These Rules are the Telecommunications Cabling Provider Rules 2000.

These Rules commence on 3 October 2000.

1.3 Definitions

In these Rules:

Act means the Telecommunications Act 1997.

approved form means a form approved by the ACA under section 1.4.

cabling provider means an individual who performs or supervises cabling work.

cabling work has the meaning given in section 418 of the Act.

Labelling Notice means:

(a) the Telecommunications Labelling (Customer Equipment and Cabling) Notice 1997 as amended from time to time; or

(b) a Notice made in substitution for that Notice.

lift cabling work has the meaning given by section 2.4.

open cabling work has the meaning given by section 2.2.

registered cabling provider has the meaning given by subsection 3.1 (8).

registration system means the system operated for subsection 3.1 (1).

restricted cabling work has the meaning given by section 2.3.

unregistered cabling provider has the meaning given by subsection 4.1 (2).

Wiring Rules means the Australian Standard – Installation Requirements for Customer Cabling (Wiring Rules) (AS/ACIF S009:2001), as in force from time to time.

1.4 Approval of forms

The ACA may approve, in writing, forms that must or may be used for the purpose of complying with these Rules.

Examples of forms

1 Forms for registration under the registration system mentioned in subsections 3.1 (2) and (3).

2 A certificate for the purposes of section 4.5.

1.5 Application of the Rules

(1) These Rules apply to every individual who wishes:

(a) to perform the type of cabling work specified in Part 2; or

(b) to supervise the performance of any type of cabling work that is specified in Part 2.

(2) However, if an individual held a cabling licence immediately before the commencement of these Rules:

(a) Part 6 applies to the individual until that licence ceases to be in force; and

(b) a rule that does not apply to the individual, because of Part 6, applies to the individual after that time.

Part 2 Cabling work

2.1 Types

These Rules apply to 3 types of cabling work:

(a) open cabling work; and

(b) restricted cabling work; and

2.2 Open cabling work

Open cabling work is any type of cabling work (including aerial or underground cabling work on private or public property) in which the customer cabling that is used terminates directly at the network boundary on a socket, a network termination device or a distributor.

Examples of distributors

1 Building Distributor (formerly known as a Main Distribution Frame).

2 Campus Distributor.

2.3 Restricted cabling work

(1) Cabling work (including aerial or underground cabling work on private property):

(a) performed only in relation to a customer’s premises in which the electrical supply voltage does not exceed typical domestic single-phase and three-phase electrical supply voltages; and

(b) in which the customer cabling that is used terminates directly at the network boundary on a socket or network termination device —

is restricted cabling work.

Note 1 Domestic single-phase and three-phase electrical supply voltages are nominally 240 and 415 V a.c. (Volts Alternating Current) respectively.

Note 2 Section 4.6 sets out requirements that must be met if a cabling provider is performing restricted cabling work that relates to aerial cabling.

(2) Cabling work in which cabling is connected to customer equipment that complies with:

(a) the Act; and

(b) the requirements of the Labelling Notice —

is restricted cabling work.

(3) However, subsection (2) does not apply to cabling work:

(a) performed between the customer equipment and any of the following distributors, and terminating at the distributor:

(i) a Building Distributor;

(ii) a Campus Distributor;

(iii) a Local Distributor;

(iv) a Floor Distributor;

(v) a System Distribution Frame;

(vi) a Test Point Frame; or

(b) involving the use of a reticulated power voltage in a building that exceeds:

(i) 240 V a.c. for single-phase electrical supply; or

(ii) 415 V a.c. for three-phase electrical supply; or

(d) performed between customer equipment and a patch panel, and terminating at the patch panel.

Examples of restricted cabling work for subsections (2) and (3)

1 Cabling work connected behind an alarm panel or modem.

2 Cabling work connected directly behind a Customer Switching System (but not via a jumperable distributor or frame).

3 Cabling work for additional phone points (other than the first point) in a commercial, high rise or multi-storey building, if the service involved is a standard telephone service.

2.4 Lift cabling work

Lift cabling work is cabling work:

(a) that is performed in relation to a lift that has been installed, or is to be installed; and

(b) in relation to which the customer cabling that is used connects:

(i) a cross connection point adjacent to the lift motor room; and

(ii) the lift control cubicle within the lift motor room; and

(iii) the lift cars.

Examples of cross connection points

1 The Floor Distributor (formerly known as the Intermediate Distribution Frame).

2 The Local Distributor (formerly known as the Final Distribution Point).

3 Another suitable cable termination point adjacent to the lift motor room.

Part 3 Registration

3.1 Arrangements for registration

(1) The ACA must make arrangements for the operation of a system for the registration of cabling providers (the registration system).

