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Australian Government - Australian Communications and Media Authority

IFC 02/2011

Numbering: Customer location information and numbering data - Consultation paper number two

This paper examines the different attributes of numbers and how the information they convey is currently used by communications users, service providers and other organisations. In the past, one of the most important attributes of numbers has been the location of a customer who is using the number. Some uses of this location information have been important to the price transparency of calls, and some have been critical to public safety, such as the knowledge of the location of a person making an emergency call.

The paper then goes on to map a number of pressures affecting the use of such information, including:

  • the importance of mobile phones and the corresponding decline in the use of landline phones, with the consequence that the location of a caller is more often dynamic than fixed
  • the growth of VoIP services, which are not inherently constrained to be used at a fixed location, with a potentially similar consequence to that of the use of mobile phones
  • the widespread use of alternative communications services that do not use numbers at all, including chat and social networking services.

The last part of the paper examines some alternative models for obtaining location and other information about a user of a communication service. The ACMA is not looking to make immediate changes, but is interested in identifying the transition paths needed in the medium term as changes may be required in the future.

Purpose of this paper

The ACMA sought feedback from the public on this paper to allow it to assess the degree and speed of change that is needed to support changing industry and user requirements and expectations of telecommunications numbering.

The paper is available in PDF (641 kb) or Word (1.3 mb) formats.

Written submissions

The ACMA invited written submissions from the public and industry on the matters raised in this paper both in response to specific questions raised and as otherwise considered relevant.

The closing date for submissions to this paper was 5.00 pm 18 March 2011.

Members of the public and industry are encouraged to make submissions by email to: numbering.project@acma.gov.au

or by mail to:

Manager
Numbering Project
Australian Communications and Media Authority
PO Box 13112
Law Courts
Melbourne, Victoria, 8010

Electronic submissions in Microsoft Word or rich text format are preferred.

Submissions

Publication of submissions

In general, the ACMA publishes all submissions it receives. The ACMA prefers to receive submissions which are not claimed to be confidential. However, the ACMA accepts that a submitter may sometimes wish to provide information in confidence. In these circumstances, submitters are asked to identify the material over which confidentiality is claimed and provide a written explanation for confidentiality claims. The ACMA will consider each claim for confidentiality on a case by case basis. If the ACMA accepts a confidentiality claim, it will not publish the confidential information unless required to do so by law.

Release of information in submissions

Submissions provided to the ACMA may be required to be released under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. The ACMA may also be required to release submissions for other reasons including for the purpose of parliamentary processes or where otherwise required by law (for example, a court subpoena). While the ACMA seeks to consult, and where required by law will consult, with submitters of confidential information before that information is provided to another body or agency, the ACMA cannot guarantee that confidential information will not be released through these or other legal means.

 

Last update: 20 August 2012 18:24