What’s New?
ACRS has revamped its website, giving it a fresh new look and made it user friendly. Don’t forget you can renew your current registration online and update your personal details.
NECA Members Encouraged to use ACRS as their Cabling Registration
NECA which represents the electrical and telecommunications contractors, has set up the Australian Cabler Registration Service (ACRS) as one of the approved Registrars for Registered Cablers and is formally accredited by the Australian Communications and Media Authority ( ACMA ) law.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) requires technicians, working in the security, fire and data cabling industries to have a current cabling registration when they install,
repair or maintain any type of equipment that will be connected to the telecommunications network, including structured, coaxial and fibre optic competencies.
NECA created ACRS some years ago to provide this service to the industry at a cost effective rate of $32 for one year or $84 for a three year registration which is the cheapest in the country. ACRS also provide advice to Cablers on the registration and
competency requirements and produce quarterly newsletters to keep Cablers up to date in a rapidly changing environment.
Evidence of having a current ACRS cabling registration card, confirms you have undertaken the relevant training, gained the professional experience to deliver the work to the customer’s expectations. You also have the knowledge to complete the work to the required industry standards, using only approved, fit for purpose product and work legally.
This is doubly important in the current era of the NBN rollout and associated problems of service speeds which can be adversely affected by poor cabling techniques.
ACRS also lobbies the Communications Minister, ACMA and the NBN over issues affecting Cablers in an effort to improve the industry and have our concerns addressed by the relevant authorities.
Check you are properly registered to perform Cabling work and make sure you are getting the best deal in town from the association that supports you and your business as a NECA member.
Electricians considering undertaking communications cabling work MUST have the relevant qualifications and the appropriate competencies, plus be registered with an accredited Cabling Registrar – before they carry out any telecommunications and data cabling
work.
If you are a qualified electrician and have completed your telco subjects as part of your apprenticeship, including the ACMA 50 mandated questions based on the wiring rules, simply contact ACRS regarding registration process.
If you hold an electrical licence but have not completed the relevant training pathway, please contact your NECA training centre who will offer you expert advice in selecting the relevant course that suits your needs.
| NECA Training NSW | 02 9188 4424 |
| NECA Education & Careers VIC | 03 9381 1922 |
| PEER VET SA | 08 8348 1200 |
| NECA CET Joondalup WA | 08 9233 5000 |
| NECA CET Jandakot WA | 08 6595 6600 |
or click here for a full list of registered training organisations Australia wide. 
Click here for RTO listing
Voice Your Opinion
ACRS comments on the proposed Industry Code on the Next-Generation Broadband Systems Deployment in Customer Cabling
The Communications Alliance Ltd has released for public comment a draft Industry Code on the Next Generation Broadband Systems Deployment in Customer Cabling. The draft code describes rules and processes to enable multiple providers to efficiently share customer cabling and to maintain performance goals for next-generation broadband systems and for legacy systems.
The Australian Cabler Registration Service (ACRS) believes that this code will assist Cablers in the industry keep pace with the fast pace of change and exponential rollout of the broadband network in Australia at present and is supportive of the main
thrust of the three documents.
Cablers need to understand the technical requirements, performance standards and shared cable bundle arrangements for new and legacy services of Carriers and Carriage Service Providers to enable them to connect these services to the consumer’s home in a way that does not detract from carriage performance. Importantly, Cablers also need to manage customer expectations as the public interface of the industry as installers in the home.
ACRS encourages more consultation between Carriers and Installers for this reason as complaints about the performance of broadband services in Australia to the Ombudsman are at an all time high. Many of these complaints are as a result of poor understanding of the technical performance capabilities of broadband systems and more recently dubious promises to customers about internet speeds deliverable.
As the public face of the industry Cablers have a unique role to play in managing these expectations and explaining technical issues to consumers in an understandable way. ACRS would like to see Cablers engaged more in the industry by carriers via this code and be included in future development and review processes.
ACRS also believes that Cablers could have an ongoing role in monitoring and reporting on compliance with the code as they will be the ones who are in the consumer’s homes measuring the output at the pointy end of the broadband system. ACRS would like to encourage discussion on how this could happen and potential methods of remuneration for Cablers to undertake this role in the industry.
ACRS has proposed comments to Communications Alliance Ltd on behalf of our registrants. ACRS does however appreciate that registrants might like to view the draft code and make their own comment directly. If you want to have a look at the draft industry code it can be accessed at:
http://www.commsalliance.com.au/documents/public_comment
Public comments on the code required by 15th December 2017.
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Who is responsible for Lead in Cables?
The ACMA often receive enquiries regarding carrier lead in cables. To clarify the situation the have provided the following information.
A registered cabler cannot interfere with a carriers lead in cables unless s/he is working on behalf of the carrier or has the express written permission of the carrier – AS/CA S009:2013 Installation requirements for Customer Cabling has the following to say on this matter,
5.13 Tampering or interference with a carrier facility
A carrier’s lead-in cabling or network boundary facilities shall not be moved, removed or altered without the prior written authorisation of the carrier.
