{"id":"F2025L00399","name":"Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Equipment for Use with the Standard Telephone Service — Features Designed for People with Disability — AS/ACIF S040) Standard 2025","slug":"telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-equipment-for-use-with-the-standard-telephone-service-f","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":106220,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2025L00399-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Preliminary","content":"#### Part 1—Preliminary\n\n#### 1 Name\n\n    This standard is the Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Equipment for Use with the Standard Telephone Service — Features Designed for People with Disability — AS/ACIF S040) Standard 2025.\n    This standard may also be cited as AS/ACIF S040-2025.\n\n#### 2 Commencement\n\n  This standard commences on 30 March 2025.\n\n> Note: This standard is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation which may be accessed free of charge at www.legislation.gov.au.\n\n#### 3 Authority\n\n  This standard is made under subsection 380(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\n#### 4 Repeal of the Telecommunications Disability Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment for use with the Standard Telephone Service — Features for special needs of persons with disabilities — AS/ACIF S040) 2015\n\n  The Telecommunications Disability Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment for use with the Standard Telephone Service — Features for special needs of persons with disabilities — AS/ACIF S040) 2015 (F2015L00191) is repealed.\n\n#### 5 Object\n\nThe object of this standard is to provide for requirements relating to specified customer equipment that:\n\n(a) is for use in connection with the standard telephone service; and\n\n(b) is for use primarily by people without disability; and\n\n(c) has features that are designed to cater for any or all accessibility requirements for people with disability.\n\n#### 6 Definitions\n\nNote: A number of expressions used in this instrument have the same meaning as in the Act, including:\n\n    ACMA (see section 7)\n    customer equipment (see sections 7 and 21)\n    disability (see section 380)\n    standard telephone service (see section 7).\n\n  In this instrument:\n\n> Act means the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\nAS/ACIF Standard means the Australian Standard AS/ACIF S040:2001 – Requirements for Customer Equipment for use with the Standard Telephone Service - Features for special needs of persons with disabilities published by the Australian Communications Industry Forum Ltd (now known as Communications Alliance Ltd) in March 2002, as existing at the time this standard commences.\n\nNote 1: The AS/ACIF Standard is available, free of charge, on Communications Alliance Ltd’s website at www.commsalliance.com.au.\n\nNote 2: See subsection 381(1) of the Act for the adoption of Australian Standards.\n\n#### Part 2—Application, standard and transitional arrangements\n\n7 Application\n\nThis standard applies to customer equipment that:\n\n(a) uses a telephone handset or keypad that is manufactured in Australia, or imported, for use with the standard telephone service; and\n\n(b) is for use primarily by people without disability; and\n\n(c) has features that are designed to meet any or all accessibility requirements for people with disability.\n\n8 Standard with which customer equipment must comply\n\nThe customer equipment to which this standard applies must comply with the AS/ACIF Standard.\n\n9 Savings and transitional arrangements for customer equipment in existence before commencement\n\nIf customer equipment to which this standard applies:\n\n1.  was in existence immediately before the commencement of this standard; and\n2.  complied with the Telecommunications Disability Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment for use with the Standard Telephone Service — Features for special needs of persons with disabilities — AS/ACIF S040) 2015 as in force immediately before the commencement of this standard,\n\nthe equipment is taken to comply with this standard.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n    This standard is the Telecommunications (Requirements for Customer Equipment for Use with the Standard Telephone Service — Features Designed for People with Disability — AS/ACIF S040) Standard 2025.\n    This standard may also be cited as AS/ACIF S040-2025.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n  This standard commences on 30 March 2025.\n\n> Note: This standard is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation which may be accessed free of charge at www.legislation.gov.au.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n  This standard is made under subsection 380(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Repeal of the Telecommunications Disability Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment for use with the Standard Telephone Service — Features for special needs of persons with disabilities — AS/ACIF S040) 2015","content":"#### 4 Repeal of the Telecommunications Disability Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment for use with the Standard Telephone Service — Features for special needs of persons with disabilities — AS/ACIF S040) 2015\n\n  The Telecommunications Disability Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment for use with the Standard Telephone Service — Features for special needs of persons with disabilities — AS/ACIF S040) 2015 (F2015L00191) is repealed.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Object","content":"#### 5 Object\n\nThe object of this standard is to provide for requirements relating to specified customer equipment that:\n\n(a) is for use in connection with the standard telephone service; and\n\n(b) is for use primarily by people without disability; and\n\n(c) has features that are designed to cater for any or all accessibility requirements for people with disability.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 6 Definitions\n\nNote: A number of expressions used in this instrument have the same meaning as in the Act, including:\n\n    ACMA (see section 7)\n    customer equipment (see sections 7 and 21)\n    disability (see section 380)\n    standard telephone service (see section 7).