Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules of 1942, Number 504, represents a legislative instrument enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934. This regulation was introduced by the Governor-General in Council to address an issue pertaining to the pricing of telephone services, specifically the adjustment of charges for the telephone directory. The policy objective is to ensure that the pricing of telephone services remains fair and reasonable, particularly in circumstances where the period of currency for an issue of the directory extends beyond the initial six-month period. This regulation provides a structured approach for increasing charges incrementally for each additional month beyond the six-month period, thereby maintaining a balance between service provision and consumer costs. This legislative instrument was crafted to ensure regulatory consistency and to address potential pricing anomalies that could arise from extended periods of telephone directory issuance. The enactment by the Governor-General in Council underscores the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to service pricing, reflecting broader policy goals of equitable consumer pricing within the telecommunications sector.

Scope and Application

This legislative instrument constitutes a regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934, and it applies to the operations of telephone services within the Commonwealth of Australia. Specifically, it pertains to the charges for the issuance of the Telephone Directory, addressing scenarios where the period of currency for such issuance extends beyond the standard six-month period. The regulation is designed to adjust the charges incrementally, allowing for a one-sixth increase for each additional month or fraction thereof that the currency period exceeds six months. This amendment seeks to provide a fair and equitable adjustment mechanism for the postal and telegraph services, thereby ensuring that the charges are proportionate to the duration of the directory's currency. The regulation applies to any entity or individual involved in the publication and distribution of the Telephone Directory, thus impacting telecommunications providers and postal services within the Commonwealth. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, affecting all states and territories within Australia. There are no specific exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds outlined in the regulation itself; however, the applicability and enforcement of these provisions may be further detailed or extended through subordinate instruments or additional legislative amendments.

Key Provisions

The Regulation, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934, primarily concerns amendments to the existing Telephone Regulations (section 1). Specifically, it modifies Regulations 77 and 79 to include a new proviso that allows for an increase in charges for telephone directory issues that remain in circulation beyond six months. According to the amendment, the charges specified in these regulations may be raised by one-sixth for each month or part of a month that the directory is in circulation past the initial six-month period (section 2). This legislative instrument imposes a clear requirement on the entities involved in the distribution and management of the telephone directory. It mandates that if a telephone directory remains in circulation for more than six months, additional charges must be applied to account for the extended period. The increase is calculated at one-sixth of the original charges for each additional month, ensuring that there is a financial adjustment to reflect the extended availability and use of the directory (section 2). In terms of compliance and enforcement, the Regulation does not explicitly detail offences or penalties for non-compliance with the new provisions. However, it can be inferred that failure to adhere to the stipulated charge increases for extended directory issues could potentially lead to legal repercussions. Under the broader framework of the Post and Telegraph Act, non-compliance with regulatory requirements could attract penalties or other civil or criminal consequences as prescribed by relevant laws. The specifics of such penalties would depend on the interpretation and enforcement actions taken under the overarching act.