Part 5Guidelines — application for geographic numbers or location independent communications service numbers for use in connection with a service using IP technology

Part 5 Guidelines — application for geographic numbers or location independent communications service numbers for use in connection with a service using IP technology

These guidelines set out matters to which a carriage service provider (CSP) must have regard when providing a statement, under clause 2.7 or 3.7 of this Schedule, in an application for the allocation of geographic numbers or location independent communications service numbers that are to be used in connection with a service using IP technology.

The provision of numbers for carriage services within Australia

Under section 455 of the Telecommunications Act 1997, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is required to develop and maintain this Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 (the Numbering Plan). The Numbering Plan provides for the specification of numbers for carriage services by service type. Numbers must be allocated to CSPs as specified under the Numbering Plan. Numbers allocated to CSPs must be issued to customers for the supply of carriage services that are consistent with the service type for which they have been specified. CSPs must take reasonable steps to ensure that numbers are used in a manner that complies with the provisions of the Numbering Plan.

Geographic numbers

Geographic numbers are specified in Schedule 2 of the Numbering Plan. The provisions of Chapter 3 of the Numbering Plan stipulate how geographic numbers may be used in connection with the supply of carriage services in Australia. Section 3.4 of the Numbering Plan sets out the manner in which a geographic number must be used. Subsection (1) of section 3.4 prohibits the use of geographic numbers except in connection with the supply of a local service. Subsection (4) of section 3.4 provides that the call on a geographic number must terminate in the standard zone unit (SZU) in relation to which the geographic number was allocated to the CSP. This requirement can also be satisfied if the CSP can establish a location to which call charges can be applied ‘as if’ the geographic number terminated within the SZU to which it was originally allocated.

Therefore, when requesting an allocation of geographic numbers, a CSP must be able to establish a permanent location to which calls to the number must terminate. The underlying rationale for these requirements in the use of geographic numbers is to provide CSPs with the ability to meet their obligation to provide the untimed local call option to customers in accordance with section 105 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 on eligible local calls.

Section 3.4 provides some flexibility in the use of geographic numbers. Subsections 3.4 (4A) and (4B) provide that if calls terminate at a location that is not in a charging district for the number in Schedule 2, the CSP must advise potential customers of limitations on the provision of the service. The CSP must also obtain an acknowledgement that a customer understands these limitations before entering into an arrangement for supply of the service. However, the CSP will not be required to meet these requirements if the CSP is covered by an industry code, registered by the ACMA under section 117 of the Act and included in the Register of Industry Codes kept under section 136 of the Act, that sets out the information the CSP is required to provide to a potential customer in relation to the use of geographic numbers outside of the relevant charging district for the number. Similar provisions are included in sections 3.5 and 3.7 for numbers of local and broad geographic significance.