Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1917L00028 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1917. No. 28.

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REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901–1916.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the undermentioned amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916 to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this fourteenth day of February, One thousand nine hundred and seventeen.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

WILLIAM WEBSTER,

Postmaster-General.

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Amendment of the Telephone Regulations, 1913.

(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 349, as amended by Statutory Rules 1916, No. 211.)

1. Regulations 96 and 97 are repealed and the following Regulations are inserted in their stead: —

Part XV.—Telephone Lines in Country Districts Partly Erected by the Postmaster-General, and which connect with TelephoneExchanges.

96. Privately-constructed lines connecting with any town in which a Telephone Exchange is in operation, may be connected with the Telephone Exchange on the following terms:—

(a) If the poles of the Postmaster-General are available, the portion of the lines within the boundaries of any township shall be erected and maintained thereon by the Department.

(b) Where poles of the Postmaster-General are not available, and it is not considered desirable that they should be erected by the Department, permission may be given for any portion to be constructed by the user of such privately-constructed line.

(c) Where the portion of the line erected by the Department joins the portion erected by the user, the Department will provide a means of separating the two portions at will, so that defects may be localized.


(d) For any portion of the line erected by the Department the following annual charges shall be made:—

For any distance up to 2 miles, single wire or metallic circuits, as may be necessary, the fees prescribed for an exclusive service under Regulation 5.

For each additional ¼ mile or portion thereof of single wire, Six shillings and threepence; of metallic circuit, Nine shillings and fivepence.

(e) In cases where the line is extended so that more than one point can communicate with the Exchange—

(i) If the service existed, or if an agreement were entered into for such service, on or before the 13th September, 1916, for each additional point Ten shillings per annum.

(ii) If the service is connected subsequent to the 13th September, 1916, for each additional point Twenty shillings per annum.

It shall be optional, however, for any subscriber whose service is covered by Regulation 96, (e), (i), either to retain the existing service or have a telephone provided by the Department on payment of Twenty shillings per annum for each additional point.

(f) Mileage of the portion of the line erected by the Department will be calculated radially from the Exchange as a centre.

(g)The charges specified in (d) and (e) include—

(i) Unlimited calls between any two stations on the same line, such calls not requiring the attention of the Exchange.

(ii) Provision of all apparatus at the Exchange, and one telephone wall set complete with batteries for the first point connected, and in those cases where Twenty shillings per annum is paid for each additional point, one telephone wall set complete with batteries for each such point.

(iii) The transmission by telephone, without extra charge, of telegrams on which the ordinary charges for transmission over the wires of the Postmaster-General have been paid.

(h) All calls passing through the Exchange shall be charged for as provided in Regulation 5.

But the provisions of Regulations 84 and 86 shall apply, and the charges specified therein be made when the services provided for therein are required.

A licence-fee of One shilling per annum, as required by Regulation 79, shall also be paid.

97. (1) A person by whom any portion of a line has been erected under this Part of the Regulations shall construct and maintain it, and maintain the instruments connected with it to the satisfaction of the Deputy Postmaster-General. The Postmaster General will not be responsible for any portion of the line not erected by or for the Department.


(2) The Telephones which connect with Exchanges must be installed and maintained by the licensee to the satisfaction of the Deputy Postmaster-General: Provided that if the licensee brings to the Telephone Exchange instruments provided by the Department which have been used on the line and have become defective, such instruments shall be repaired, so far as ordinary defects due to fair wear and tear are concerned, by the Department, free of charge.

2. Regulation100 is repealed and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead:—

100. In cases where the Postmaster-General permits the user to erect the whole of the line from his premises to the Department’s terminal pole outside any Telephone Exchange or any office at which a telephone service is or may be provided by the Department, the charges specified in Part XV., Regulation 96 (d), will be reduced by Two pounds per annum, and the subscriber shall maintain to the satisfaction of the Deputy Postmaster-General the instrument used in connexion with the line, but the other provisions of Part XV. of the Regulations shall apply.

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Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

C.1606.––Price 3d.

 

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1917, No. 28, amending the Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916, were enacted to update the existing framework governing the connection and maintenance of telephone lines in country districts, particularly those partly erected by the Postmaster-General and connecting with telephone exchanges. The regulations were introduced by the Governor-General in Council, with the intent to streamline the process and set clear terms and charges for the maintenance and operation of these lines. This legislative instrument addresses the need for updated administrative and financial regulations concerning privately constructed telephone lines, ensuring that both the Department and users have clearly defined responsibilities and costs associated with the maintenance and operation of these lines.

Scope and Application

The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916 apply to individuals and entities involved in the erection and maintenance of telephone lines in country districts that connect with telephone exchanges, particularly in areas where the Postmaster-General's poles are either available or unavailable. The Regulations establish the terms under which privately-constructed telephone lines can connect with telephone exchanges, including the responsibilities and charges for line maintenance, apparatus provision, and the transmission of telegrams. The regulations apply across the Commonwealth of Australia, as they are enacted under federal legislation. Specific exclusions or exemptions are not explicitly detailed, but the Regulations do provide for the separation of lines constructed by the Department and those constructed by the user, ensuring the Postmaster General is not responsible for privately-erected lines. Additionally, the amended Regulations reduce certain charges when the Postmaster-General permits the user to erect the entire line from their premises to the Department's terminal pole outside any telephone exchange.

Key Provisions

The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916 introduce significant changes to the existing framework governing telephone lines in country districts that are partially erected by the Postmaster-General and connect to telephone exchanges. Specifically, Regulations 96 and 97 have been repealed and replaced with new provisions (Regulations 96 and 97). Regulation 96 outlines the terms under which privately-constructed lines may connect with telephone exchanges. It stipulates that if the Postmaster-General's poles are available, the portion of the line within a township must be erected and maintained by the Department. If such poles are not available and it is deemed undesirable to erect them, permission may be granted for the user to construct a portion of the line. The Department will ensure a means of separating the two portions to localize defects. Annual charges are specified for lines erected by the Department, including fees for distances up to two miles and additional charges for each quarter mile beyond that. Furthermore, if the line is extended to allow more than one point to communicate with the exchange, additional annual charges are applied based on whether the service existed before or after 13 September 1916. Regulation 96 also specifies that charges include unlimited local calls, provision of apparatus, and transmission of telegrams without extra charge. Regulation 97 imposes obligations on the individuals or entities constructing and maintaining telephone lines. It mandates that any portion of a line constructed by a user must be maintained to the satisfaction of the Deputy Postmaster-General. The Postmaster-General will not be responsible for any portion of the line not erected by or for the Department. Additionally, telephones connecting with exchanges must be installed and maintained by the licensee to the Deputy Postmaster-General’s satisfaction. The Department will repair any instruments provided by it that have become defective due to fair wear and tear, free of charge. Regulation 100, which has been amended, stipulates that if the Postmaster-General permits the user to erect the entire line from their premises to the Department’s terminal pole outside any telephone exchange or office, the annual charges will be reduced by two pounds. However, the user must maintain the instrument used in connection with the line to the Deputy Postmaster-General’s satisfaction, and other provisions of Part XV will apply. Breach of these regulations can lead to various consequences. For instance, failure to maintain the line and instruments to the satisfaction of the Deputy Postmaster-General may result in the disconnection of service or other enforcement actions. Additionally, non-payment of the specified annual charges can lead to further penalties, including legal action to recover the owed fees. While the specific maximum penalties are not detailed in the text, it is reasonable to infer that persistent non-compliance could result in fines or other legal repercussions as per the general provisions of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.