ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH THE NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK TECHNOLOGY?
Read this extract from NECA news June 2016 to catch up.
Have your say in PwC’s Skills for Australia’s Industry Voice Survey
We would like you to have a further opportunity to provide feedback on the skills needs and training priorities shaping your industry and impacting the calibre of our future talent pool in Australia.
Demographic shifts and disruptive technologies are transforming the Australian economy. A key challenge for many employers is remaining competitive in such an uncertain environment. Having a flexible workforce with the right skills and capabilities is therefore ever more important.
We are conducting further research among Australian businesses to understand what skills are needed in their organisation in order to remain competitive in the future. We have designed an online survey to capture the voice of individuals, employers, industry, or training providers operating in Australia.
You can access the survey here:
PwC’s Skills for Australia – Industry Voice Survey
We encourage you to share this survey with others in your network, so that we hear from a breadth of individuals that represent Australian employers, industry or training providers.
Please note, any responses will remain anonymous and will be used to inform the work we are doing to renew and update vocational training products, which form the standards for qualifications in the Vocational Education and Training sector in Australia. If you have any questions about the survey, please get in touch with me.
NBN requirements
Anyone working on the NBN network must be accredited prior to commencing work. NBN accreditation requirements for undertaking work on its HFC network will also require that people hold an open registration with two additional competencies: Structured and Coaxial. Accreditation can be verified by scanning the registration card and sending to the NBN portal: https://enable.nbnco.com.au/default.aspx .
For experienced cablers with OPEN CPR qualifications there may also be a requirement for industry-recognised specialised competency units. This was mandated by the ACMA in July 2014 for cabling work that involves one of the specialised skills. ACRS can provide a list of training providers who offer competency based training, and once qualification and assessing is completed cablers will be provided with a statement of attainment.
A thirty second free call is all it take to keep ACRS records up to date and ensure that you receive your renewal reminder and never get caught working illegally.
If you have recently changed address, mobile or email, please notify ACRS by calling our friendly administration team on 1300 667771
or email to: enquiries@acrs.com.au
nbn signs on delivery partners to deploy HFC network at scale
Key points:
- nbnsigns Multi-technology Integrated Master Agreements (MIMAs) with Delivery Partners
- The agreements enable the construction of the nbn™network to homes and businesses in the Telstra HFC footprint
- Six Delivery Partners announced following a competitive contract sourcing process: Lend Lease, Broadspectrum, Fulton Hogan, Downer, ISGM and BSA
On 14 July 2016 nbn signed contracts with six Delivery Partners to deliver the nbn™ network to homes and businesses across the Telstra HFC footprint within Australia.
Following a multi-stage contract sourcing process, nbn has appointed Lend Lease, Broadspectrum, Fulton Hogan, Downer, ISGM and BSA to carry out the construction of the nbn™ network across the Telstra HFC footprint. In June, nbn launched its HFC product on the former Optus network in Redcliffe QLD, with customers now joining the nbn™ network on the final MTM technology.
The deployment of the nbn™ network within the Telstra HFC footprint leverages the existing Telstra cable-TV network to the premises, enabling the network to be deployed quickly and cost effectively. Premises will be primarily connected to nbn’s upgraded HFC technology, however, they will also be connected via deployment of a multi-technology mix (MTM) solution.
nbn Chief Network Engineering Officer Peter Ryan said: “The nbn™ network is now available to more than 2.9 million homes and businesses around Australia. With this additional work from our Delivery Partners the HFC network will be deployed at scale to enable nbn to meet its 2020 targets.
“With this process we have ensured the most appropriate Delivery Partners are doing the work. They have enormous experience in construction in the telecommunications industry which will help us roll it out faster.
“Under the HFC Delivery Agreement announced in April 2016, Telstra will manage the MIMA Delivery Partners in the construction of the network within the Telstra HFC footprint. Telstra’s management of the MIMA Delivery Partners will be undertaken in close consultation with nbn,” said Mr Ryan.
