Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to assess the impact of deregulation, competition, economic conditions, regulations and legislation on enterprise-specific policies and procedures and its subsequent incorporation into the planning process.

Internal and external influences affect all planning decisions regarding the planning and development of the access network.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.

Application of the unit 

Planning officers from private and public organisations apply the skills and knowledge in this unit to perform the role of a network planner. They combine technical design and planning skills with organisational, economic and regulation skills to be able to plan the access network of service providers.

Technical officers may be responsible for small projects or parts of larger projects and for the operational and engineering of the enterprise and telecommunications network in general.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Evaluate economic and political influences on the telecommunications industry in Australia

1.1. Research the impact of deregulation and competition in the telecommunications industry on planning priorities  of competing service providers in Australia due to the different federal government policies

1.2. Assess the influence of local and international economic conditions on the growth of the industry that would impact on the planning  justification for a new network

1.3. Evaluate and produce a report on the economic and political influences upon public and commercial enterprises providing services in a competitive telecommunications market of fast changing technologies

2. Evaluate impact of key regulation and legislation on the telecommunications industry

2.1. Access the legislations  that govern carriers in Australia to determine the rights of carriers and service providers in installing facilities under Commonwealth legislation

2.2. Use the Telecommunications Industry Regulatory Accounting Framework (RAF) to determine the method used by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in enforcing competitive provisions between service providers

2.3. Evaluate the impact on planning of services by the obligation placed by Universal Service Obligation (USO) on service providers to ensure that services are reasonably accessible to all people in Australia on an equitable basis

2.4. Produce a summary report evaluating the impact by the legislations on the planning process of Access Networks and plan strategies to facilitate network planning

3. Apply internal financial compliance

3.1. Use an enterprise-specific investment management system (IMS) to create on the spot reports for performance measurement of an existing planning project against the business plan 

3.2. Produce a report of planning work activities incorporating enterprise-specific policies and procedures underpinned by regulatory and compliance obligations

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• analytical skills to assess impact of economic and political influences on enterprise policies and procedures
• literacy skills to write evaluation reports
• planning skills to review current and new technology, facilities and features when developing options
• problem solving skills to assess current Access Network conditions
• research skills to:

• analyse impact on planning processes
• obtain and study information relating to the telecommunications industry
• study relevant legislation and associated operational codes

Required knowledge 

• deregulation of industry
• investment management system
• legislations
• market forces
• planning procedures
• telecommunications framework
• telecommunications industry
• telecommunications networks

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence of the ability to:

• produce an evaluation report on the economic and political influences on the telecommunications industry in Australia
• produce an evaluation report on the impact of key regulation and legislation on the telecommunications industry
• produce a summary report evaluating the impact by the legislations on the planning process of Access Networks.

Context of , and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• relevant legislations, planning processes and Telecommunications Industry Regulatory Accounting Framework (RAF)
• planning tools, enterprise-specific investment management system (IMS), relevant databases, licensing requirements and other related procedures.

Methods of assessment 

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

• review of evaluation and summary reports completed by the candidate
• oral or written questioning to assess required knowledge.

Guidance information for assessment 

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplaces and job role is recommended, for example:

• ICTNPL4108A Plan the deployment of access network architectures
• ICTNPL4151A Plan the telecommunications access network for an estate.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Planning priorities  may be driven by:

• customer demand
• legislative requirements
• marketing initiatives
• network conditions
• revenue projections.

Planning  may refer to:

• network change
• network growth
• network reduction
• sites, buildings and structures.

Legislations  may include

• ACCC
• Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) legislations
• Telecommunications Act 1997
• Telecommunications Industry Regulatory Framework (RAF)
• Telecommunications ombudsman
• Trade Practices Act
• USO.

Business plan  may refer to:

• activities
• finance
• labour
• material
• planning resource commitment.

Unit sector 

Telecommunications

Co-requisite units 

Competency field 

Network planning