Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1956L00068 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1956. No. 68.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1950.*

I, THE ADMINISTRATOR of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950.

Dated this twentysixth day of September, 1956.

J. Northcott

Administrator.

By His Excellency’s Command,

(Sgd.) C. W. Davidson

Postmaster-General.

Amendments of the Telephone Regulations.†

Commencement.

1. These Regulations shall come into operation on the first day of October, 1956.

Rental within two-mile radius.

2. Regulation 29 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (1.) and inserting in its stead the following table:—

Subscribers connected to exchanges having access to the following number of subscribers’ lines at the unit fee.	Radius of network or unit fee area.	Annual rental within a two-mile radius of the exchange.
		For an exclusive service.							For each subscriber or instrument on a two-party service.				For each subscriber or instrument on a three or more party service.
		Business.			Residence.
	Miles.	£	s.	d.		£	s.	d.		£	s.	d.		£	s.	d.
From 1 to 300...........	5	4	7	6		4	7	6		3	10	0		2	17	6
From 301 to 1,000........	5	5	0	0		5	0	0		3	17	6		3	2	6
From 1,001 to 2,000.......	5	6	0	0		6	0	0		4	12	6		3	17	6
From 2,001 to 5,000.......	5	7	0	0		7	0	0		5	7	6		4	7	6
From 5,001 and upwards	5	8	5	0		7	5	0		5	17	6		4	17	6
From 10,001 and upwards	10	12	10	0		11	5	0		9	5	0		8	5	0
From 10,001 and upwards	15	13	5	0		12	0	0		10	0	0		9	0	0

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1956.

† Statutory Rules 1927, No. 145, as amended by Statutory Rules 1928, No. 99; 1929, Nos. 122 and 133; 1930, Nos. 2, 7, 15, 54 and 112; 1931, Nos. 86 and 137; 1932, No. 16; 1933, Nos. 13, 14, 56, 64, 84 and 135; 1934, Nos. 30 and 114; 1935, Nos. 25, 26, 93, 96 and 121; 1936, No. 121; 1937, Nos. 14, 36 and 86; 1938, No. 4; 1939, Nos. 34 and 130; 1940, Nos. 14, 28 and 230; 1941, Nos. 15, 126, 236 and 261; 1942, No. 504; 1943, No. 141; 1946, No. 118; 1948, No. 113; 1949, No. 39; 1950, No. 92; 1951, No. 74; 1954, No. 29; and 1955, Nos. 27, 59 and 73.

5273/56.—Price 3d. 10/20.9.1956.

3. After regulation 29 of the Telephone Regulations the following regulation is inserted:—

Service connexion fee.

“29a.—(1.) Subject to this regulation, a service connexion fee of Ten pounds is payable in advance by a person—

(a) who applies for permission to rent or use a telephone service; or

(b) who, under regulation 69 of these Regulations, has a telephone service or other apparatus removed to other premises.

“(2.) A service connexion fee is not payable—

(a) in respect of a temporary exchange service provided under regulation 88 of these Regulations; or

(b) if the service can be provided by means of a service that has previously been provided by the Department and does not require the addition, substitution or removal of any line, equipment or apparatus for the purpose of providing the service.”.

4. Regulation 37 of the Telephone Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Unit fee.

“37. A unit fee of Threepence shall be payable by a subscriber for each effective call originating from the subscriber’s telephone, being a call that the subscriber is entitled to make at the unit fee under regulation 35 or regulation 36 of these Regulations.”.

Extension telephones.

5. Regulation 64 of the Telephone Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (b) the word “and”; and

(b) by adding at the end of that paragraph the following word and sub-paragraph:—

“; and (iii) a service connexion fee of Ten pounds.”.

Transfers.

6. Regulation 72 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the figure and letter “5s.” and inserting in their stead the words “Ten shillings”.

Provision of services not wholly provided by Department.

7. Regulation 91 of the Telephone Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (f) the word “and” (last occurring); and

(b) by adding at the end thereof the following word and paragraph:—

“; and (h) a service connexion fee of Ten pounds is payable in advance by the applicant if any new line is erected by the Department.”.

Charges for trunk line calls.

8.—(1.) Regulation 138 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (1.) and inserting in its stead the following table:—

Radial distance between exchanges or offices.	Each three minutes or part thereof.
Radial distance between exchanges or offices.	Between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.		Between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.
	s.	d.	s.	d.
Exceeding 5 but not exceeding 10 miles....................	0	3	0	3
Exceeding 10 but not exceeding 15 miles...................	0	6	0	6
Exceeding 15 but not exceeding 20 miles...................	0	9	0	9
Exceeding 20 but not exceeding 25 miles...................	1	0	0	9
Exceeding 25 but not exceeding 30 miles...................	1	3	1	0
Exceeding 30 but not exceeding 35 miles...................	1	6	1	3
Exceeding 35 but not exceeding 40 miles...................	1	9	1	6
Exceeding 40 but not exceeding 50 miles...................	2	3	1	9
Exceeding 50 but not exceeding 60 miles...................	2	9	2	0
Exceeding 60 but not exceeding 80 miles...................	3	6	2	6
Exceeding 80 but not exceeding 100 miles..................	4	0	3	0
Exceeding 100 but not exceeding 150 miles.................	5	3	4	0
Exceeding 150 but not exceeding 200 miles.................	6	6	5	0
Exceeding 200 but not exceeding 250 miles.................	7	9	6	0
Exceeding 250 but not exceeding 300 miles.................	9	0	6	9
Exceeding 300 but not exceeding 350 miles.................	10	3	7	9
Exceeding 350 but not exceeding 400 miles.................	11	6	8	9
Exceeding 400 but not exceeding 500 miles.................	13	3	10	0
Exceeding 500 but not exceeding 600 miles.................	15	0	11	3
Exceeding 600 but not exceeding 700 miles.................	16	9	12	6
Exceeding 700 but not exceeding 800 miles.................	18	6	14	0
Exceeding 800 miles.................................	20	0	15	0

(2.) Regulation 138 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting from the third column of the table in sub-regulation (2.) the figure “2” (wherever occurring) and inserting in its stead the figure “3”.

