Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1923 No. 48, enacted on 13 June 1923, comprises amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916. This legislation was introduced to refine the regulatory framework governing telephone services, particularly in relation to the recording and charging of exchange calls for telegrams telephoned by subscribers. The regulations were made by the Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and came into effect on 1 April 1923. The overarching policy objective of these amendments is to ensure clarity and fairness in the billing practices for telephone services, specifically targeting the recording and charging of exchange calls for telegrams, as well as the exemption of certain fees for subscribers with direct lines to the telegraph office.

Scope and Application

The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, specified in Statutory Rules 1923, No. 48, primarily target telecommunications services within the Commonwealth of Australia, affecting both individuals and entities that engage in postal and telegraphic communications. The regulations govern the conduct and transactions associated with telephone services, particularly focusing on the charging mechanisms for telephoned telegrams. The scope includes subscribers who use exchange calls for telephoning telegrams, where the charge is applied per call unless the subscriber has a direct line to the telegraph office. The amended regulations also modify the fees applicable to telephone calls used for sending telegrams on lines directly connecting subscribers to the telegraph office, exempting such calls from the prescribed telephone call fee. These regulations apply nationally across the Commonwealth and are enforceable through the authority of the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The changes to the Telephone Regulations 1913 aim to streamline and clarify the fee structures related to specific telecommunication services.

Key Provisions

The Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, as amended by Statutory Rules 1923 No. 48, introduce specific changes to existing telephone regulations. Regulation 37 is amended to alter how exchange calls for telephoning telegrams are recorded and charged. Under the new sub-regulation (2), subscribers must have their calls recorded and charged each time they use the exchange for telephoning telegrams, unless they have a direct line to the telegraph office. This change ensures that the costs of using the exchange for telegrams are explicitly accounted for and charged to the subscribers. Regulation 71 is similarly amended to exclude the prescribed telephone call fee for telegrams sent on lines directly connecting the subscriber with the telegraph office, as per the new sub-regulation (2). This amendment aims to clarify the fee structure and potentially reduce costs for subscribers with direct telegraph office connections. These amendments impose clear obligations on both subscribers and the governing authorities. Subscribers are required to be aware of and comply with the new recording and charging procedures for exchange calls used for telephoning telegrams, unless they have a direct line to the telegraph office. The governing authorities, likely the Postmaster-General's Department, must ensure that these changes are implemented and enforced across the relevant telecommunications infrastructure. Additionally, subscribers with direct lines to the telegraph office must ensure they are utilising these lines correctly to benefit from the exclusion of the prescribed telephone call fee for telegrams. For breaches of these regulations, the legislation does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences. However, given the statutory context, non-compliance with such regulations could potentially result in administrative actions, fines, or other enforcement measures as deemed appropriate by the governing authorities. The lack of specific penalties in the text suggests that the overarching Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916 or subsequent regulations may provide the necessary legal basis for enforcement actions against those who fail to comply with the amended regulations.