Consultation on proposed temporary facilities and other amendments

The Australian Government is seeking comments on the proposed amendments to the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (LIFD) and the Telecommunications Code of Practice 2018 (Code of Practice) which will allow carriers to deploy temporary facilities, including temporary towers, as low impact telecommunications facilities.

We are seeking your feedback on the proposed changes to the LIFD and the Code of Practice.

Following passage of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (TLAA) the Minister now has powers to prescribe temporary facilities, including those with a tower, as low-impact facilities in certain circumstances. Temporary facilities can only be deployed in the following situations:

• providing additional capacity during one or more events (such as a concert, festival or sporting event)
• providing additional capacity during a peak holiday period
• minimising service disruption during the maintenance or replacement of an existing facility
• providing services to an emergency services organisation so that it can deal with an emergency or natural disaster.

Along with making the necessary changes to implement the temporary facilities amendments, additional changes will be made to:

• Clarify the definition of 'radiocommunications facility' at Item 8, Part 1 of the Schedule to the LIFD
• Amend the definition of 'original facility' in the LIFD to refer to the correct Schedule
• Remove obsolete references to 'Nature Conservation Director' in the Code of Practice
• address recommendations made by the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinance to list the relevant standards that carriers are required to comply with in the Code of Practice.

Relevant Documentation

Exposure Drafts - Telecommunications (Low-Impact Facilities) Determination 2018

Published 22nd Nov 2019

Download PDF (358.85 KB)

This document has been prepared by us to assist stakeholders in understanding the 2019 proposed changes to Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018. This document does not meet WCAG 2.0 requirements. For an accessible version please email powersandimmunities@communications.gov.au.

Exposure Drafts - and the Telecommunications Code of Practice 2018

Published 22nd Nov 2019

Download PDF (627.73 KB)

This document has been prepared by us to assist stakeholders in understanding the 2019 proposed changes to Telecommunications Code of Practice 2018. This document does not meet WCAG 2.0 requirements. For an accessible version please email powersandimmunities@communications.gov.au.

Explanatory Notes to the Exposure Drafts - Telecommunications (Low-Impact Facilities) Determination 2018 and the Telecommunications Code of Practice 2018

Published 22nd Nov 2019

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This document provides an overview of proposed amendments to the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (LIFD) and the Telecommunications Code of Practice 2018 (Code of Practice) to assist members of the public to make a submission. The draft legislative instruments have been prepared for the purposes of public consultation and are subject to change.