Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1957 No. 21, titled “Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950”, was enacted to provide updated regulations governing telephone services within Australia, specifically addressing the charging and application of automatic trunk line calls. This legislative instrument was made by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and aims to refine the existing framework under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 to accommodate technological advancements in telecommunications. The policy objective of these regulations is to establish clear and structured pricing and application rules for automatic trunk line calls, ensuring both clarity and fairness in telecommunications services provided within metropolitan areas of capital cities.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1957 No. 21, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, amend the Telephone Regulations to alter the provisions concerning automatic trunk line calls. These regulations apply specifically to automatic trunk line calls originating from a subscriber connected to an automatic exchange (which is not a metropolitan exchange) and terminating at a subscriber connected to a metropolitan exchange within a capital city. The scope of these regulations is limited to calls that fit within the distance parameters specified for the city in question, which are not more than twenty-five miles from the General Post Office in the relevant capital city. The application of these regulations excludes trunk line calls to which Division 2 of Part VII of the Telephone Regulations applies, ensuring a clear demarcation of their jurisdictional reach. The charge for such calls is set at threepence for the initial connection, plus an additional threepence for each complete chargeable period, with the duration of the chargeable period varying based on the distance from the General Post Office in the capital city. These charges are payable by the subscriber and must be included in any account rendered to them under the relevant regulation.

Key Provisions

The principal sections of these regulations, introduced under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, focus on amending the existing Telephone Regulations. Specifically, Regulation 133a is repealed and replaced with a new regulation that clarifies the scope of the Division by stating it does not apply to trunk line calls governed by Division 2 (regulation 1). Furthermore, Division 2, which pertains to Automatic Trunk Line Calls, is also repealed and replaced with a new Division that introduces definitions and details the application and charges for such calls (regulation 2). These regulations impose specific obligations on parties involved in making automatic trunk line calls. For example, under the new Division 2, an automatic trunk line call is defined as a call over a trunk line accessed by automatic means. Additionally, the definition of 'metropolitan exchange' varies depending on the capital city. The obligations also include determining the applicable chargeable period based on the distance of the exchange from the General Post Office in the relevant capital city and charging subscribers accordingly (regulations 144b and 144d). Violations of these regulations could lead to various consequences. While the specific offences, penalties, or consequences are not detailed in the text provided, breaches of telecommunications regulations typically incur penalties under the broader legislative framework. These could include fines or other civil penalties, depending on the severity and nature of the breach. Given the context, it is reasonable to assume that non-compliance could result in financial penalties or legal action to enforce adherence to the stipulated charges and regulations.