Note: If a carrier publishes a document authorising cabling providers to alter its facilities, for the purpose of this clause such a document will be taken to be the prior written authorisation of the carrier as long as any terms and conditions set out in the document are adhered to by the cabling provider.
There is a Telstra document that allows a registered cable to so some work on the lead-in cable and this is called Alteration of Telstra facilities in homes & small businesses and this document details only the work they can do. Any other work they are looking to undertake will require written authorisation of the carrier.
Similarly there is an NBN document that allows a registered cable to so some work on the lead-in cable and this is called Authority to alter facilities in residential and small business premises and this document details only the work they can do. Any other work they are looking to undertake will require written authorisation of the carrier.
There is also some really useful information on the following NBN Co web page that includes the following documents,
-
Building Design Guide – New Developments (NBN-TE-CTO-284)
This guide outlines the requirements for pathways and spaces in MDUs and MPS sites. -
Deployment of nbn™ Conduit and Pit network (NBN-TE-CTO-194)
This guide outlines the requirements and technical details for the installation of pit and pipe works -
Residential Preparation and Installation Guide: SDUs and MDUs (NBN-TE-CTO-0011)
This guide outlines how developers, builders, and new home owners should prepare their homes and arrange premises connections in order to access the nbn™ network. A copy of this document should be provided to the building owner.
The Cabling Advisory Group Reactivated with ADTIA The Cabling Advisory Group (CAG) was originally a responsibility of the Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) later the Communications Alliance (CA) and more recently, in essence, an independent committee.
It has now been reconstituted under the management of the Australian Digital and Telecommunications Association (ADTIA), a registered industry association and CAG now has an increased membership of around 30.
The membership encompasses most of the key communications industry players and will now have a wider role in representing communications matters to government, its agencies, regulators and other stakeholders, than the original CAG which focused more on cabling specific matters. The new CAG reports to the ADTIA and makes recommendations on the many challenges in the industry.
What is Smart Wiring?
There’s a great deal of wiring even around homes. Phone and fax lines, pay TV cables, audio cables, computer and internet cables and connectors, cabling for lighting, security and home automation. Dealing with the installation of each of these communications and its respected company can be an incredibly complicated process – what’s more, every callout for installation or maintenance usually incurs an hourly fee, and messy wiring can add to the time it takes for maintenance and repairs.
Smart wiring helps to future proof your home.
Many people mistakenly confuse Smart Wiring with network cable. Smart Wiring is a system that enables the combination of many different types of wires used around the home into a single platform, which allows for the integration of many different smart home systems and sensors throughout your home, and the capacity to add more at a later date if you want to do so. Among other things, a Smart Wiring platform includes wiring for lighting, security, internet communications, security systems and audio-visual or home entertainment systems.
Smart Wiring is installed by just one accredited Smart Wired technician, rather than teams of individually qualified specialist cablers. By providing a neat, logical and standardised system, a smart wiring installation allows easy accessibility to your wiring, and easy expansion as and when it’s needed.
Who installs Smart Wiring?
Each Smart Wired installer works to a Code of Practice that sets out the basic standards to ensure you get reliable and guaranteed entertainment, security, energy management, communication and automation services. They are held liable to an agreement within the Code giving you piece of mind that they are doing the right job.
You should bear in mind that the cost of Smart Wiring your home during construction or renovations is far less than if you retroactively install Smart Wiring in an existing house. To determine what sort of Smart Wiring package you need, discuss your options with a qualified installer.
Whichever route you take, the good news is that as well as ‘future proofing’ your home, Smart Wiring also adds to the value of your home, so if you are thinking of selling up at some stage in the near future or you’re building an investment property, Smart Wiring is a nice way to add a bit of value.
For more info: www.smartwiredhouse.com.au
Stay up to date
If you have been absent from the cabling industry for any significant length of time, please ensure you are familiar with the current requirements for cablers as outlined in the CPRs including the current version of the Installation Requirements for Customer Cabling (Wiring Rules). This is available from Communications Alliance ( http://www.commsalliance.com.au/?a=2884 ).
Has Your Registration LAPSED?
If your ACRS registration has lapsed, do not panic.
Call the friendly team at ACRS who will be pleased to assist you in reinstating your registration.
Useful Links
ACRS www.acrs.com.au
nbn ™ www.nbnco.com.au
ACMA www.acma.gov.au
Dial before you dig www.1100.com.au
A2A and Network Boundary Issues
www.telstra.com.au/smartcommunity/mybuilder.html
Communications Alliance www.commsalliance.com.au
Registered Cablers website
www.registeredcablers.com.au
The staff at ACRS would like to wish you and your families a Happy Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year.
Help ACRS help you!
You can update your personal details via our website or notify ACRS by calling our friendly admin team on 1300 667771 or by faxing or emailing your new details to:
Fax (02) 9744 3928
Email: enquiries@acrs.com.au