| AUGUST 2024 Inside this issue CEDIA Tech + Business Summit in Newcastle NSW & CEDIA workshop Sydney ARC Where do residents go to find a cabler? ACMA Compliance Priorities 2024 – 2025 Working as a registered cable & Unregistered Cablers must be Supervised Comtech training Electrical worker fined following electric shock EVENTS – Security/Integrate Sydney & Comms Connect Melbourne 3G Network switch off  ACRS Directors Report August 2024 We have all been watching the Olympic Games telecast recently, and it has been a privilege to see so many star athletes perform on the world stage. Our Aussie athletes have done us and themselves, proud. When you watch these telecasts, you can see how much the world has become dependent on our data and telecommunications industry to design, develop and install state of the art infrastructure. At any time of the day or night and anywhere you are, you can now watch live action, dial up a replay of any event, check a result or get informed commentary instantly while on your mobile phone. Long gone are the days when you watched whatever the live feed was on your TV and if wasn’t what you wanted watch, then you missed out. Now, it’s instant information as chosen by you. We are such a critical industry to our societies’ need for instant data and information. Hats off to everyone involved. From an ACRS point of view, we continue to provide a robust and rigorous registration service to data and telecommunications cablers. ACRS meets our industry regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) regularly, as well as participating on various cabler expert panels. ACRS continues to work with ACMA to ensure that cablers are kept informed on all changes to cabler provider rules. Some of the interesting things that are happening at present, include, ACMA establishing a Consumer Consultative Forum (CCF) to engage with stakeholders on issues that affect people who use mobiles, the internet and fixed-line phones. This is a positive step and one that has worked well with electrical distribution authorities for a number of years, who have forming consultative councils to discuss consumer needs. Also, Safe Work Australia is in the process of releasing new guidelines for all industries that need to do any work involving silica products, including where you need to drill holes in silica kitchen or bathroom benches. This guide will be released soon and ACRS will ensure we circulate its contents widely. Finally, the Queensland Government has new Electrical Safety regulations in place that will include mandatory requirements to turn the power off before undertaking any work in ceiling spaces from 1 January 2025. This new regulation will be mandatory for all industries, including for data and telecommunications work. There have been too many fatalities from working in ceiling spaces and this will help to improve safety. Through NECA, we are advising the Queensland Government to ensure there is a robust and extensive education and information campaign that goes with this new requirement. I am sure that other states are also keeping a close on this to decide whether to follow suit. CEDIA Tech + Business Summit Newcastle, NSW Date: Tue, Oct 22, 2024 – Thu, Oct 24, 2024 Time: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia Get connected to the future of smart home technology at the CEDIA Tech + Business Summit Australia. Learn valuable skills and knowledge with industry leading education, get face time with manufacturers and key decision makers, and experience innovative new technologies. Sponsored by globally renowned manufacturers and Australia’s leading distributors, this Tech + Business offers a personal experience for quality connections in the professional smart home industry. Register to attend and purchase education passes at CEDIA Registration. For a detailed look at the entire agenda, please visit CEDIA Agenda. Register Now CEDIA RP22 Immersive Audio Design Excellence Workshop (Sydney) Dates: 19-20 September 2024 Location: Metro Spire Hotel, Sydney This intensive two-day workshop is ideal for experienced entertainment space designers. Learn advanced techniques for applying CEDIA/CTA RP22 Immersive Audio System Design Recommended Practice to real projects. Enhance your skills and achieve predictable results. Suitable for: Integrators and stakeholders seeking standards-based private entertainment space design. Cost: Members: US$329 Non-members: US$439 Register: https://cedia.swoogo.com/rp22sydney Business opportunities for cabling companies on the Australian Registered Cabler Website ACRS is a member of the Australian Registered Cabler Website consortium. The site is for our registered cablers and is open to industry stakeholders and the public, as an advisory service. ACRS Open Registered Cablers with Structured and Co-Axial (and Fibre where required) – can register their business on the RCWS website to gain leads to NBN, internet, telephone and smart wiring work.  https://registeredcablers.com.au/testimonials/ Business opportunities for cabling companies on the Australian Registered Cabler Website ACRS is a member of the Australian Registered Cabler Website consortium. The site is for our registered cablers and is open to industry stakeholders and the public, as an advisory service. ACRS Open Registered Cablers with Structured and Co-Axial (and Fibre where required) – can register their business on the RCWS website to gain leads to NBN, internet, telephone and smart wiring work.  