(2) The registration system must include the following matters:

(a) the publication of competency requirements with which a cabling provider must have evidence of compliance before being eligible for registration;

(b) the registration, by a registrar, of cabling providers who comply with those requirements;

(i) who do not comply with the competency requirements; and

(ii) to whom the transitional arrangements in section 6.2 apply.

(3) The registration system may also include some or all of the following matters:

(a) requirements for the conduct of the registrars;

(b) conditions to which registration may be subject;

(d) arrangements for the auditing of cabling work;

(e) arrangements for the auditing of registration documents;

(f) arrangements, consistent with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Information Privacy Principles, for the protection of information given to a registrar.

(4) For paragraph (2) (a), a cabling provider is taken to comply with the competency requirements if the provider declares to a registrar that the provider holds a copy of at least 1 of the following documents:

(a) a current cabling provider licence;

(b) written certification from a registered training organisation that the provider has completed a training course that complies with the competency requirements;

Note Upon registration, a provider will receive proof of registration from their registrar. The precise form of the proof of registration is a matter for the particular registrar, but it will usually be a registration card, and in some cases a written certificate.

(5) The registration system may:

(a) authorise the publication of competency requirements for:

(i) different types of individual; and

(ii) the different types of cabling work mentioned in Part 2; and

(b) include other arrangements relating to the performance or supervision of cabling work.

(6) The ACA:

(a) may operate the registration system itself; or

(b) engage 1 or more persons to:

(i) operate the registration system, or

(ii) act as registrars; and

(b) is not required to act as a registrar.

(7) The ACA must not engage a person to operate the registration system or act as a registrar unless the ACA has accredited the person in accordance with accreditation procedures made and published by the ACA.

(8) A cabling provider who is registered under the registration system is a registered cabling provider for the cabling work to which the registration relates.

3.2 Information given by registered cabling providers

(1) A registered cabling provider must inform a registrar of any change to the information for contacting the provider that is held by the registrar.

(2) The cabling provider must comply with subsection (1) within 21 days after the change happens.

3.3 Registrar no longer accredited — consequences for registered cabling providers

(1) This section applies if, for any reason, a registrar ceases to be an accredited registrar.

(2) A registered cabling provider whose registration is in force, and who gained registration through a registrar before that registrar ceased to be accredited, is taken to remain registered until the earliest of:

(a) the end of a period specified by the ACA; and

(b) the date on which the cabling provider’s registration ceases to apply.

Part 4 Performance of cabling work

4.1 Performance of cabling work

(1) Cabling work of any of the types mentioned in Part 2 must be performed by:

(a) a registered cabling provider; or

(b) an individual mentioned in subsection (2).

(2) An individual who is not a registered cabling provider (an unregistered cabling provider) may perform cabling work only if the individual is directly supervised, at all times while performing cabling work, by a registered cabling provider.

4.2 Standard of cabling work

Cabling work of any of the types mentioned in Part 2 must be performed, and supervised, in accordance with:

(a) the competency requirements mentioned in paragraph 3.1 (2) (a); and

(b) the Wiring Rules.

4.3 Cabling and customer equipment

A cabling provider may install and use cable and customer equipment only if it complies with the requirements of the Labelling Notice.

4.4 Supervision of unregistered cabling provider

If a registered cabling provider supervises an unregistered cabling provider, the registered cabling provider must ensure that:

(a) the unregistered cabling provider is directly supervised, at all times while performing cabling work, by a registered cabling provider; and

(b) each registered cabling provider who supervises that cabling work accepts full responsibility for the standard of the work performed under the provider’s supervision; and

(i) the competency requirements mentioned in paragraph 3.1 (2) (a); and

(ii) the Wiring Rules.

4.5 Certification of cabling work

(1) This section applies whenever a cabling provider finishes any cabling work (including a discrete part of a cabling project).

(2) The cabling provider who performed the cabling work must:

(a) prepare a statement that identifies the cabling work, and states that the cabling work:

(i) has been completed; and

(ii) complies fully with the Wiring Rules; and

(b) give the statement to:

(i) the cabling provider’s employer; or

(ii) if the cabling provider has been engaged to perform the cabling work through a person other than an employer — that person; or

(iii) in any other case — the customer who engaged the cabling provider to perform the cabling work.

(3) The statement may be prepared:

(a) in an approved form; or

(b) as an attachment to, or an entry on, an invoice or receipt that relates to the cabling work.

(4) The statement may show whether the cabling work was performed by the cabling provider:

(a) on the cabling provider’s own behalf; or

(b) as an employee; or

(5) If the cabling provider who performed the cabling work gives the statement to a person mentioned in subparagraph (2) (b) (i) or (ii), that person must give the statement to the customer who asked for the cabling work to be performed.

