{"id":"F2019L00317","name":"Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Exemption - Trial Network Units) Determination 2019","slug":"telecommunications-carrier-licence-exemption-trial-network-units-determination-2019","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":439986,"registerId":"F2019L00317-fast-fetch-1775955794683","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Exemption - Trial Network Units) Determination 2019","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nTelecommunications (Carrier Licence Exemption - Trial Network Units) Determination 2019\n\nI, Mitch Fifield, Minister for Communications and the Arts, make the following determination.\n\nDated 12 March 2019   \n\nMitch Fifield\n\nMinister for Communications and the Arts\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1  Name\n\n2  Commencement\n\n3  Authority\n\n4  Definitions\n\n5  Schedules\n\n6  Exemption for network units solely being used for a trial\n\n7  Requirements of, and conditions for the issuance of Trial Certificates\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nDETERMINATION UNDER SUBSECTION 51(1), No. 1 of 1998\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Exemption - Trial Network Units) Determination 2019.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on the day after this instrument is registered.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under paragraph 51(1)(c) and subsection 51(2) of the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\n4  Definitions\n\nNote: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the definitions section of the Act, including the following:\n\n(a) ACMA;\n\n(b) network unit.\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\nTrial Certificate is a written document prepared by the ACMA that states, in the ACMA’s opinion, the network unit is being solely operated on a trial basis. In issuing, or extending, a Trial Certificate, the ACMA must comply with the conditions and requirements set out in section 7 below.\n\n5  Schedules\n\n  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.\n\n6  Exemption for network units solely being used for a trial\n\nSection 42 of the Act does not apply in relation to a network unit for which there has been a Trial Certificate issued by the ACMA.\n\n7  Requirements of, and conditions for, the issuance of Trial Certificates\n\n (1) The ACMA, in deciding whether to issue a Trial Certificate (or to extend the duration of an existing Trial Certificate), may have regard to:\n\n (a) the duration of the trial (including any proposed extension of the trial’s duration);\n\n (b) any previous trials for a similar carriage service;\n\n (c) the reasons for the trial, including whether it is for the evaluation of technical feasibility or commercial prospects;\n\n (d)  the effects of the trial on competition within the telecommunications industry or a sector of the telecommunications industry;\n\n (e) any charges to end-users participating in the trial;\n\n (f) whether the size of the trial would unreasonably affect the revenue of a carrier; and\n\n (g) any other matters the ACMA considers relevant.\n\n (2) The Trial Certificate must include a period, not exceeding 6 months, during which it remains in force.\n\n (3) The ACMA may issue a certificate extending the original Trial Certificate for a period not exceeding 6 months at any time before the original Trial Certificate’s expiry.\n\n (4) The ACMA may only issue up to two Trial Certificates in respect of the same network unit.\n\n\n\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nDETERMINATION UNDER SUBSECTION 51(1), No. 1 of 1998\n\n1  The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument\n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination maintains the same narrow scope as its 1998 predecessor. It continues to provide a limited, time-bound exemption for trial network units only, with strict caps on duration (12 months maximum) and number of certificates (two per unit). The scope has not expanded beyond facilitating short-term telecommunications trials without full carrier licensing."},"complexity_factors":["Short document: only 7 substantive sections plus a repeal schedule","Minimal defined terms: only 2 explicit definitions ('Act' and 'Trial Certificate'), with 2 terms referenced from the parent Act","Simple conditional structure: single exemption in section 6 with straightforward conditions in section 7","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing beyond the parent Act","Clear temporal limits (6 months, max 2 certificates) with no discretionary overrides","Single purpose instrument: creates one specific exemption mechanism without ancillary provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This Determination lets companies testing telecommunications network equipment in Australia operate under a temporary \"Trial Certificate\" from the ACMA instead of a full carrier licence. Certificates run up to 6 months with a single 6‑month extension, and a company may hold two certificates for the same equipment before needing a licence.\n\nIt enables short-term testing to foster innovation while allowing the ACMA to weigh consumer impact, competition and effects on existing carriers."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals the earlier (1998) determination and replaces it with a regime that grants exemptions only where ACMA issues a time‑limited Trial Certificate. The new rules impose explicit certificate, duration (max 6 months), and cap (max two certificates) conditions and set out ACMA's assessment factors, thereby narrowing and formalising the circumstances in which a network unit is exempt from the carrier‑licence requirement."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to the Telecommunications Act 1997 and reliance on defined terms (eg. 'network unit' and ACMA) increases interpretive work.","ACMA discretion: multiple non‑exhaustive factors listed for decision‑making (trial purpose, duration, competition effects, charges, revenue impact, and any other matters).","Time limits and counters: certificates limited to 6 months, extendable once, and capped at two certificates per network unit, requiring administrative tracking.","Administrative procedure risk: issuance, extension and assessment create compliance and document‑management obligations for applicants and ACMA.","Repeal of prior instrument (Schedule 1) requires comparison with earlier coverage to determine transitional or scope differences for existing trials."],"plain_english_summary":"This Determination lets the ACMA exempt network units from the carrier‑licence requirement when they are used only for a trial. Exemption requires a written Trial Certificate from ACMA; each certificate lasts up to six months and ACMA may issue up to two certificates per unit.\n\nIt affects organisations running test equipment or trial services: they avoid carrier‑licensing while the certificate applies. ACMA may consider trial length, prior trials, competition effects, charges to participants and carrier revenue, creating administrative discretion and a temporary, conditional exemption."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/telecommunications-carrier-licence-exemption-trial-network-units-determination-2019","history":"/api/acts/telecommunications-carrier-licence-exemption-trial-network-units-determination-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/telecommunications-carrier-licence-exemption-trial-network-units-determination-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/telecommunications-carrier-licence-exemption-trial-network-units-determination-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/telecommunications-carrier-licence-exemption-trial-network-units-determination-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/telecommunications-carrier-licence-exemption-trial-network-units-determination-2019/documents"}}