ACMA Compliance Priorities for 2024-25 The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released its 2024–25 compliance priorities, which include a strong focus on consumer protections in the telco sector. In particular, ACMA will prioritise work with telcos on scam prevention, with a focus on disrupting scam networks that impersonate messages from legitimate businesses and services. Focus will also be given to ensuring telcos provide prompt connections to triple zero emergency calls and that they are actively implementing new Financial Hardship Standard, which assist people struggling to pay their internet and phone bills. The full list of the 2024–25 ACMA annual compliance priorities is: Protecting telco customers experiencing financial hardship by monitoring industry compliance with the Financial Hardship Standard, including how financial hardship arrangements are being managed. Supporting telco customers experiencing domestic and family violence by monitoring how telcos are assisting these customers to stay safe and stay connected. Safeguarding Triple Zero emergency call services through carrier compliance with their obligations to ensure that calls are successfully connected to emergency services. Tackling the online supply of dodgy devices by working with advertisers, retailers and consumers to stop non-compliant electronic equipment coming into Australia. Continuing our focus on interactive gambling safeguards by taking action against illegal offshore wagering providers, promoting consumer awareness of BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion RegisterTM, and monitoring industry compliance with the ban on the use of credit for online betting. Combating misinformation and disinformation on online platforms by overseeing digital platforms’ efforts under the voluntary code. Disrupting SMS impersonation scams by enforcing telco obligations to trace, block and report scam messages, and by continuing the development of the SMS sender ID register. Targeting misleading spam messages by enforcing spam rules to stop commercial messages being misleadingly sent as service or non-commercial messages.  End of financial year tax scams Watch out for Amazon impersonation messages and scam calls. Scammers are sending emails and messages claiming your account is locked, has expired, or a delivery cannot be made until you make a payment or give your information. If you are unsure if a message or call is genuine, stop and check. You can find out more about this scam on the Amazon website. Work as a registered cabler To work as a cabler in Australia, you must be registered. You must also understand the requirements of your registration. This protects the safety of cablers and customers and the telecommunications network. The Open Cabler Registration course is a great entry point for people wishing to work in the telecommunications industry. This course covers the ACMA Open Rule, as mandated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). An Open Cabler Registration enables telecommunications workers to legally install and maintain telephone, security and fire alarm cabling in all types of customer premises. This course replaces the old AUSTEL license. Technicians installing data, coaxial or fibre optic cable will also require the appropriate competencies on their registration. Upon successful completion of this course, individuals who have three hundred sixty (360) hours of authentic telecommunications cabling experience, will have the skills and knowledge required to apply for an ACMA Open Cabler Registration. Unregistered cablers must be supervised If you are not registered, you can do cabling work only if you are directly supervised by a registered cabler at all times. The supervisor must: be registered for the type of work you are doing (open, restricted or lift) take full responsibility for the standard of work you complete ensure all work complies with the rules and requirements for cablers complete cabling advice form(s) at the end of the job These requirements are part of the Telecommunications Cabling Provider Rules 2014 (Part 4 section 4.1(2)). If you believe someone is working as an unregistered cabler or without proper supervision, make a complaint. If you do cabling work and are not registered or not supervised, The ACMA may give you a fine or even prosecute you. Have you moved or changed your details? If you have recently moved, changed email or mobile, please contact ACRS to update your new details. This will ensure you receive your renewal notification and renew your registration on time.  