Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations 1956 (Amendment)

Legislation au C1960L00030 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1960. No. 30.

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REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1950 AND THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT 1905-1950.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1950.

Dated this 29th day of April, 1960.

DUNROSSIL

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Postmaster-General.

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Amendments of the Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations.

Commencement.

1. These Regulations shall come into operation on the first day of May, 1960.

Interpretation.

2. Regulation 4 of the Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations is amended—

(a) by inserting after the definition of “base station” the following definition:—

“‘charging zone’ means a charging zone for the purposes of the Telephone Regulations;” and

(b) by adding at the end thereof the following sub-regulation:—

“(2.) A charging zone that is deemed to be adjoining another charging zone for the purposes of the Telephone Regulations shall be deemed to be adjoining that other charging zone for the purposes of these Regulations.”.

3. Regulation 16 of the Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Mobile services—charges for local calls.

“16. A call charge of Sixpence for each period of three minutes or part of three minutes occupied by a call shall be paid by the person originating the call for each effective call made—

(a) between a telephone subscriber, or a public telephone, and a subscriber to a mobile radio-telephone exchange service operating through a base station connected to—

(i) the exchange to which the telephone of the telephone subscriber or the public telephone, as the case may be, is connected; or

 

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 29th April, 1960.

† Statutory Rules 1956, No. 105.

2466/60.—Price 3d. 29/20.4.1960.


(ii) any other exchange in the charging zone in which is included the exchange or office to which the telephone of the telephone subscriber or the public telephone, as the case may be, is connected, or in a charging zone adjoining that charging zone;

(b) between two subscribers to mobile radio-telephone exchange services, both operating through the same base station;

(c) between two subscribers to mobile radio-telephone exchange services, one operating through one base station and the other operating through another base station connected to—

(i) the exchange to which the first-mentioned base station is connected; or

(ii) any other exchange in the same charging zone as the exchange to which the first-mentioned base station is connected, or in a charging zone adjoining that charging zone; or

(d) to or by a subscriber to a mobile radio-telephone exchange service, being a call connected over a telephone line provided under regulation 13 of these Regulations.”.

Mobile services— charges for trunk calls.

4. Regulation 17 of the Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (2.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

“(2.) For the purpose of ascertaining the charges referred to in paragraph (d) of the last preceding sub-regulation, a subscriber to a mobile radio-telephone exchange service operating through a base station shall be deemed to be a telephone subscriber whose telephone is connected to the exchange to which the base station is connected.”.

5. Regulation 33 of the Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Fixed services— charges for local calls.

“33. A call charge of One shilling for each period of three minutes or part of three minutes occupied by a call shall be paid by the person originating the call for each effective call made—

(a) between a telephone subscriber, or a public telephone, and a subscriber to a fixed radio-telephone exchange service operating through a control station connected to—

(i) the exchange to which the telephone of the telephone subscriber or the public telephone, as the case may be, is connected; or

(ii) any other exchange in the charging zone in which is included the exchange or office to which the telephone of the telephone subscriber or the public telephone, as the case may be, is connected, or in a charging zone adjoining that charging zone;

(b) between two subscribers to fixed radio-telephone exchange services, both operating through the same control station; or


(c) between two subscribers to fixed radio-telephone exchange services, one operating through one control station and the other operating through another control station connected to—

(i) the exchange to which the first-mentioned control station is connected; or

(ii) any other exchange in the same charging zone as the exchange to which the first-mentioned control station is connected, or in a charging zone adjoining that charging zone.”.

Fixed services— charges for trunk calls.

6. Regulation 34 of the Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (2.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

“(2.) For the purpose of ascertaining the charges referred to in paragraph (d) of the last preceding sub-regulation, a subscriber to a fixed radio-telephone exchange service operating through a control station shall be deemed to be a telephone subscriber whose telephone is connected to the exchange to which the control station is connected.”.

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By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1960 No. 30, enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1950, were introduced to establish and amend the Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations. These regulations were developed to update the charging structures for mobile and fixed radio-telephone exchange services in response to technological advancements and to align with the broader postal and telecommunications framework in Australia. The Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, issued these regulations to ensure a structured and equitable approach to billing for both mobile and fixed radio-telephone exchange services. The primary policy objective was to provide clarity and consistency in the application of charges for local and trunk calls, ensuring that users were aware of the costs associated with their communications services.

Scope and Application

These Regulations, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1950, amend the Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations. They apply to individuals and entities involved in mobile and fixed radio-telephone exchange services, specifically those operating through base stations and control stations, respectively. The Regulations determine the charges for local and trunk calls within the Commonwealth of Australia. They establish a charging structure where a call charge of Sixpence applies for each three-minute period or part thereof for local calls in mobile services and One shilling for local calls in fixed services. These Regulations came into effect on 1 May 1960 and, while they do not explicitly state exclusions or thresholds, they provide specific definitions and stipulations that clarify the scope of application. Any further amendments or extensions to these Regulations would be made through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1950, as amended, primarily address the charges for mobile and fixed radio-telephone exchange services. Regulation 2 amends the definition of “charging zone” and clarifies how adjoining charging zones are treated under these Regulations. Regulation 3 replaces Regulation 16 of the Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations, specifying that a call charge of Sixpence for each three-minute interval or part thereof applies to various types of mobile calls, including those between mobile and fixed telephones, and between two mobile subscribers (Regulation 16(1)(a)-(d)). Regulation 5 replaces Regulation 33 of the Radio-telephone Exchange Service Regulations, stipulating a call charge of One shilling for each three-minute interval or part thereof for calls made between fixed radio-telephone exchange service subscribers, or between fixed and mobile subscribers, under certain conditions (Regulation 33(1)(a)-(c)). The Regulations impose clear obligations on service providers and subscribers. Service providers must calculate charges according to the specified intervals and types of calls, as detailed in Regulations 16 and 33. Subscribers are obligated to pay the prescribed charges for each call they make or receive, as outlined in these Regulations. The Regulations also mandate that subscribers to mobile and fixed radio-telephone exchange services be treated as telephone subscribers for charge calculation purposes, as specified in Regulations 17 and 34. Breaches of these Regulations may have legal consequences. Although the text does not explicitly state penalties, the underlying Acts, the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1950, likely impose penalties for non-compliance. Typically, such breaches could result in fines or other civil or criminal sanctions, depending on the severity and intent of the violation.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.