The draft instrument would exempt a class of persons from paying the charges if it is a government entity that owns and operates a radio network, and uses it to supply carriage services to other government bodies and non-government organisations for public safety and national security purposes, provided each carriage service the entity supplies is wholly non-commercial or not-for-profit. We are seeking views on whether such an instrument should be made.
Why we want your input
The decision to make the class exemption is a matter for the Minister for Communications. The input of affected parties through this consultation process will be taken into account.How you can voice your opinion
You can voice your opinion by providing a submission to this public consultation process. Submissions are due by 5pm Monday, 20 June 2022.What will be the outcome of this consultation?
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is seeking comments on whether the class of persons that provide operational services to Government agencies on a not for profit basis for the purposes of public safety should be made exempt from the Telecommunications Industry Levy and Annual Carrier Licencing Charge for three years, starting from the 2021–22 financial year.The Issue
The draft instrument would exempt the proposed class of persons from paying the charges a government entity that owns and operates a radio network, and uses it to supply carriage services to other government bodies and non-government organisations for public safety and national security purposes, provided each carriage service the entity supplies is wholly non-commercial or not-for-profit.
The consultation process has been prompted by a request made by the NSW Telecommunications Authority (NSWTA). NSWTA's Government Radio Network provides operational services to a range of Government agencies on a not for profit basis for the purposes of public safety. Prior to December 2021, NSWTA was exempted from the obligation to hold a carrier licence and, consequently, did not pay the charges.
The request has prompted the Government to consider whether a class of entities with similar characteristics to NSWTA should pay the charges.
Relevant documentation
Outcome
Following this consultation, the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, made the Telecommunications (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2022, which commenced from 28 June 2022.
Participate
10 Jun 2022 17:00 AEST
20 Jun 2022 17:00 AEST
Closed
We invite you to to tell us your views on this topic.
Please include:
- contact name
- organisation name, if applicable
- contact details, including telephone number, postal and email addresses
- confirmation whether or not your submission can be made public—published—or kept confidential.
All submissions to be made public need to meet the Digital Service Standard for accessibility. Any submission that does not meet this standard may be modified before being made public.
If your submission is to be made public, please ensure you do not include any personal information that you don't want to be published.
If your submission is confidential, please ensure each page of the submission is marked as confidential.
Please click on the 'Have your say now' button below to upload your submission.
This consultation is closed.
What should be identified in submission:
The name of the party making the submission
- the organisation represented (if applicable)
- contact details, including telephone number, postal and email address.
Email to send submission to: InfrastructureandAccess@infrastructure.gov.au
Postal address to send submission to:
Director, Telecommunications Competition
PO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601
Australian Privacy Principle 5 Notice
Consultation on a proposed telecommunications class exemption
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the department) is collecting personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 for the purposes of conducting a consultation on whether Government bodies that own, operate and use a radio network to provide carriage services to Government agencies on a not for profit or non-commercial basis for the purposes of public safety or national security should be made exempt from the Telecommunications Industry Levy and Annual Carrier Licencing Charge for three years, starting from the 2021–22 financial year.
The department will use your personal information for the purposes of notifying you of updates on the process for considering whether an exemption should be made and will store this information securely. The Department may disclose information to the Australian Communications and Media Authority and to the Minister for Communications for the purposes of considering this issue. If you do not provide the information requested, we may not be able to fully consider your comments and/or contact you further.
The department's Privacy Policy contains information regarding complaint handling processes, and how to access or seek correction of personal information held by the department. The Privacy Officer can be contacted at privacy@infrastructure.gov.au.
Submissions
Australia Tower Network (ATN)
Communications Alliance
New South Wales Telecommunications Authority