Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1917, No. 329, represent an amendment to the existing Telephone Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, introduced to address discrepancies in the licensing fees for telephone services. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, this legislative instrument aimed to ensure equitable fee structures for both existing and new subscribers. The policy objective is to adjust the fees for telephone services to reflect the changes in service provision and subscriber agreements made prior to 13 September 1916. By amending Regulation 96, the regulation now stipulates that for services established or agreed upon before this date, an additional point of communication with the exchange incurs a fee of Ten shillings per annum, while new services face a higher fee of Twenty shillings per annum. This amendment also provides flexibility for existing subscribers to add new points on payment of Twenty shillings per annum and specifies that lines erected on subscriber property for exclusive business use will only incur the licence fee prescribed in Regulation 79.

Scope and Application

This statutory rule, numbered 329, is an amended regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, made by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. It specifically amends Regulation 96 of the Telephone Regulations 1913, altering the charges associated with extending telephone lines to accommodate additional points of communication. This regulation applies to services that existed or were agreed upon before September 13, 1916, and to new services that are established after this date. The amended regulation imposes a fee of ten shillings per annum for each additional point connected to services that meet the specified criteria, while new services incur a higher fee of twenty shillings per annum per additional point. The rule also allows subscribers to opt for a telephone provided by the Department for an annual fee of twenty shillings per additional point, and exempts lines erected on the subscriber's property and used solely for business purposes from additional fees, charging only the licence fee prescribed in Regulation 79. This legislative instrument thus governs the fees associated with extending telephone services across the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, specifically Regulation 96, modifies the fees associated with telephone services based on the date an agreement was entered into or a service was established. Where the telephone line is extended to allow more than one point to communicate with the exchange, Regulation 96(e) introduces different rates based on the timeline of the service. For services existing or agreed upon by 13 September 1916, an additional point incurs a fee of Ten shillings per annum (Regulation 96(e)(i)). Conversely, for services initiated after this date, the fee is Twenty shillings per annum for each additional point (Regulation 96(e)(ii)). This amendment ensures that subscribers who had services or agreements in place prior to the specified date benefit from a reduced rate, while newer services attract a higher fee. The obligations under this amended regulation primarily concern the subscribers and the Department of Post and Telegraph. Subscribers who have services or agreements in place before the 13th of September 1916 can opt to have their telephone service provided by the Department, provided they pay the updated rate of Twenty shillings per annum for each additional point. The Department, on its part, must ensure that the appropriate fees are charged based on the date the service was established or the agreement was entered into. Furthermore, if the lines are installed on the subscriber's property and used solely for their business, only the licence fee outlined in Regulation 79 applies, irrespective of the number of points of communication. Failure to comply with the stipulated fees could lead to penalties or other consequences as prescribed under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916. The specific penalties or legal consequences for non-payment or incorrect payment of fees are not detailed in the legislative instrument but would typically involve fines or legal action under the Act. The precise penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, but they could potentially include financial penalties or other enforcement measures to ensure compliance with the regulation.