Fast broadband is now being made available across the country through the HFC network and we encourage people to check their address on the nbn website. The HFC network will deliver wholesale speeds up to 100Mbps download and 40Mbps upload.
Further information can be found at www.nbnco.com.au
CABLING COMPLAINTS
All communications cabling work must be performed by a registered cabler. If a cabler is registered, they will have a card which proves that they can legally perform cabling work and must be undertaken in accordance with Australian Standard AS/CA S009:2013 Installation requirements for customer cabling (Wiring Rules).
The Wiring Rules define the technical requirements for the installation or repair of cabling that is connected to a telecommunications network.
The Wiring Rules cover cabling practice sufficient to ensure that the installation or normal use of the cabling does not expose cablers or customers to any dangers and/or adversely affect the telecommunications network.
The ACMA does not regulate quality of work.
If you are unhappy with cabling work completed in your home or office, you should:
- contact the Australian business or cabling provider and
- if a resolution cannot be reached, contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA). The ACMA can only act if the cabler is not appropriately registered or if the wiring rules have been breached.
You can also refer the matter to the office of consumer affairs or fair trading in your state or territory.
Any complaints about a cabler or cabling work should be reported to the ACMA.
- Online complaint form – Please use this form if you wish to lodge a complaint about:
- an unregistered cabler who is performing cabling work; or
- non-compliant work that has been performed by a registered cabler.
http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Telco/Infrastructure/Cabling-rules/cabling-complaints
PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE’S MISTAKES
As a cabler registered with ACRS, you are demonstrating a level of commitment to compliance and ‘doing the right thing’ that sets you apart from many other cablers in Australia who choose to ignore the regulations.
Cablers working with no registration have not had to demonstrate the level of training, skill and work experience that is required from registered cablers, and they are frequently not up to the necessary standard.
The poor work undertaken by unregistered and under-qualified cablers can put you at risk, both in terms of a physical safety risk when you are faced with dangerous cabling, but also at a risk of prosecution if the cabling work is investigated and you have worked on the site after the initial non-compliant work was carried out.
The TCA2 form is an important tool for protecting yourself and it is crucial that you report unregistered cablers and non-compliant work that you notice.
The ACMA has introduced an optional addition to the current TCA1 form. The TCA2 form is designed for use by registered cablers to alert customers or building managers of any non-compliant cable installations that are outside the contracted scope of work. Cablers may choose to issue it with a quotation prior to undertaking work, or after completing a particular cabling job to advise the customer or building manager of other matters that may still require attention.
If you wish to make an online enquiry or lodge a complaint with the ACMA to investigate a breach of a related Australian standard or industry code, please submit and enquiry via the ACMA website: www.acma.gov.au
Download telecommunications cabling advice forms
- TCA1 form: PDF (42 kB)or Word (329 kB).
- TCA2 form: PDF (35 kB)or Word (322 kB).
http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Telco/Infrastructure/Cabling-rules/tca-cabling-forms-guidelines
HOW NOT TO TERMINATE A MODE 3 SOCKET
ACRS often receives calls from cablers who hold a current ACRS registration and are called out to rectify and repair work which is in breach of a related Australian standard or industry code.
The picture below was emailed to ACRS by a registered cabler who was called upon after the carrier contractor had installed the nbn modem into a retirement village unit.
It shows how dodgy some of these phone company contractors can be and how not to terminate a mode 3 socket. This was among other faults (terminating different coloured pairs) at other sockets.
There seems to be a problem with many carrier repair technicians about not knowing how to fit off a mode 3 socket correctly.
NEWS FLASH: The Government SuperStream deadline for small employers has been extended to 28 October 2016
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will not be taking any compliance action against small employers who missed the 30 June 2016 SuperStream deadline.
2016 Federal Budget – Superannuation Update
NESS Super is pleased to provide you with an overview of the 2016 Federal Budget, delivered on 3 May 2016. A number of key superannuation changes were announced (though not yet legislated) in the recent Federal Budget, making this a very significant Budget for superannuation.
To keep up to date with all of the latest news and events, simply visit our website at acrs.com.au.