Customer Cabling Regulation

Presenter: Ray Bradford

SESSION OUTLINE

Cabling in Australia beyond the Carrier’s Network Boundary– Some useful definitions

Progress to date with Self Regulation

Future Directions

CUSTOMER CABLING

What is Customer Cabling?

• ACMA has a clear demarcation point between the carrier’s network cabling and the customer’s cabling

• The carrier’s network cabling finishes at what is known as the Network Boundary

• It is the cabling beyond the Network Boundary that we call Customer Cabling

THE NETWORK BOUNDARY

• Types of Network Boundaries

– The First socket

– Network termination Device (NTD)

– Network Boundary Distributor (jumperable or patchable frame)

MOVE TOWARDS GREATER CABLING INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION

Progress to date: The ACMA managed cabler licensing scheme has now been replaced

by an industry based registration scheme

• ACMA Technical Standards applicable to Cablers and authorised Manufacturers of Cabling Product are now produced by an industry forum (ACIF)

• Manufacturers of Cabling Product may carry out their own testing. Australian supplier, rather than ACMA, is now responsible for products compliance folder

• New industry code – Cabling Requirements for Business developed by industry and registered in 2003

FROM LICENSED TO REGISTERED CABLERS• In consultation with industry, ACMA developed new

customer cabler rules known as Cabling Provider Rules (CPRs)

• Industry run registration scheme introduced

• Cablers must undergo adequate training before registering

• Registration applies to individual cablers

CABLING PROVIDER RULES (CPRs)

KEY POINTS

• Applies to the telecommunications, fire, security and data industries.

• Five independent registrars accredited by the ACMA to provide cabling registration services

• There are three types of registration: Open, Restricted, and Lift

CUSTOMER CABLING WORK

The Cabler Must:• Be a registered cabler• Use only compliant

cabling, cabling products and customer equipment

• Install cabling and cabling product as per the Wiring Rules

MOVE TOWARDS GREATER CABLING INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION

Progress to date: The ACMA managed cabler licensing scheme has now been replaced by

an industry based registration scheme

ACMA Technical Standards applicable to Cablers and authorised Manufacturers of Cabling Product are now produced by an industry forum (ACIF)

• Manufacturers of Cabling Product may carry out their own testing. Australian supplier, rather than ACMA, is now responsible for products compliance folder

• New industry code – Cabling Requirements for Business developed by industry and registered in 2003

CABLING STANDARDSKEY POINTS• The Australian Communications Industry Forum

(ACIF) establishes Working Committees to develop or review technical standards for the cabling industry

• Two principal standards directly relate to cablers:– AS/ACIF S008: 2006 (Requirements for

authorised cabling products); and– AS/ACIF S009: 2006 (The Wiring Rules).

• Mandatory Standards are enforceable by the ACMA.

MOVE TOWARDS GREATER CABLING INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION

Progress to Date:

The ACMA managed cabler licensing scheme has now been replaced by an industry based registration scheme

ACMA Technical Standards applicable to Cablers and authorised Manufacturers of Cabling Product are now produced by an industry forum (ACIF)

Manufacturers of Cabling Product may carry out their own testing and the Australian supplier, rather than ACMA, is now responsible for products compliance folder

• New industry code – Cabling Requirements for Business developed by industry and registered in 2003

MANUFACTURING & IMPORTING

KEY POINTS• Manufacturers can now test their Cable and Cabling Product

to AS/ACIF S008 in-house, providing they have the facilities and expertise to do so. Previously only test houses accredited with the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) could do this.

• Australian manufacturers, importers, distributors or their agents now manage the products Compliance Folder instead of ACMA.

• ACMA does random compliance folder audits to ensure compliance.

MOVE TOWARDS GREATER CABLING INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION

Progress to date:

The ACMA managed cabler licensing scheme has now been replaced by an industry based registration scheme

ACMA Technical Standards applicable to Cablers and authorised Manufacturers of Cabling Product are now produced by an industry forum (ACIF)

Manufacturers of Cabling Product may carry out their own testing. Australian supplier, rather than ACMA, is now responsible for products compliance folder

New industry code – Cabling Requirements for Business developed by industry and registered in 2003

INDUSTRY CODE – Cabling Requirements for BusinessKEY POINTS• Places obligations on cabling businesses that contract or

employ two or more cablers

• Ensures that cabling installation and maintenance practices comply with the Wiring Rules and the applicable standards for cabling product

• Promotes client safety and network integrity

• Provides an incentive for self-regulation and compliance

Breakdown of violations, by violation type for 2004-05

Unregistered or unlicensed

cablers12%

Non-compliant cabling product

3% Inadequate separation of cabling work

43%

Distributors & record keeping

violations6%

Inadequate securing of

cables9%

Other Wiring Rule violations

11%

Non-certification of cabling work

16%

REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE

Mandatory provisions:• All cabling businesses are subject to the Code Rules

ensuring:- All cablers are registered or under supervision- Cabling records are retained- Cabling work complies with applicable cabling rules & standards- Co-operation with ACMA

REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE

Voluntary provisions:

• Businesses may elect to become Code signatories to the Guidelines of the Code

• Code signatories must demonstrate their quality systems to an accredited assessor

ASSESSMENT UNDER THE CODE

KEY POINTS• ACMA has accredited four organisations (to date) to

provide independent, third party assessments of cabling businesses wishing to sign up to the Code

• Cabling businesses are assessed on:- Quality systems that ensure compliance;- Cabler skills maintenance programs;- Cabling work documentation practices;- Third party references; and- Affiliation with an industry association

Consumer information• ACMA raises consumer awareness of cabling

regulation by:

- consumer information brochures

- consumer fact sheets

- Adverts and articles in popular magazines

- ACMA web site

• Consumers are encouraged to:

- check the registration card of the cabler

- ask for a job completion form

What do Consumers need to know?

• Availability of local cabling provider

• Quality of service offered by each provider

• That they have a choice of cabling provider

• Technical competence of cablers to do the work

• Accountability of the provider to fix any problems

REFERENCE MATERIAL

• BROCHURES:- So you want to become a registered cabler? - Telecommunications Cabling Provider Rules- Industry Code – Cabling Requirements for Business

• Website: www.acma.gov.au - click on: Industry > Telecommunications > Cabling

Contact Details

• Ray BradfordPhone: 61-3-9963 6932E-mail: ray.bradford@acma.gov.auFax: 61-3-9963 6970Website: www.acma.gov.au