151ADirection relating to emergency call service matters

#### 151A Direction relating to emergency call service matters (1) The ACMA may give a carrier, a carriage service provider or an emergency call person that is not an individual (the recipient) a written direction under subsection (2), (3) or (5) in relation to the following matters (the ECS matters): (a) the provision of access to an emergency call service; (b) the operation of an emergency call service; (c) the receiving, handling, transfer or carriage of calls to an emergency service number; (d) the handling, transfer or carriage of calls made by an emergency call person to an emergency service, or a service for despatching an emergency service, in connection with a call to an emergency service number; (e) matters that may affect, or be affected by, a matter mentioned in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) in a manner that may pose a risk to the safety of the public or a section of the public. > Note 1: The ACMA may give an ECS direction on its own initiative or on request by the Custodian (see section 151L). > Note 2: The ACMA must give a copy of the direction to the Custodian as soon as practicable (see section 151C). Direction to provide information relating to an ECS matter (2) The direction may require the recipient to provide to the ACMA information relating to an ECS matter, including information on any of the following: (a) policies, procedures or processes relating to an ECS matter; (b) the installation, operation, maintenance or testing of network units, cabling, equipment, facilities, networks or software which relate to an ECS matter. Direction to provide information on a specified ECS outage event (3) The direction may require the recipient to provide to the ACMA information relating to a specified ECS outage event, including the following information: (a) details about the nature of the ECS outage event; (b) details about the services impacted by the ECS outage event; (c) details (including timeframes) relating to restoration and other actions to deal with the ECS outage event and its impact; (d) details about locations related to the ECS outage event; (e) details about the effects of the ECS outage event, including the effects on any of the following (affected entities): (i) carriers; (ii) carriage service providers; (iii) emergency services or services for despatching emergency services; (iv) Departments, agencies or authorities of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; (f) information relating to infrastructure affected by or related to the ECS outage event; (g) data on network performance and management before, during or after the ECS outage event; (h) details about the recipient’s interactions with other persons in relation to the ECS outage event, including with any affected entity; (i) details of the recipient’s public or internal communications relating to the ECS outage event. (4) An event is an ECS outage event if the Custodian or the ACMA reasonably believes that the event: (a) is occurring or will occur; and (b) may result in: (i) one or more persons losing access to an emergency call service; or (ii) an emergency call person being unable to receive or handle calls to an emergency service number, or to transfer such calls to an emergency service or a service for despatching an emergency service. Direction to take specified action (5) The direction may require the recipient to do any of the following: (a) take specified action for the purpose of developing policies, procedures and processes relating to an ECS matter; (b) provide the information mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) to a specified person or body; (c) consult with, or take specified action in relation to consulting with, a specified person or body in relation to: (i) an ECS matter; or (ii) information mentioned in subsection (2) or (3); (d) provide information to the ACMA in relation to any action the recipient is required to take under a direction made under this section. > Note: If the recipient provides information to a person under a direction, the person may use or disclose the information for the same purpose as the purpose for which the direction was given (see section 151E).