Telecommunications Act 1997

In force

Administered by

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

Superseded version

View latest version

C2016C00845 (C84)

01 July 2016 - 22 June 2017

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 or the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
- 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 conventions and directions
- 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

Telecommunications Act 1997

Legislation text