New cabling training requirements

The regulatory requirements for cabling providers who install specialised cabling within customer premises have been amended by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

The ACMA’s Cabling Provider Rules (CPRs) regulate the performance of cabling work in customer premises. Under the CPRs, cabling providers must be appropriately registered by registrars appointed by the ACMA to undertake the work they perform.

The amendments to the ACMA cabling arrangements have been made to ensure cabling providers have the necessary skills required to perform specialised cabling work for the current and emerging customer cabling environment.

Under the new arrangements, cabling providers undertaking broadband, structured, optical-fibre or coaxial cabling work must have the training competencies relevant to the specialised cabling work. The new competencies only apply to cabling providers who are undertaking the relevant specialised cabling work within customer premises.

The new competency requirements will apply from 1 July 2012. Existing cabling providers who install those specialised cables, but who have not already attained the additional competencies, will be given a two-year transition period to attain those competencies.

If a cabler is registered with the Australian Cabler Registration Service (ACRS), s/he will receive a letter in the coming months advising her/his current registration endorsements and explaining the requirements to remain compliant and appropriately registered to undertake work.

For more information on the new arrangements, please contact the ACMA on comply.label@acma.gov.au.