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Telecommunications Act 2001

Consumer matters - Commission 111 contact code

238: Commission 111 contact code

You could also call this:

"Rules to help vulnerable people call 111 in an emergency, even when the power is out"

Illustration for Telecommunications Act 2001

The Commission has to make a special set of rules called the Commission 111 contact code. You will use this code to make sure people who are vulnerable, like those with medical conditions, can call the 111 emergency service even if the power is out. The Commission must create this code before it is put into action.

The code will say which phone and internet services it applies to. It will also require these service providers to tell their customers about options for vulnerable people. The code will have a process for people to show they are vulnerable and need help.

The service providers must give vulnerable people a way to call 111 for free, even if the power is out. The code will specify how long this device must work for. You can learn more about what this means by looking at the Legislation Act 2019.

The code might also say who is a vulnerable person and what devices they can use to call 111. It can include other rules to help achieve its purpose. A vulnerable person is someone who needs the 111 service and does not have a way to call it if the power is out.

The Commission 111 contact code is a type of law that the government must follow certain rules to publish, as outlined in the Legislation Act 2019.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS134652.

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"How the Commission makes or changes its rules for telecommunications to keep people safe."

Part 7Consumer matters
Commission 111 contact code

238Commission 111 contact code

  1. The Commission must make a code for the purpose of ensuring that vulnerable consumers, or persons on their behalf, have reasonable access to an appropriate means to contact the 111 emergency service in the event of a power failure.

  2. The code must be made before the implementation date.

  3. The code must—

  4. specify which telecommunications services it applies to; and
    1. require the providers of those services to inform consumers about the options available for vulnerable consumers; and
      1. prescribe a process (or processes) for a consumer of those services, or a person on their behalf, to demonstrate that they—
        1. are a vulnerable consumer; or
          1. will become a vulnerable consumer; and
          2. require the providers of those services to supply vulnerable consumers, at no cost to the consumers, with an appropriate means for contacting the 111 emergency service that can be operated for the minimum period in the event of a power failure; and
            1. specify the minimum period for the purposes of paragraph (d).

              1. The code may do 1 or more of the following:

              2. specify classes of people that must be considered vulnerable consumers:
                1. specify appropriate means for vulnerable consumers, or persons on their behalf, to contact emergency services:
                  1. contain any other provisions that are necessary or desirable to achieve the purpose in subsection (1).

                    1. In this section,—

                      minimum period means the minimum period specified under subsection (3)(e)

                        specified telecommunications service means a telecommunications service specified in the Commission 111 contact code as a service to which the code applies

                          vulnerable consumer means a consumer of a specified telecommunications service who—

                          1. is at particular risk of requiring the 111 emergency service (for example, due to a known medical condition); and
                            1. does not have a means for contacting the 111 emergency service that can be operated for the minimum period in the event of a power failure.

                            2. A Commission 111 contact code, and any amendment to or revocation of the code, is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

                            Notes
                            • Section 238: inserted, on , by section 36 of the Telecommunications (New Regulatory Framework) Amendment Act 2018 (2018 No 48).
                            • Section 238(6): inserted, on , by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).