Government Funding and Subsidised Training Subsidies are available in some states for courses and qualifications. Subsidised training may be available for you to complete a qualification or gain skill sets at a reduced cost. You can speak to Comtech on 1300 371 130 to find out about any subsidies that may be available. Two payment types: 1. Fee-free training must meet eligibility criteria 2. Subsidised training More information atComtech Websiteor call our centre on 1300 371 130 Contractor, worker fined following electric shock A WA electrical contractor and worker have been fined a total of $15,000 for offences related to the supervision of an apprentice who received an electric shock at work. Electrical worker Michael Georgiou was ordered to pay a $3000 fine and $553.80 in costs at Armadale Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to failing to effectively supervise the apprentice’s electrical work. Earlier in the year, Mandurah-based electrical contractor Ballantyne Commercial Property Services, which employed Georgiou and the apprentice at the time of the incident, was fined $12,000 for not immediately reporting the electrical accident to the network operator. Both of these matters are offences under WA’s Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991. The court heard that Georgiou was the leading hand on a Ballantyne project in Beckenham alongside another electrical worker and the apprentice. Georgiou was nearby but not directly supervising the apprentice when the younger man touched live wires while disconnecting cables in the ceiling space, receiving an electric shock. Under the regulations, supervising electricians are required to ensure apprentices do not work on or near live electrical installations. The court was told Georgiou had previously de-energised the electrical circuits in the work area, but on the day of the incident he did not verify that the electricity supply to the circuits remained isolated. WA’s Director of Energy Safety, Saj Abdoolakhan, said the apprentice was incredibly fortunate to have avoided serious or even fatal injury. “The regulations explicitly state that effective supervision of electrical work is required to prevent danger to life and property,” Abdoolakhan said. “This case should remind industry to always check the electrical installation is de-energised and safe to be worked on prior to starting work and to ensure that electrical work, particularly by apprentices, is effectively supervised.” Sourced: ECD online 31 July 2024 Join us in securing the future, this 21 – 23 August 2024 at the ICC Sydney. REGISTER NOW > 3G network switch off Since 2019, Australia’s mobile network operators have been preparing to switch off their 3G networks to boost the capacity, speed and reliability of their 4G and 5G networks. Telstra recently announced that it will delay its 3G network switch off until 31 August 2024. Optus is planning to switch off its 3G network from 1 September 2024. TPG Telecom/Vodafone has already switched off its 3G network. If you receive advice from your mobile service provider that your device is impacted, you must take urgent action to remain connected. While it is well-understood that the 3G switch offs impact 3G devices, some 4G devices are also impacted. Some 4G devices may be unable to make any voice calls once a 3G network is switched off. There is also a subset of 4G devices that may continue to operate for voice calls and data but will not be able to make Triple Zero calls. This subset of 4G devices are of most concern because customers will mistakenly believe that their device is not affected by the switch off, until they try to call Triple Zero in an emergency. Older 4G devices and devices that are purchased overseas are particularly at risk. As announced by the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, the Government is working with the major mobile network operators – Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom/Vodafone – as well as the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), including via a new industry Working Group, to support the planned switch offs in a safer way. Service providers are making efforts to advise customers with devices that may be impacted. If you have received advice from your service provider that your device may be impacted you will need to contact them on actions you need to take. Mobile service providers are best placed to advise if your device may be affected. There are several ways you can check your device: Telstra Visit: www.telstra.com.au/support/mobiles-devices/3g-closure Call: 13 22 00 SMS ‘3’ to 3498 for an automatic response on your device’s 4G network compatibility. Optus Visit: www.optus.com.au/3g Call: 133 937 SMS ‘3’ to 3498 for an automatic response on your device’s 4G network compatibility. Vodafone/TPG Telecom Visit: 3G Network Closure FAQ | TPG Support SMS ‘3’ to 3498 for an automatic response on your device’s 4G network compatibility. Industry IMEI lookup tool Visit: www.3gclosure.com.au and follow the link to ‘Check my mobile phone’ to access the IMEI lookup tool Customers of other mobile service providers should contact their relevant service provider directly. You can also visit www.3gclosure.com.au for general information on the types of devices that may be impacted. AMTA, the organisation that hosts that website, is the peak industry body representing Australia’s mobile telecommunications industry. It is very important that you do not call Triple Zero to test your device. This won’t help you work out if your device is affected and may stop others accessing life-saving support. Be aware of scams. Only contact your mobile provider using trusted information and links. Sourced: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/ Useful Links ACRSwww.acrs.com.au nbn™www.nbnco.com.au ACMA www.acma.gov.au ACMA Complaints line Before you dig Australia www.byda.com.au Communications Alliance www.commsalliance.com.au Authority to Alter Facilities in Residential & Small Business Premises Lead In Conduit (LIC) Build Process Wiring Rules AS/CA S009:2020 |
