Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

TELECOMMUNICATIONS (CONSUMER PROTECTION AND SERVICE STANDARDS) ACT 1999

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Short title [see Note 1]  
   2.      Commencement [see Note 1]  
   3.      Objects and regulatory policy  
   4.      Simplified outline  
   5.      Definitions  
   6.      Standard telephone service  
   7.      Application of this Act  
   7A.     Application of the Criminal Code  

   PART 2--UNIVERSAL SERVICE REGIME

           Division 1--Introduction

   8.      Simplified outline  
   8A.     Objects  
   8B.     Special meaning of Australia  
   8C.     Meaning of service area  
   8D.     Meaning of claim period  
   8E.     Meaning of alternative telecommunications services, or ATS  
   8F.     Meaning of approved auditor  
   8G.     Meaning of disability  

           Division 2--Universal service obligation

              Subdivision A--What is the universal service obligation

   9.      Universal service obligation  
   9A.     Determinations of what is necessary to ensure reasonable accessibility  
   9B.     What is a service obligation?  
   9C.     Payphones  
   9D.     Prescribed carriage services  
   9E.     Supply of standard telephone services  
   9F.     Supply of prescribed carriage services  

              Subdivision B--Universal service areas

   9G.     Universal service areas  
   9H.     Effect of determination  
   9J.     Transitional arrangements may be determined  

           Division 3--Digital data service obligation

              Subdivision A--What is the digital data service obligation

   10.     Digital data service obligation  
   10A.    General digital data service obligation  
   10B.    Special digital data service obligation  
   10C.    Supply of customer equipment or other goods or services  
   10D.    Rebate system  
   10E.    Digital data services  
   10F.    Supply of general digital data services  
   10G.    Supply of special digital data services  

              Subdivision B--Digital data service areas

   10H.    General digital data service areas  
   10J.    Special digital data service areas  

           Division 4--The arrangements for fulfilling the universal service obligation

   11.     The arrangements that apply to universal service areas  
   11A.    Universal service providers  
   11B.    Former universal service provider may be required to provide information to current universal service provider  
   11C.    Determination of contestable service obligation  
   11D.    Effect of determination  
   11E.    Transitional arrangements may be determined  
   11F.    Section 11C temporarily limited to pilot areas  

           Division 5--The default arrangements

              Subdivision A--What are the default arrangements

   12.     The default arrangements  

              Subdivision B--Primary universal service providers

   12A.    Determination of primary universal service providers  
   12B.    Effect of determination  
   12C.    Obligations of primary universal service providers  
   12D.    Transitional: when Telstra is taken to be a primary universal service provider  
   12E.    Effect of certain agreements under the Telstra Corporation Act 1991  
   12EA.   Exclusive access to universal service subsidy  

              Subdivision C--Policy statements and standard marketing plans of primary universal service providers

   12F.    Meaning of expressions  
   12G.    Minister may determine requirements for drafts  
   12H.    Obligation to submit a draft policy statement and draft standard marketing plan  
   12J.    Public consultation required on draft policy statement and draft standard marketing plan  
   12K.    Approval of draft policy statement  
   12L.    Approval of draft standard marketing plan  
   12M.    Notice of decision  

              Subdivision D--ATS marketing plans of primary universal service providers

   12P.    Meaning of expressions  
   12Q.    Minister may determine requirements for drafts  
   12R.    Primary universal service provider may submit a draft ATS marketing plan  
   12S.    Public consultation required on draft ATS marketing plan  
   12T.    Approval of draft ATS marketing plan  
   12U.    Notice of decision  

              Subdivision E--Replacement, variation and revocation of policy statements, standard marketing plans and ATS marketing plans

   12V.    Replacement of approved policy statement, approved standard marketing plan or approved ATS marketing plan  
   12W.    Variation of approved policy statement, approved standard marketing plan or approved ATS marketing plan  
   12X.    Notice of decision  
   12Y.    Minister may direct variation or replacement of policy statement or standard marketing plan  
   12Z.    Minister may revoke approved ATS marketing plan  

