Telephone Regulations 1913 (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1926, No. 157, enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, were introduced by the Governor-General in Council to amend existing regulations governing telephone services. This legislative instrument, dated 9 November 1926, addresses the management and provision of telephone directories, ensuring they are provided at the Department’s expense to each subscriber and remain the exclusive property of the Postmaster-General. The policy objective is to formalise the distribution and commercialisation of telephone directories, prohibiting unauthorised advertisements on the directories while allowing their sale in certain circumstances. This amendment aimed to streamline the regulatory framework surrounding telephone services and the use of telephone directories within the Commonwealth of Australia.

Scope and Application

The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 pertain to telephone services and regulations within the Commonwealth of Australia. Specifically, these Regulations address the provision and management of telephone directories, which are to be supplied by the Department at no cost to subscribers, except for copies that can be purchased at the prevailing price in the relevant state. The Regulations mandate that telephone directories remain the property of the Postmaster-General and must be returned upon demand. Additionally, the Regulations prohibit the inclusion of advertisements on the covers of directories provided free of charge by the Department, unless explicit written consent is obtained from the Postmaster-General. These provisions apply to all telephone subscribers and service providers within the Commonwealth, ensuring a uniform approach to the management and distribution of telephone directories.

Key Provisions

The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 bring significant changes to the management and distribution of telephone directories. Regulation 5 of the Telephone Regulations has been amended by removing the requirement to provide a copy of the telephone list with each telephone supplied (Regulation 5(2)(f)). This change simplifies the process by eliminating the need for multiple physical copies of the telephone list for each telephone. Additionally, a new regulation, 5a, has been introduced, stating that one telephone directory will be provided at the Department's expense to each subscriber for each telephone they have (Regulation 5a(1)). These directories remain the exclusive property of the Postmaster-General and must be returned to the Department upon request (Regulation 5a(1)). The new regulation also prohibits the inclusion of advertisements on the covers of directories provided free of charge without the Postmaster-General's written consent (Regulation 5a(2)). Furthermore, it allows for the purchase of directory copies at the price set by the issuing State (Regulation 5a(3)). Moreover, Regulation 23a has been repealed, potentially removing a previous restriction or requirement that is no longer applicable. These regulations impose several obligations on the parties involved. The Department is mandated to provide a single telephone directory to each subscriber at no additional cost, maintaining control over these directories by retaining their exclusive property rights (Regulation 5a(1)). The Postmaster-General must be consulted and provide written consent before any advertisements are displayed on the covers of free directories (Regulation 5a(2)). Subscribers, in turn, must return the directories to the Department when requested. This ensures the Postmaster-General maintains control over the distribution and use of the directories. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in legal consequences. Although the document does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance, it is reasonable to infer that breaches could lead to civil or administrative actions under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 or other relevant legislation. For example, not returning the directories upon request might result in fines or other civil penalties. Similarly, displaying advertisements on the covers without consent could attract penalties for unauthorised use of government property or materials. The specific penalties would depend on the interpretation and enforcement by relevant authorities, but they could include financial penalties, orders for corrective action, or other measures to ensure compliance.