Singapore legislation
Schedule 2
Schedule 2
Class Licence for Audiotex Services
SECOND SCHEDULERegulations 2 and 3Class Licence for Audiotex ServicesDefinition
1. Audiotex services are telecommunication systems and services which enable a caller, by dialling a designated telephone number beginning with “1900”, to receive a recorded announcement or to interact with a programme whereby he may communicate, by means of a dual-tone multi-frequency telephone key pad, a touch-tone telephone or other similar device, with a value-added network connected to the public switched telephone system for the purposes of sending or receiving information.Conditions to be complied with by licensee
2. Access to the audiotex services by users must be through the public switched network.
3. A licensee must ensure that all announcements and programmes on the audiotex services are pre-recorded and stored in the audiotex system and must not enable callers to communicate directly in real-time with other callers.
4. A licensee must comply with the following transmission standards:
there must be no delay in starting the announcement or programme when a call is connected;
each audiotex service must be assigned a different telephone number;
there must be no interruption during the announcement or programme;
each call must be for a maximum period of 10 minutes with an option for the caller to extend his call;
where callers are required to enter a unique code to access the audiotex services, such codes must be made available to the public either in lists published by the licensee or through a telephone answering line available for enquiries 24 hours a day, the number for which must be published in all advertisements for the audiotex services.
5. A licensee must ensure that the number of attempted calls at any time does not significantly exceed the number of call-in lines for the audiotex services and, if the Authority determines that additional lines are required to adequately handle calls for the audiotex services and to prevent congestion to other users of the public switched telephone system, the licensee must subscribe for such number of additional lines as the Authority may direct.
6. A licensee must not, except with the prior approval of the Authority, organise any mass calling event which will generate a high influx of calls to its audiotex system.
7. A licensee must ensure that its current call charging rate is published in all advertisements for the audiotex services and is announced at the beginning of a pre-recorded charge announcement played immediately after every call is connected.
8. A licensee must provide a grace period during which callers are not charged, of —
the first 6 seconds of a call where the charge announcement lasts less than 4 seconds; or
the first 12 seconds of a call where the charge announcement lasts between 4 seconds and 10 seconds.
9. A licensee must not claim any propriety right to any telephone number assigned to it.
10. If a licensee decides to terminate its audiotex services, it must notify the Authority in writing of its intent.
11. A licensee must publish its name as registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority in any advertisement of its services.[S 565/2004 wef 08/09/2004][S 685/2011 wef 28/12/2011]