           Division 6--The standard contestability arrangements

              Subdivision A--What are the standard contestability arrangements

   13.     The standard contestability arrangements  

              Subdivision B--Competing universal service providers

   13A.    Application to be approved as a competing universal service provider  
   13B.    Approval of person as a competing universal service provider  
   13C.    Date of effect of approval, or variation or revocation of approval  
   13D.    Obligations of competing universal service providers  
   13E.    Surrender of approval as a competing universal service provider  

              Subdivision C--Policy statements and standard marketing plans of competing universal service providers

   13F.    Meaning of expressions  
   13G.    Minister may determine requirements for drafts  
   13H.    Public consultation on draft policy statement or standard marketing plan  
   13J.    Approval of draft policy statement  
   13K.    Approval of draft standard marketing plan  
   13L.    Notice of decision  

              Subdivision D--ATS marketing plans of competing universal service providers

   13M.    Meaning of expressions  
   13N.    Minister may determine requirements for drafts  
   13P.    Public consultation required on draft ATS marketing plan  
   13Q.    Approval of draft ATS marketing plan  
   13R.    Notice of decision  

              Subdivision E--Replacement, variation and revocation of policy statements, standard marketing plans and ATS marketing plans

   13S.    Replacement of approved policy statement, approved standard marketing plan or approved ATS marketing plan  
   13T.    Variation of approved policy statement, approved standard marketing plan or approved ATS marketing plan  
   13U.    Notice of decision  
   13V.    Minister may revoke approved ATS marketing plan  

           Division 7--Determination of alternative arrangements for fulfilling the universal service obligation

   14.     Determination of alternative arrangements  
   14A.    Effect of determination  

           Division 8--Digital data service providers

              Subdivision A--General

   15.     Digital data service providers  
   15A.    Effect of digital data service provider determination  
   15B.    Former digital data service provider may be required to provide information to current digital data service provider  

              Subdivision B--Digital data service plans

   15C.    Digital data service provider must submit draft digital data service plan  
   15D.    Digital data service plans  
   15E.    Replacement of approved digital data service plan  
   15F.    Approval of draft digital data service plan by Minister  
   15G.    Public consultation--draft plan  
   15H.    Minister to have regard to certain matters  
   15J.    Minister may formulate requirements for draft plans  
   15K.    Notification of decision  
   15L.    Variation of approved digital data service plan  
   15M.    Notice of decision on variation  
   15N.    Minister may direct variation or replacement of plan  
   15P.    Compliance with approved digital data service plan  

           Division 9--Universal service subsidy

   16.     Determination of universal service subsidy  
   16A.    Minister must seek ACMA's advice  
   16B.    Effect of the determination  

           Division 10--Digital data cost of digital data service providers

   17.     Digital data cost of a digital data service provider for a claim period  
   17A.    Reduction of excessive costs  

           Division 11--Regulation of universal service charges

   18.     Universal service charges  
   18A.    Determination subjecting universal service charges to price control arrangements  
   18B.    Price control determinations  
   18C.    Content of price control determinations  
   18D.    Price control determinations subject to determinations under Part 9  
   18E.    Compliance with price control determinations  

           Division 12--Regulation of digital data service charges

   19.     Digital data service charges  
   19A.    Determination subjecting digital data service charges to price control arrangements  
   19B.    Price control determinations  
   19C.    Content of price control determinations  
   19D.    Price control determinations subject to determinations under Part 9  
   19E.    Compliance with price control determinations  

           Division 13--Assessment, collection, recovery and distribution of levy

              Subdivision A--Eligible revenue of participating persons

   20.     Participating person must lodge return of eligible revenue  
   20A.    Who is a participating person?  
   20B.    What is eligible revenue?  
   20C.    What is an eligible revenue period?  
   20D.    Audit report of eligible revenue return  
   20E.    ACMA may inquire into correctness of return  
   20F.    ACMA to assess eligible revenue  
   20G.    Assessment based on estimate of eligible revenue  
   20H.    Levy contribution factor  

              Subdivision B--Levy credits

   20J.    Claims for levy credit  
   20K.    Audit report of claim  
   20L.    ACMA to publish claims or a summary of claims  
   20M.    ACMA may inquire into correctness of claim  
   20N.    ACMA to assess levy credit  
   20P.    Principles for assessing and adjusting claims  

