Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1915, No. 36, amended the Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, and came into effect immediately upon its creation. This legislative instrument was introduced by the Governor-General, R. M. Ferguson, in accordance with advice from the Federal Executive Council. The regulation was designed to address a specific issue within the existing telephone services provided by telephone exchanges, particularly those that only operated during the day. By amending the Telephone Regulations 1913, this legislative instrument aimed to provide subscribers with a service that allowed their telephone lines to be connected during the night, anticipating calls during the time when exchanges were closed. This amendment ensured that no additional fees were charged for this service, apart from the standard call fee, and it absolved the Department from any responsibility in the event of a failure to make the desired connections.

Scope and Application

This statutory rule, enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, amends the Telephone Regulations 1913 to allow subscribers connected to telephone exchanges offering only day service to have their lines connected during the night for calls to other subscribers of the same exchange when the exchange is closed. This amendment specifically removes Regulation 16 and replaces it with a new regulation that allows such night-time connections without additional fees beyond the ordinary call charge, while also absolving the Department of any responsibility in case of failed connections. The regulation applies to subscribers of telephone exchanges with limited service hours and pertains to the Commonwealth level, as it is an amendment to a regulation under federal legislation. There are no exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds specified in the amendment itself, although further details might be found in subordinate instruments or the overarching Act.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this amended regulation, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, pertain to the connection of telephone lines during the night for subscribers at telephone exchanges that only provide day service (Regulation 16). This regulation permits subscribers to have their telephone lines connected during the night in anticipation of calls to be made when the exchanges are closed. Importantly, no additional fees beyond those for an ordinary call are to be charged for this service, and the Department is not to be held responsible if the desired connections are not made (Regulation 16). The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved. Telephone subscribers who are connected to exchanges that only provide day service can benefit from the amended regulation by having their lines connected during the night. However, it is crucial for the Department to ensure that these connections are made without charging any additional fees beyond the standard call charges. Furthermore, the Department must not be held liable for any failures in making the desired connections. This regulation provides a specific service to subscribers, ensuring they can communicate during off-hours without incurring extra costs. Breaches of this regulation could lead to civil or administrative consequences. If the Department charges additional fees for night-time connections or holds itself liable for connection failures, it would be in breach of the regulation. While specific penalties are not outlined in the regulation, any such breaches could potentially result in enforcement actions or other corrective measures to ensure compliance with the Act. The Department must adhere to the stipulated terms to avoid any legal or administrative repercussions.