{"id":"F2019L00572","name":"Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) (Alternative Contractual Arrangements) Declaration 2019","slug":"telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-alternative-contractual-arrangements-de","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":440034,"registerId":"F2019L00572-fast-fetch-1775955826186","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) (Alternative Contractual Arrangements) Declaration 2019","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\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 (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) (Alternative Contractual Arrangements) Declaration 2019\n\nI, Mitch Fifield, Minister for Communications and the Arts, make the following Declaration.\n\nDated 28 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  Declaration\n\n \n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) (Alternative Contractual Arrangements) Declaration 2019.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under paragraphs 8J(3)(b) and 8K(3)(b) of the Act.\n\n4  Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\n5  Declaration\n\nIn my opinion, there are not satisfactory alternative contractual arrangements relating to:\n\n (a) standard telephone services; and\n\n (b) payphones.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument performs exactly the narrow function intended by its enabling legislation: providing a ministerial declaration about the existence (or non-existence) of alternative contractual arrangements for universal service obligations. It has not expanded beyond this specific statutory purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short instrument: only 5 sections spanning 2 pages","Only 1 defined term ('Act')","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the empowering provisions (paragraphs 8J(3)(b) and 8K(3)(b))","Single operative provision (section 5) containing a straightforward negative declaration","No conditional logic, exceptions, or procedural requirements","Minimal regulatory burden—essentially a ministerial statement of opinion"],"plain_english_summary":"The 2019 ministerial declaration finds there are no satisfactory commercial alternatives to the existing universal service obligation (USO) for standard telephone services and payphones. That preserves the regulated USO framework, keeping the designated provider (primarily Telstra) legally responsible to supply basic phone access nationwide. It matters because rural and remote Australians retain guaranteed phone service rather than relying on voluntary market arrangements."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument does not expand definitions or add new obligations. It is a ministerial declaration that certain services — standard telephone services and payphones — lack satisfactory alternative contractual arrangements, thereby maintaining the application of the Act’s consumer-protection and service-standard regime to those services (s5, s3). It is narrow in scope and limited to the services listed."},"complexity_factors":["Very short, single substantive clause (s5) — low textual complexity but high reliance on external law for effect (s3).","Delegates key judgment to the Minister: the instrument records a ministerial opinion rather than setting criteria or procedures (s5).","Relies on defined term and provisions in the parent Act (paragraphs 8J(3)(b) and 8K(3)(b)) whose scope and consequences are not restated here (s3).","Uses an evaluative phrase ('not satisfactory alternative contractual arrangements') that requires interpretation against the Act or administrative practice (s5).","No procedural detail, review mechanism, or time horizon included — implementation and challenge routes depend on the Act and administrative law."],"plain_english_summary":"This Declaration records the Minister’s formal opinion that there are no satisfactory alternative contractual arrangements for standard telephone services and payphones (s5). Made under the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 (s3), the Declaration keeps those services governed by the Act’s consumer protection and service‑standards framework. It affects telecommunications providers, payphone operators and their customers because the Minister’s determination controls whether alternative contractual arrangements can be relied on for those services."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-alternative-contractual-arrangements-de","history":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-alternative-contractual-arrangements-de/history","analysis":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-alternative-contractual-arrangements-de/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-alternative-contractual-arrangements-de/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-alternative-contractual-arrangements-de/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-alternative-contractual-arrangements-de/documents"}}