Apply for a nominated carrier declaration

1. The owner(s) of one or more network units nominates a carrier that agrees to meet any carrier-related rules relating to the network unit.
2. We assess a complete application when the application charge has been paid.
3. If we approve the application, we make a nominated carrier declaration.

Step 1

A licensed carrier may apply for an NCD over network units owned by another person.

Before you apply, read the carrier licensing guide to understand what you must do.

An application for an NCD can cover becoming the nominated carrier for:

• one network unit belonging to one owner
• one network unit belonging to more than one owner
• more than one network unit belonging to one owner
• more than one network unit belonging to more than one owner.

We can only declare one carrier to be the nominated carrier in relation to any network unit.

All NCDs currently in force appear on the register of carrier licences and nominated carrier declarations.

If there is currently a nominated carrier in relation to the network unit for which you are seeking an NCD, the current nominated carrier or the owner of the network unit may need to request revocation of the existing NCD.

Step 2

Before submitting your application, contact us at carriers@acma.gov.au to obtain an invoice for payment of the NCD application charge.

For an invoice to be raised, the ACMA requires the following information of the applicant:

• ABN, ACN or applicable company identifier
• registered office address (where a company or business receives official correspondence and documents)
• details of the contact person for the purposes of the application (full name, position, telephone and email).

The Telecommunications (Charges) Determination 2022 sets the application charge, which is $2,365.

Step 3

Complete form T034 – Application for a nominated carrier declaration. You will need to:

• provide consent from the owner or each of the owners of the network units
• include the nominee's confirmation that they accept responsibility for the network units
• describe the network units with help from the carrier licensing guide.

Provide as much detail as possible to help us assess your application. For example:

• any processes you and the owner of the network units have put in place to ensure you meet all the obligations of carriers
• how the owner will co-operate and obey lawful directions by you to enable you to comply with all carrier obligations.

Applicants should refer to the checklist in form T034 to ensure their application is complete prior to submitting it to the ACMA. Applicants must also pay the non-refundable application charge.

Submit the application to the ACMA by email at carriers@acma.gov.au.

Step 4

We may ask for more information.

We may declare the applicant to be the nominated carrier if we decide that:

• the nominated carrier can meet all carrier-related obligations relating to the specified network units
• the declaration would not affect the administration of the Telecommunications Act (see section 81 of the Telecommunications Act).

If we make the declaration, we will:

• give a copy to the applicant and each owner of the network units
• publish the declaration in the Gazette
• add details to the Register of licensed carriers and NCDs

If we refuse the application, we will write to tell the applicant and the owner(s) of the network units.

We must revoke a nominated carrier declaration if:

• any owner(s) of the network units tells us in writing that they do not agree to the declaration being in place
• the nominated carrier tells us in writing that it does not accept responsibility for the network units

We may also revoke a declaration if we believe that the ACMA would now refuse to make the NCD if it were assumed the nominated carrier were to apply for it.

In this case, we write to the nominated carrier and propose to revoke the declaration. The nominated carrier may respond to us within a specified period of at least 7 days.

If we decide to revoke a declaration, we will notify the:

• former nominated carrier
• owner(s) of the network units concerned

We also publish the revocation in the Gazette.