              Subdivision C--Entitlement to levy distributions and liability for levy

   20Q.    No levy payable unless at least one claim for a levy credit is made  
   20R.    Levy debit of a participating person  
   20S.    Levy debit balance  
   20T.    Levy credit balance  
   20U.    ACMA to make written assessment  
   20V.    Publication of assessment  
   20W.    Variation of assessments  
   20X.    ACMA may accept statements  
   20Y.    Multiple assessments in the same document  

              Subdivision D--Collection and recovery of levy

   20Z.    When levy payable  
   20ZA.   Levy a debt due to the Commonwealth  
   20ZB.   Validity of assessment  
   20ZC.   Evidence of assessment  
   20ZD.   Onus of establishing incorrectness of assessment  
   20ZE.   Refund of overpayment of levy  
   20ZF.   Cancellation of certain exemptions from levy  
   20ZG.   Commonwealth not liable to levy  
   20ZH.   Performance bonds and guarantees  

           Division 14--The Universal Service Account and distributions of levy

   21.     Universal Service Account  
   21A.    Credits to Universal Service Account  
   21B.    Purposes of Universal Service Account  
   21C.    Levy distribution  
   21D.    Distribution of remaining balance of the Universal Service Account  
   21E.    Recovery of overpayments  

           Division 15--Disclosure of information

   22.     Public may request information  
   22A.    Request for information that is unavailable under section 22  
   22B.    How the ACMA is to comply with a request  
   22C.    Minister's information-gathering powers  
   22D.    Minister may modify way in which this Division applies  

           Division 16--Other matters

   23.     ACMA must maintain Register/s  
   23A.    Delegation to the ACMA  
   23B.    Effect of failure to publish notices in the Gazette  
   23C.    Offence of failing to lodge eligible revenue return  
   23D.    Penalty for late payment of levy  

   PART 3--THE NATIONAL RELAY SERVICE

           Division 1--Introduction

   93.     Simplified outline  
   94.     Definitions  
   94A.    Who is a participating person?  

           Division 2--The National Relay Service

   95.     The National Relay Service (the NRS)  
   96.     Publication of costs of providing the NRS  
   97.     ACMA reports and advice about NRS service plans  

           Division 3--The NRS levy

   98.     Levy quarters  
   99.     Persons liable to pay levy (taxpayers)  
   100.    Amount of levy  
   100A.   Variation of taxpayer's NRS contribution amount  
   101.    Payment of levy  
   101A.   Penalty for late payment of levy  
   101B.   Performance bonds and guarantees  
   101C.   Meaning of most recent eligible revenue assessment  

           Division 4--The NRS Account

   102.    The NRS Account  

   PART 4--CONTINUED ACCESS TO UNTIMED LOCAL CALLS

   103.    Simplified outline  
   104.    Requirement to provide an untimed local call option  
   105.    Untimed local call option  
   106.    Eligible local calls  
   107.    Benefits for customers outside standard zones  
   108.    Standard zones  
   109.    Applicable zones  
   110.    Eligible customer  
   111.    Points  
   112.    Application of this Part  

   PART 5--CUSTOMER SERVICE GUARANTEE

   113.    Simplified outline  
   114.    Interpretation  
   115.    Performance standards  
   116.    Damages for breach of performance standards  
   117.    Scale of damages for breach of performance standards  
   117A.   Time for payment of damages for breach of performance standards  
   118.    Remedial directions--compliance with performance standards  
   118A.   Right of contribution  
   119.    Evidentiary certificate issued by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman  
   120.    Waiver of customer service guarantee  
   121.    Savings of other laws and remedies  
   122.    Breach of performance standard is not an offence  
   123.    Clause 1 of Schedule 2 to the Telecommunications Act 1997 does not apply to a breach of a performance standard  
   124.    Minister may direct the ACMA about the use of its powers under this Part  
   125.    Review of performance standards following Ministerial direction  

