Customer Cabling Regulation Presenter: Ray Bradford

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Customer Cabling RegulationPresenter Ray
Bradford
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SESSION OUTLINE

• Cabling in Australia beyond the Carriers Network
  Boundary
• Some useful definitions
• Progress to date with Self Regulation
• Future Directions

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CUSTOMER CABLING

• What is Customer Cabling?
• ACMA has a clear demarcation point between the
  carriers network cabling and the customers
  cabling
• The carriers network cabling finishes at what is
  known as the Network Boundary
• It is the cabling beyond the Network Boundary
  that we call Customer Cabling

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THE NETWORK BOUNDARY

• Types of Network Boundaries
• The First socket
• Network termination Device (NTD)
• Network Boundary Distributor
  (jumperable or patchable frame)

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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  been replaced by an industry based registration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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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CABLING STANDARDS

• KEY 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.

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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

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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.

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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

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INDUSTRY CODE Cabling Requirements for Business

• KEY 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

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Breakdown of violations, by violation type for
2004-05
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
  gt Telecommunications gt Cabling

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Contact Details

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