Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1956 No. 76, Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, were introduced to provide further clarity and structure to the management of telephone services, particularly regarding trunk line calls. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, the regulations aim to streamline the administration of telephone services by distinguishing between manual and automatic trunk line calls, and to establish clear guidelines for charges associated with these services. The policy objective is to ensure efficient and fair operation of the telephone service, providing subscribers with the option to choose between manual and automatic calls, while also setting transparent charge structures.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, specifically Statutory Rules 1956, No. 76, pertain to the amendments of the Telephone Regulations, focusing on the distinction and regulation of trunk line calls between subscribers connected to the St. Mary's automatic exchange and Sydney exchanges within New South Wales. The regulations delineate between manual and automatic trunk line calls, with specific provisions for each type, including distinct chargeable periods and rates. This legislation applies to subscribers using the St. Mary's automatic exchange and those connected to Sydney exchanges, effectively governing the telecommunication services in these areas. The geographic reach of these regulations is confined to New South Wales, with particular attention to the St. Mary's automatic exchange and exchanges within a fifteen-mile radius from the General Post Office at Sydney. Exclusions are made for calls that do not fall under the definitions provided in the new Division 2, specifically automatic trunk line calls. The application of these regulations extends through subordinate instruments, allowing for further detailed specifications and amendments as required.

Key Provisions

The Statutory Rules 1956, No. 76, introduce amendments to the Telephone Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, primarily affecting the handling of trunk line calls. Regulation 3 is amended to distinguish between manual and automatic trunk line calls by inserting new divisions in Part VII of the Telephone Regulations (133a-144a for manual and 144b-144d for automatic). Specifically, a new heading and regulation (133a) are added to clarify that Division 1 pertains only to manual trunk line calls, while Division 2 addresses automatic trunk line calls (144b-144d). The latter division includes definitions for terms such as "automatic trunk line call" and "chargeable period" and outlines the conditions under which automatic trunk line calls can be made and the associated charges (144c-144d). These regulations impose several obligations on parties involved in making trunk line calls. Subscribers connected to the St. Mary’s automatic exchange are granted the option to originate either an automatic or a manual trunk line call to a subscriber connected to a Sydney exchange (144c). Additionally, automatic trunk line calls incur specific charges: a base charge of Threepence plus an additional Threepence for each complete chargeable period, which varies based on the time of day the call is made (144d). The charges for such calls must be included in any account rendered to the subscriber under regulation 40 of the Telephone Regulations. The legislation does not explicitly state any penalties or consequences for non-compliance with the outlined regulations. However, breaches of the Post and Telegraph Act or its subsidiary regulations may generally lead to enforcement actions, including fines or other civil remedies, as prescribed under the broader legislative framework. The specific penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any relevant provisions in the overarching Act or other related laws.