent operation of State/Territory laws
- 483 Competition and Consumer Act not affected by this Part
Part 24—Carriers’ powers and immunities
- 484 Schedule 3
Part 24A—Submarine cables
- 484A Schedule 3A
Part 25—Public inquiries
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 485 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Inquiries by the ACMA
- Division 3—Inquiries by the ACCC
Part 26—Investigations
- 507 Simplified outline
- 508 Matters to which this Part applies
- 509 Complaints to the ACMA
- 510 Investigations by the ACMA
- 511 Preliminary inquiries
- 512 Conduct of investigations
- 513 Complainant and certain other persons to be informed of various matters
- 514 Reference of matters to Ombudsman or other responsible person
- 515 Reference of matters to the ACCC
- 515A Reference of matters to Information Commissioner
- 516 Reports on investigations
- 517 Publication of reports
- 518 Person adversely affected by report to be given opportunity to comment
- 519 Protection from civil actions
Part 27—The ACMA’s information gathering powers
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 520 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Information gathering powers
- Division 3—Record keeping rules
Part 28—Enforcement
- Division 1—Introduction
  - 532 Simplified outline
  - 532A References to the Spam Act 2003
- Division 2—Inspectors and identity cards
  - 533 Inspectors
  - 534 Identity cards
- Division 3—Search warrants relating to breaches of the Spam Act 2003 or Part 21 of this Act
- Division 4—Searches and seizures relating to breaches of the Spam Act 2003 or Part 21 of this Act
- Division 5—Searches to monitor compliance with Part 21
  - 547 Searches to monitor compliance with Part 21
- Division 5A—Searches to monitor compliance with the Spam Act 2003
- Division 5B—Access to computer data that is relevant to the Spam Act 2003
  - 547J Access to computer data that is relevant to the Spam Act 2003
- Division 6—Other powers of inspectors
- Division 7—Forfeiture
  - 551 Court may order forfeiture
  - 552 Forfeited goods may be sold
- Division 8—Future offences
  - 553 Offences that are going to be committed
Part 29—Review of decisions
- 554 Simplified outline
- 555 Decisions that may be subject to reconsideration by the ACMA
- 556 Deadlines for reaching certain decisions
- 557 Statements to accompany notification of decisions
- 558 Applications for reconsideration of decisions
- 559 Reconsideration by the ACMA
- 560 Deadlines for reconsiderations
- 561 Statements to accompany notification of decisions on reconsideration
- 562 Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Part 30—Injunctions
- 563 Simplified outline
- 564 Injunctions
- 565 Interim injunctions
- 566 Discharge etc. of injunctions
- 567 Certain limits on granting injunctions not to apply
- 568 Other powers of the court unaffected
Part 31—Civil penalties
- 569 Simplified outline
- 570 Pecuniary penalties for contravention of civil penalty provisions
- 571 Civil action for recovery of pecuniary penalties
- 572 Criminal proceedings not to be brought for contravention of civil penalty provisions
Part 31A—Enforceable undertakings
- 572A Simplified outline
- 572B Acceptance of undertakings
- 572C Enforcement of undertakings
Part 31B—Infringement notices for contraventions of civil penalty provisions
- 572D Simplified outline
- 572E When an infringement notice can be given
- 572F Matters to be included in an infringement notice
- 572G Amount of penalty
- 572H Withdrawal of an infringement notice
- 572J What happens if the penalty is paid
- 572K Effect of this Part on civil proceedings
- 572L Appointment of authorised infringement notice officer
- 572M Guidelines relating to infringement notices
- 572N Regulations
Part 32—Vicarious liability
- 573 Simplified outline
- 574 Proceedings under this Act
- 574A Definition
- 575 Liability of corporations
- 576 Liability of persons other than corporations
Part 33—Voluntary undertakings given by Telstra
- Division 1—Introduction
  - 577 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Structural separation
  - Subdivision A—Undertaking about structural separation
  - Subdivision B—Migration plan
- Division 3—Hybrid fibre coaxial networks
- Division 4—Subscription television broadcasting licences
- Division 5—Enforcement of undertakings
  - 577G Enforcement of undertakings
- Division 6—Limits on allocation of spectrum licences etc.
- Division 7—Other provisions
Part 34—Special provisions relating to functions and powers of the ACMA and the Attorney General in respect of telecommunications
- 579 Simplified outline
- 580 ACMA must have regard to conventions
- 581 Power to give directions to carriers and service providers
Part 35—Miscellaneous
- 582 Simplified outline
- 583 Penalties for certain continuing offences
- 584 Procedure relating to certain continuing offences
- 585 Treatment of partnerships
- 586 Giving of documents to partnerships
- 587 Nomination of address for service of documents
- 588 Service of summons or process on foreign corporations—criminal proceedings
- 589 Instruments under this Act may provide for matters by reference to other instruments
- 590 Arbitration—acquisition of property
- 591 Compensation—constitutional safety net
- 592 Act not to affect performance of State or Territory functions
- 593 Funding of consumer representation, and of research, in relation to telecommunications
- 594 Regulations
Schedule 1—Standard carrier licence conditions
- Part 1—Compliance with this Act
  - 1 Compliance with this Act
- Part 3—Access to supplementary facilities
- Part 4—Access to network information
- Part 5—Access to telecommunications transmission towers and to underground facilities
- Part 6—Inspection of facilities etc.
- Part 7—Any to any connectivity
- Part 9—Functional separation of Telstra
  - Division 1—Introduction
  - Division 2—Functional separation undertaking
- Part 10—Control and use by Telstra of certain spectrum licences
Schedule 2—Standard service provider rules
- Part 1—Compliance with this Act
  - 1 Compliance with this Act
- Part 2—Operator services
- Part 3—Directory assistance services
- Part 4—Integrated public number database
- Part 5—Itemised billing
- Part 6—Priority assistance
Schedule 3—Carriers’ powers and immunities
- Part 1—General provisions
- Part 2—Transitional provisions
  - 60 Existing buildings, structures and facilities—application of State and Territory laws
  - 61 Existing buildings, structures and facilities—application of the common law
- Part 3—Compensation for acquisition of property
  - 62 Compensation for acquisition of property
  - 63 Application of this Part
Schedule 3A—Protection of submarine cables
- Part 1—Preliminary
- Part 2—Protection zones
- Part 3—Permits to install submarine cables
- Division 1—Simplified outline
  - 50 Simplified outline
- Division 2—Protection zone installation permits
- Division 3—Non protection zone installation permits
- Division 4—Conditions applicable to the installation of submarine cables
- Division 5—Offences in relation to installation of submarine cables
- Part 4—Compensation
- 87 Compensation
- 88 Compensation for acquisition of property
- Part 5—Miscellaneous
- 89 Delegation by the Secretary of the Attorney General’s Department
Schedule 4—Reviewable decisions of the ACMA
- Part 1—Decisions that may be subject to reconsideration by the ACMA
  - 1 Reviewable decisions of the ACMA
- Part 2—Decisions to which section 556 does not apply
  - 2 Decisions to which section 556 does not apply
- Endnotes