Calls to particular person.

9. Regulation 141 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (2.) and inserting in its stead the following table:—

Radial distance between exchanges or offices.	Charge.
	s.	d.
Not exceeding 15 miles.........................................	0	6
Exceeding 15 but not exceeding 20 miles..............................	0	8
Exceeding 20 but not exceeding 25 miles..............................	0	10
Exceeding 25 but not exceeding 35 miles..............................	1	0
Exceeding 35 but not exceeding 50 miles..............................	1	2
Exceeding 50 but not exceeding 60 miles..............................	1	5
Exceeding 60 but not exceeding 80 miles..............................	1	7
Exceeding 80 but not exceeding 100 miles.............................	1	10
Exceeding 100 but not exceeding 150 miles............................	2	0
Exceeding 150 but not exceeding 200 miles............................	2	4
Exceeding 200 but not exceeding 250 miles............................	2	6
Exceeding 250 but not exceeding 300 miles............................	2	9
Exceeding 300 but not exceeding 350 miles............................	3	4
Exceeding 350 but not exceeding 400 miles............................	3	9
Exceeding 400 but not exceeding 600 miles............................	4	3
Exceeding 600 but not exceeding 700 miles............................	4	6
Exceeding 700 but not exceeding 800 miles............................	4	9
Exceeding 800 miles...........................................	5	0

Charge for line.

10. Regulation 147 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (1.) and inserting in its stead the following table:—

	Unit fee area.
	State capital city.			Other places.
	Per annum.			Per annum.
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
For the first quarter mile or part thereof....................	3	5	0	2	15	0
For each additional 220 yards or part thereof.................	1	10	0	1	2	6

11. After regulation 147 of the Telephone Regulations the following regulation is inserted:—

Service connexion fee.

“147a. A service connexion fee of Ten pounds is payable in advance by a person applying for a private line (not being a temporary service provided under regulation 152 of these Regulations) provided either in whole or in part by the Department.”.

Application of service connexion fee.

12. The service connexion fee referred to in regulations 29a, 64, 91 and 147a of the Telephone Regulations, as amended by these Regulations, is not payable in any case where, before the commencement of these Regulations—

(a) a person has agreed to rent a service for a fixed term;

(b) the Department has stated that it will provide the service; and

By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

Statutory Rules 1956, No. 68, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, amends the Telephone Regulations to update and adjust various fees and charges associated with telephone services. The regulations were enacted to address issues related to the administration and financial aspects of telephone services provided by the Commonwealth. The objective is to ensure that the fees and charges are accurately reflected to match the operational costs and provide a fair pricing structure for users. The regulations were made by the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and came into effect on 1 October 1956.

Scope and Application

The Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 serves as the foundational statute for these Regulations, which aim to amend the existing Telephone Regulations by introducing new and revised fees and charges for various telephone services. These Regulations apply to any person or entity seeking to rent or use telephone services in Australia, including those who apply for the removal of telephone services to other premises, and those who request a private line from the Department. The amendments cover both business and residential subscribers, irrespective of the geographic location within Australia. The Regulations do not apply to temporary exchange services or to services provided by means of existing infrastructure without requiring additional lines, equipment, or apparatus. Additionally, the Regulations extend their reach through subordinate instruments, allowing for further amendments and clarifications to the fees and charges specified.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of these Regulations, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, primarily amend the existing Telephone Regulations by updating and replacing certain tables and inserting new regulations concerning service connection fees and unit fees. For instance, regulation 2 of these Regulations amends the table in regulation 29 of the Telephone Regulations to reflect updated annual rental fees within a two-mile radius of the exchange. Regulation 3 introduces a service connection fee of Ten pounds payable by a person who applies for permission to rent or use a telephone service. Regulation 4 replaces regulation 37 of the Telephone Regulations by introducing a unit fee of Threepence for each effective call originating from a subscriber’s telephone, subject to certain conditions. These Regulations impose various obligations and requirements on parties and entities governed by them. For example, subscribers must pay a service connection fee of Ten pounds when applying for a telephone service or when having a service removed to other premises, unless specific conditions apply as outlined in regulation 29a. Additionally, subscribers must pay a unit fee of Threepence for each effective call they make, as stipulated in regulation 37. Furthermore, if a subscriber wishes to connect extension telephones, they must also pay a service connection fee of Ten pounds, as amended in regulation 64. Breaches of these Regulations may result in civil or criminal consequences, though the specific penalties are not detailed within the text. However, the general framework under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 suggests that non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions, including fines or other legal remedies. The Regulations are designed to ensure that the services provided are properly compensated, and any failure to adhere to the stipulated fees and conditions could potentially lead to legal disputes or penalties as defined under the broader legislative context.

Area of Law: Communications Law
Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Commencement Provisions; Fees & Charges; Amendments

Interactions

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.

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