Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1916, No. 109, constitutes an amendment to the Telephone Regulations enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913. This legislative instrument, issued by the Governor-General in Council, aims to modify existing regulations concerning the use of public telephones for trunk line conversations. The principal objective of these amendments is to introduce a new fee structure, whereby an additional charge of one penny per call is imposed for the use of public telephones in connection with trunk line communications, over and above the existing fees for trunk line usage. This regulatory change reflects the need to address financial aspects of the evolving telecommunications services within the framework of the Post and Telegraph Act. The enacting authority for this legislative instrument is the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, thereby ensuring the amendments are implemented in accordance with the legislative powers vested in the Commonwealth of Australia.

Scope and Application

The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913 applies to the use of public telephones for conversations over trunk lines within the Commonwealth of Australia. Specifically, the regulation alters the fee structure for such calls, introducing an additional charge of One penny per call over and above the fee for the use of the trunk line. This regulation was made by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and is intended to come into operation immediately. The amendment targets the use of public telephones for trunk line conversations, affecting the telecommunications industry and the public who utilise these services. The scope of this legislation is national, impacting all public telephones used for trunk line conversations across the Commonwealth. The regulation does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, implying that it applies broadly to all entities and persons within the scope of the amended provisions. Furthermore, any further extension or restriction of the application of this regulation may be made through subordinate instruments, as authorised by the overarching Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913.

Key Provisions

The key operative section of this legislation is sub-regulation (3) of Regulation 51, which has been amended to introduce a new fee for the use of public telephones on trunk lines (Reg. 51(3)). This amendment requires that when a public telephone is used to make a call over a trunk line, an additional fee of one penny per call, in addition to the fee for the use of the trunk line, must be charged. This change aims to ensure that the costs associated with using trunk lines are appropriately reflected in the charges for public telephone calls. The Act imposes a clear obligation on telephone service providers and users of public telephones to comply with the new fee structure outlined in the amended Regulation 51(3). Service providers must implement the additional charge for calls made over trunk lines from public telephones, while users of public telephones must be prepared to pay the extra fee on top of the standard trunk line charge. This obligation ensures that the financial implications of using trunk lines are adequately accounted for and passed on to the users. Failure to comply with the new fee requirements set out in Regulation 51(3) could result in various consequences. While the legislation does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance, it is reasonable to infer that breaches could lead to enforcement actions. These actions might include fines or other penalties imposed by relevant authorities to ensure adherence to the new regulatory framework. The exact nature and severity of these consequences would be determined by the governing body responsible for overseeing compliance with the amended Regulation.