   PART 6--THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY OMBUDSMAN

   126.    Simplified outline  
   127.    Eligible carriage service providers  
   128.    Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman scheme  
   129.    Exemptions from requirement to join scheme  
   130.    Direction to join scheme  
   131.    Determination that a class of carriage service providers must join scheme  
   132.    Members of scheme must comply with scheme  
   133.    Register of members of scheme  

   PART 7--PROTECTION FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AGAINST FAILURE BY CARRIAGE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE STANDARD CARRIAGE SERVICES

   134.    Simplified outline  
   135.    Scope of Part  
   136.    Standard residential customer  
   137.    Protected payments  
   138.    Compliance with protection schemes for protected payments  
   139.    Protection schemes for protected payments--alternative supply of standard carriage services  
   140.    Protection schemes for protected payments--third party guarantee  
   141.    Protection schemes for protected payments--insurance cover  
   142.    Protection schemes for protected payments--holding of payments in trust accounts  
   143.    Waiver of protection by customers  
   144.    Incidental rules  
   145.    Enforcement of protection schemes  

   PART 8--PROVISION OF EMERGENCY CALL SERVICES

   146.    Simplified outline  
   147.    Provision of emergency call services  
   148.    Compliance with determination  
   149.    Access to emergency call services  
   150.    Ministerial pricing determinations  
   151.    Access to be provided  

   PART 9--PRICE CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR TELSTRA

   152.    Simplified outline  
   153.    Definitions  
   154.    Minister may determine price control arrangements  
   155.    Effect of price control arrangements  
   156.    Alteration of charges subject to price control arrangements  
   157.    Carrier charges subject to notification and disallowance  
   158.    Alteration of charges subject to notification and disallowance  

   PART 9A--TELEPHONE SEX SERVICES

   158A.   Simplified outline  
   158B.   Unacceptable conduct in relation to a telephone sex service  
   158C.   Supply of goods or services not to be tied to the supply of telephone sex services  
   158E.   Aiding, abetting etc.  
   158F.   Evidentiary certificate--telephone sex service  
   158H.   Approved prefix  
   158J.   Telephone sex service  
   158K.   Telephone sex service provider  
   158L.   Voice call  
   158M.   Savings of other laws  
   158N.   Transitional  

   PART 9B--INDEPENDENT REVIEWS OF REGIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS

           Division 1--Independent reviews of regional telecommunications

   158P.   Reviews of regional telecommunications to be conducted by the RTIRC  
   158Q.   Report of review  

           Division 2--Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee

   158R.   Establishment of the RTIRC  
   158S.   Functions of the RTIRC  
   158T.   Membership of the RTIRC  
   158U.   Appointment of RTIRC members  
   158V.   Acting appointments--RTIRC Chair  
   158W.   Procedures  
   158X.   Disclosure of interests  
   158Y.   Remuneration and allowances  
   158Z.   Leave of absence  
   158ZA.  Resignation  
   158ZB.  Termination of appointment  
   158ZC.  Other terms and conditions  
   158ZD.  Assistance to RTIRC  

   PART 9C--COMMUNICATIONS FUND

           Division 1--Introduction

   158ZE.  Simplified outline  
   158ZF.  Definitions  

           Division 2--Establishment of the Communications Fund

   158ZG.  Establishment of the Communications Fund  
   158ZH.  Establishment of the Communications Fund Special Account  
   158ZI.  Purposes of the Fund Account  
   158ZJ.  Credit of $2 billion to the Fund Account  
   158ZJA. Balance of the Fund must not fall below $2 billion  
   158ZK.  Transfer of financial assets to the Fund  
   158ZL.  Grant of financial assistance to a State  
   158ZM.  Grant of financial assistance to a person other than a State  
   158ZN.  Delegation by Secretary of the Department  

           Division 3--Investment of the Communications Fund

   158ZO.  Investment of the Fund  
   158ZP.  Management of investments of the Fund  
   158ZQ.  Derivatives  
   158ZR.  Bonus shares etc.  

   PART 10--MISCELLANEOUS

   159.    Direction to Telstra to comply with this Act  
   159A.   Review of operation of Parts 2 and 5 of this Act  
   159B.   Connect Australia package  
   160.    Regulations