Summary
The Emergency Service Calling Code was formally approved by the TCF on 6 November 2009 following a request by the Minister to consider a code of practice regarding Emergency Services calling.
2011 Code Amendments
Since its inception Government officials asked the Emergency Services Calling Working Party (“the Working Party”) to reconsider the compliance and enforcement aspects of the Code to allow for a proactive review of a signatory’s documentation regarding their compliance, by Government agencies.
Following consultation with Emergency Services Providers (“ESPs”) and officials, the Working Party drafted an amendment to the compliance portion of the Code to address this issue.
Background
The Code requires member Voice Service Providers (VSPs) to comply with the Code and keep information that shows that compliance. Where the TCF becomes aware of a suspected breach of the Code, it may appoint a suitably qualified enforcement authority to investigate a VSPs compliance with the Code. ESPs may also notify the TCF of a suspected breach of the Code.
For most elements of the Code, it will be apparent to consumers or ESPs whether there is a compliance issue, for example, where an operator is not providing customer location data to ESPs, failing to open 111 in the network, or not providing the required information to consumers at the point of sale.
The Code recognises, however, that for some call performance attributes it may be difficult to identify compliance issues under the general scheme. The Code specifically caters for this through a service certification process, and the ability for ESPs to monitor call quality and request an audit where there are suspected compliance issues. The Government’s officials however considered that this compliance regime could be improved, particularly surrounding the area of self certification. The Working Party was therefore asked to consider changes to the Code that would allow a Government agent to review the adequacy of a party’s documentation by which they self certify compliance with the Code. This power is in addition to that already granted under the Code to audit a party’s compliance generally.
The proposal is to augment current compliance arrangements through an additional compliance review power. If the review identifies an issue the matter would be considered through the investigation powers already provided in the Code.
Consultation
The consultation period closed on 17 December 2010. The summary of changes consulted on can be found in the Summary of Changes to the Emergency Services Calling Code.
The Working Party Received one submission, from TelstraClear.
Having reviewed the submission and considered further points raised by Working Party members, the Working Party undertook several further, mainly administrative changes, to the Emergency Services Code. These changes were consulted upon with current code signatories in July 2011. The full changes are set out in following papers:
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