\n\n  In this instrument:\n\n> Act means the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\nAS/ACIF Standard means the Australian Standard AS/ACIF S040:2001 – Requirements for Customer Equipment for use with the Standard Telephone Service - Features for special needs of persons with disabilities published by the Australian Communications Industry Forum Ltd (now known as Communications Alliance Ltd) in March 2002, as existing at the time this standard commences.\n\nNote 1: The AS/ACIF Standard is available, free of charge, on Communications Alliance Ltd’s website at www.commsalliance.com.au.\n\nNote 2: See subsection 381(1) of the Act for the adoption of Australian Standards.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application, standard and transitional arrangements","content":"#### Part 2—Application, standard and transitional arrangements\n\n7 Application\n\nThis standard applies to customer equipment that:\n\n(a) uses a telephone handset or keypad that is manufactured in Australia, or imported, for use with the standard telephone service; and\n\n(b) is for use primarily by people without disability; and\n\n(c) has features that are designed to meet any or all accessibility requirements for people with disability.\n\n8 Standard with which customer equipment must comply\n\nThe customer equipment to which this standard applies must comply with the AS/ACIF Standard.\n\n9 Savings and transitional arrangements for customer equipment in existence before commencement\n\nIf customer equipment to which this standard applies:\n\n1.  was in existence immediately before the commencement of this standard; and\n2.  complied with the Telecommunications Disability Standard (Requirements for Customer Equipment for use with the Standard Telephone Service — Features for special needs of persons with disabilities — AS/ACIF S040) 2015 as in force immediately before the commencement of this standard,\n\nthe equipment is taken to comply with this standard.","sortOrder":7}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument repeals the 2015 standard (s 4) but adopts the AS/ACIF S040:2001 standard as the required technical benchmark (s 8; s 6). The object and application remain focused on customer equipment for the standard telephone service primarily used by people without disability that include accessibility features (ss 5 and 7). Transitional savings preserve pre-existing compliant equipment (s 9). There is no express expansion or narrowing of the application in the text supplied."},"complexity_factors":["Incorporation by reference of the external Australian Standard AS/ACIF S040:2001 as the required compliance benchmark (see s 8; definition of AS/ACIF Standard in s 6).","Narrow, potentially ambiguous application criteria: equipment must be 'for use primarily by people without disability' yet 'has features designed to meet any or all accessibility requirements' — interpretation risk for manufacturers/importers (see ss 5 and 7).","Transitional savings that preserve compliance for equipment in existence before commencement if it complied with the 2015 standard — creates recordkeeping and evidentiary considerations (see s 9).","Repeal of the 2015 Telecommunications Disability Standard may require suppliers and regulators to update certification, labels or internal compliance processes (see s 4).","Fixed commencement date implies immediate effect for new imports/manufacture from 30 March 2025, creating a clear compliance deadline (see s 2).","Authority clause references the Telecommunications Act (made under s 380(1)) and cross-references adoption of Australian Standards procedures (see s 3 and note to s 6 referencing s 381(1)), so enforcement and interaction with Act-based powers may matter for compliance and remedies.","Dependence on an industry-published standard held by Communications Alliance requires users to consult an external technical document (see note to s 6)."],"plain_english_summary":"This standard, commencing 30 March 2025, requires certain telephone handsets and keypads—manufactured or imported for use with the standard telephone service, primarily for people without disability but with accessibility features—to meet the AS/ACIF S040:2001 technical standard. It repeals the 2015 disability standard and deems previously compliant equipment to comply. It mainly affects manufacturers, importers and suppliers by fixing a mandatory technical reference that determines market access and compliance costs."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a straightforward re-enactment and update of the 2015 standard. The scope remains identical: regulating customer equipment for the standard telephone service with disability accessibility features. The 2025 version simply repeals and replaces the 2015 version without expanding the subject matter or adding new categories of regulated equipment."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (only 9 operative sections)","Minimal defined terms (only 2 explicit definitions in section 6, plus incorporated terms from the Telecommunications Act 1997)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond a simple transitional arrangement in section 9","Single cross-reference to an external standard (AS/ACIF S040:2001) rather than detailed technical requirements in the instrument itself","Straightforward application test with three simple criteria in section 7","No subordinate legislation or regulations referenced beyond the parent Act"],"plain_english_summary":"This law requires telephone handsets and keypads sold in Australia that include accessibility features for people with disabilities to meet the technical standard AS/ACIF S040:2001. It targets devices primarily intended for users without disabilities that nevertheless offer features like hearing‑aid compatibility, large buttons, or visual indicators.\n\nIt affects manufacturers, importers and retailers and protects users by ensuring advertised accessibility actually works. The rule replaces the 2015 version; equipment compliant with the old rules remains valid."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-equipment-for-use-with-the-standard-telephone-service-f","history":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-equipment-for-use-with-the-standard-telephone-service-f/history","analysis":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-equipment-for-use-with-the-standard-telephone-service-f/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-equipment-for-use-with-the-standard-telephone-service-f/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-equipment-for-use-with-the-standard-telephone-service-f/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/telecommunications-requirements-for-customer-equipment-for-use-with-the-standard-telephone-service-f/documents"}}