Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1915, No. 57, issued under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, were enacted to amend the Telephone Regulations of 1913. These amendments were made by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, to update the pricing structure for telephone sets. This legislative instrument addresses the need to adjust the cost associated with telephone services, likely in response to changing economic conditions or to rationalise the tariff structure. The purpose of these amendments is to reflect a graduated pricing model for different groups of telephone sets, providing a more nuanced approach to the cost of telephone services. The enacting body for these regulations is the Federal Executive Council, under the authority of the Governor-General, ensuring that the amendments are implemented in a manner consistent with the overarching objectives of the Post and Telegraph Act. The policy objective, as indicated by the nature of the amendments, is to streamline and potentially reduce the costs associated with telephone services, thereby making communication more accessible and affordable.

Scope and Application

The amended Telephone Regulations, 1913, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, apply to the regulation of telephone services and related transactions within the Commonwealth of Australia. This legislative instrument specifically amends the previous pricing structure for telephone sets, adjusting rates in descending order for each successive group of 10 sets, thereby reflecting a tiered pricing model for bulk purchases. The regulation pertains to entities involved in the provision of telephone services and consumers purchasing telephone sets, impacting the telecommunications industry directly. The jurisdictional reach of these regulations is federal, extending across the entire Commonwealth. There are no specific exclusions or exemptions mentioned in the provided text, though the amendment primarily concerns pricing and may indirectly affect entities and individuals based on their volume of purchases or services. The regulation does not explicitly mention any subordinate instruments extending or restricting its application beyond the stated amendments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the amended Regulation concern the adjustment of rates for telephone services, specifically targeting the second to tenth groups of telephone sets. Regulation 28, as amended, replaces the previous pricing structure for sets 11 to 20 with a new tiered pricing scheme for the second to tenth groups of sets. Each subsequent group of 10 sets, or a portion thereof, now has a progressively reduced rate, with the second group priced at 19 shillings per set, decreasing by one shilling for each subsequent group down to 11 shillings for the tenth group (Regulation 28). This amended Regulation imposes obligations on parties using or providing telephone services to adhere to the new pricing structure. Service providers must charge the updated rates as outlined in the Regulation, and customers must pay according to these rates. The revised pricing is designed to reflect a tiered discount for larger installations of telephone sets, encouraging the expansion of telephone services. Failure to comply with the new rates may result in civil consequences, including disputes over charges and potential legal action for non-payment or incorrect billing. While the Regulation itself does not explicitly state criminal penalties for non-compliance, breaches of related Acts or further statutory rules could lead to fines or other legal repercussions. The specific maximum penalties would be detailed in the overarching legislation or subsequent regulations.