(6) A cabling provider who prepares a statement mentioned in subsection (2) must:

(a) keep a copy of the statement for at least 1 year after preparing it; and

(b) make the copy available, on reasonable request, to:

(i) the ACA and its inspectors; or

(ii) an auditor authorised by the ACA to inspect the copy for the purpose of monitoring compliance with the Rules.

4.6 Additional requirements relating to the performance of restricted cabling work

If a cabling provider is performing restricted cabling work that relates to aerial cabling, the cabling provider must not use poles that are used, or are available for use, on the property for the distribution of electricity.

Part 5 Relationship with the ACA

5.1 Assistance to the ACA

A cabling provider must give all reasonable cooperation and assistance to:

(a) the ACA and its inspectors; and

(b) auditors authorised by the ACA for the purpose of monitoring compliance with these Rules.

Part 6 Transitional

6.1 Holders of cabling licences in force immediately before commencement of registration system

(1) This Part applies to an individual who held a cabling licence (the current licence) immediately before the commencement of these Rules.

Note See section 3.1.

(2) Parts 2, 4 and 5 of these Rules do not apply to the individual until the earliest of:

(a) the expiration of the individual’s current licence; and

(b) the individual’s registration under the registration system; and

(3) Part 3 of these Rules applies to an individual mentioned in subsection (1) who applies for registration under the registration system under Part 3 before the expiration of the individual’s current licence.

6.2 Transitional registration arrangements for persons working in the fire, security and computer industries

(1) This section applies to an individual who, before the commencement of these Rules, performed cabling work (the current work) that relates only to the provision of 1 or more of the following services where the service has been connected to a device that complies with the requirements of the Labelling Notice:

(a) a security alarm service;

(b) a fire alarm service;

Note The device referred to in this subsection is typically an alarm panel or a modem.

(2) The individual:

(a) is permitted to perform the current work after these Rules commence, in accordance with this section; but

(b) must apply for registration not later than 6 months after these Rules commence.

(3) If the individual does not apply for registration in accordance with paragraph (2) (b), the individual is not permitted to perform the current work after the end of 6 months after these Rules commence.

(4) If the individual applies for registration in accordance with paragraph (2) (b), and complies with the competency requirements:

(a) the individual must be registered in the way mentioned in paragraph 3.1 (2) (b); and

(b) this section ceases to apply to the individual after the individual has been registered.

(5) If the individual applies for registration in accordance with paragraph (2) (b), but does not comply with the competency requirements:

(a) the individual must be registered (the transitional registration) in a way that shows that the registration is not the same as a registration mentioned in paragraph 3.1 (2) (b); and

(b) the transitional registration authorises only the performance of the current work; and

(i) starting when the individual is registered; and

(ii) ending 3 years after these Rules commence; and

(d) subject to subsection (6), this section ceases to apply to the individual at the earliest of:

(i) registration of the kind mentioned in paragraph (6) (a); and

(ii) the end of the 3 year period mentioned in subparagraph (c) (ii); and

(iii) the time when the individual’s transitional registration ceases to be in force.

Note See paragraph 3.1 (2) (c).

(6) If an individual who is registered for subsection (5) subsequently applies for registration in the way mentioned in paragraph 3.1 (2) (b) before the end of the period of 3 years starting when these Rules commence, and complies with the competency requirements:

(a) the individual must be registered; and

(b) that registration replaces the transitional registration; and

(7) An individual whose transitional registration is in force may apply for renewal of the transitional registration before the end of the period of registration.

(8) A registrar:

(a) must consider an application for renewal of transitional registration as if it were an application for registration in accordance with paragraph (2) (b); but

(b) must not renew a transitional registration in a way that gives transitional registration after the period of 3 years mentioned in subparagraph (5) (c) (ii).

Note This section does not relate to cabling work between the device that complies with the requirements of the Labelling Notice and the network boundary.

Title	Date of notification in Gazette	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Telecommunications Cabling Provider Rules 2000	3 Oct 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S527)	3 Oct 2000
Telecommunications Cabling Provider Amendment Rules 2001 (No. 1)	30 Mar 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S108)	30 Mar 2001	—
Telecommunications Cabling Provider Amendment Rules 2001 (No. 2)	21 Dec 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S520)	21 Dec 2001	—
Telecommunications Cabling Provider Amendment Rules 2002 (No. 1)	18 Dec 2002 (see Gazette 2002, No. GN50)	18 Dec 2002	—

ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
S. 1.3................	am. 2001 No. 2; 2002 No. 1
Part 2
Example 1 to s. 2.2......	am. 2001 No. 1
S. 2.3................	rs. 2001 No. 1
Part 6
Heading to s. 6.2........	rs. 2001 No. 1
S. 6.2................	am. 2001 No. 1