28 March 2007
ACMA releases IPND Scheme
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will have a ‘gatekeeper’ role in granting applications for authorisation to use and disclose information from the Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) under a new scheme.
The Telecommunications Integrated Public Number Database Scheme 2007 (the IPND Scheme) has been established as a result of the recent amendments to the Telecommunications Act 1997. The IPND Scheme will become operational upon proclamation of the enabling amendments to the Telecommunications Act.
‘The IPND Scheme is intended to ensure that IPND data is only used for authorised purposes and will assist in preventing any misuse of IPND information.’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.
Under the scheme ACMA will have a ‘gatekeeper’ role in granting authorisations to use and disclose information from the IPND in connection with the publication and maintenance of a public number directory or for conducting research of a kind specified by the Minister.
In addition, the IPND Scheme imposes conditions upon the granting of authorisations. Conditions include obligations regarding the manner in which corrections are dealt with and the information which must be provided to consumers who are contacted by researchers.
ACMA will hold a series of information sessions in early April to assist existing and prospective users in the preparation of their applications under the scheme. The sessions will be held on 10, 11 & 12 April in Sydney and 13 April in Melbourne.
The IPND scheme is available on the ACMA website.
Media contact: Donald Robertson, ACMA Media Manager on (02) 9334 7980.
Backgrounder
The Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) is an industry wide database of all listed and unlisted public telephone numbers. It was established in 1998 and is managed by Telstra under the Carrier Licence Condition (Telstra Corporation Limited) Declaration 1997 (the Licence Conditions).
Access to, and use of data from the IPND is governed by Part 13 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (the Act), the Licence Conditions and the Industry Code ACIF C555 – Integrated Public Number Database, Data Provider, Data User and IPND Manager (the IPND code).
The amendments to Part 13 of the Telecommunications Act 1997, which received Royal Assent on 8 December 2006, required ACMA to produce a legislative instrument to set up and administer the IPND scheme. The amendments also allow for up to seven Ministerial instruments to complement the scheme.
The IPND scheme details the process by which ACMA will grant authorisations to access the IPND for the purposes specified in section 285 (1A) (d) of the Telecommunications Act 1997. These purposes are the publication and maintenance of a public number directory and the conduct of research as specified by the Minister in the Telecommunications (Integrated Public Number Database – Permitted Research Purposes) Instrument 2007 (No.1).
The IPND scheme makes provision for the making of applications, the assessment of applications, the period for which authorisations will be in force and the notification of decisions under the scheme. The scheme also provides for the imposition of conditions on the grant of authorisations, and outlines the process for when authorisations end.
Distinct, but similar processes are in place for public number directory publishers and researchers.
