1. technology and computing
2. networking

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 The ACMA managed cabler licensing scheme has now been replaced
by an industry based registration scheme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 The ACMA managed cabler licensing scheme has now been replaced by an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 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.
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 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
Breakdown of violations, by violation type
for 2004-05
Unregistered
or unlicensed
cablers
12%
Non-compliant
cabling product
3%
Noncertification of
cabling work
16%
Other Wiring
Rule violations
11%
Inadequate
securing of
cables
9%
Inadequate
separation of
cabling work
43%
Distributors &
record keeping
violations
6%
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 Bradford
Phone: 61-3-9963 6932
E-mail: ray.bradford@acma.gov.au
Fax:
61-3-9963 6970
Website: www.acma.gov.au