Discussion Paper: Carriage Service Provider (CSP) registration or licensing scheme for the telecommunications industry

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We're seeking views on whether a Carriage Service Provider (CSP) registration or licensing scheme should be developed for the telecommunications industry.

Why we want your input

A range of stakeholders have provided in-principle support over many years for the creation of a registration or licensing scheme for CSPs. The Australian Government considers it would be beneficial to undertake a formal consultation process to rigorously investigate this proposal. This will include canvassing views on the appropriateness of such a scheme, possible forms and operating models, as well as the costs and benefits and any alternative approaches.

The Australian Government has not made any decisions on implementing a scheme of this nature and your feedback will inform its consideration regarding this proposal.

How you can voice your opinion

You can have your say by reading the Registration or Licensing Scheme for Carriage Service Providers discussion paper and providing a submission outlining your views.

What will be the outcome of this consultation?

Your submission will guide the Australian Government’s consideration of whether and how to implement a potential registration or licensing scheme for CSPs. Consideration will also be given to whether the same intended outcomes can be achieved through other mechanisms or the introduction of alternative regulatory powers.

The Issue

Currently, there is a licensing scheme for telecommunications carriers (network operators), however no similar arrangements exist for CSPs (telecommunications retailers).

Arguments put forward by stakeholders in favour of a registration/licensing scheme generally focus on the following overarching objectives:

Increasing visibility of CSPs operating in the market, for example to support the ACMA's work to educate providers about their obligations and target enforcement activities;
Facilitating a mechanism the ACMA can use to stop CSPs operating in the market who pose unacceptable risk to consumers, or cause significant consumer harm.

Noting this requires an accompanying obligation on CSPs to be registered/licenced in order to sell services to customers and a power for the ACMA to revoke a registration or licence.

The discussion paper seeks feedback to clarify what the objectives of a scheme would be and to investigate approaches to registration or licensing for CSPs, or alternatives, that would deliver on those.