Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1951L00074 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

TELEPHONE REGULATIONS.(j)

Statutory Rules 1951, No. 74.(k)

Commencement.

1. These Regulations shall come into operation on the ninth day of July, 1951.

(j) For previous Regulations, see Consolidated Commonwealth Statutory Rules, 1901–1927, Volume III., p. 2671; 1928, p. 623; 1929, p. 134; 1930, p. 209; 1931, p. 280; 1932, p. 240; 1933, p. 131; 1934, p. 375; 1935, p. 444; 1936, p. 346; 1937, p. 649; 1938, p. 285; 1939, p. 600; 1940, p. 785; 1941, p. 929; 1942, p. 1175; 1943, p. 863; 1945–46, p. 952; 1947–48, p. 887; and 1949–50, p. 489.

(k) Made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1950 on 5th July, 1951; notified in Gazette on 6th July, 1951.


Definitions.

2. Regulation 4 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by inserting after the definition “Residence service” the following definition:—

“‘Straight line service’ means an exchange service which terminates on a telephone and which is not connected to the exchange by means of a switchboard or any other switching device;”.

Rental within two-mile radius.

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

“(1.) The rental payable by a subscriber for a service specified in the following table shall be the rate specified in that table in relation to the service:—

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 to 10,000......

5

8

5

0

7

5

0

5

17

6

4

17

6

From  5,001 to 10,000......

10

9

15

0

8

10

0

6

10

0

5

10

0

From  10,001 and upwards

10

11

10

0

10

5

0

8

5

0

7

5

0

From  10,001 and upwards

15

12

5

0

11

0

0

9

0

0

8

0

0”.

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 Regulation 37 of the Telephone Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Unit fee.

“37.—(1.) For each effective unit call originating from a subscriber’s telephone, the unit fee specified in the following table shall, subject to the next succeeding, sub-regulation, he payable by the subscriber:—

Subscribers connected to exchanges having access to the following number of subscribers’ lines at the unit fee.

Radius of network unit fee area.

Unit fee.

 

Miles.

d.

1 to 5,000.............................

5

5,001 to 10,000.............................

5

5,001 and upwards.........................

10

3

15

“(2.) Where a subscriber leases a straight line telephone service fitted with a Departmental coin attachment and places that telephone at the service of the public, his employees, tenants or lodgers, the unit fee


payable by the subscriber for each effective unit call originating from that telephone shall, if the Director-General so determines, be Twopence.”.

Joint use of telephone.

5. Regulation 57 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the sign, figures and letters “£1. 2s. 6d.” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “One pound ten shillings”.

6. Regulation 77 of the Telephone Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Block type entries.

“77.—(1.) A subscriber may have his name, occupation or address inserted in block type, instead of the type ordinarily used, in an entry appearing in an issue of the Telephone Directory on payment of charges in accordance with the following table:—

Telephone directory in which entry is to be made.

First word.

Each additional word.

Each initial or the sign “&”.

 

s.

d.

s.

d.

s.

d.

Sydney...............................

20

0

10

0

2

6

Melbourne.............................

Brisbane..............................

16

0

6

8

1

3

Adelaide..............................

Perth.................................

Tasmanian.............................

Each separate country directory...............

11

0

5

0

1

0

“(2.) Where the period of currency of an issue of the Telephone Directory exceeds six months, the charges specified in the last preceding sub-regulation may be increased by one-sixth for each month or part of a month for which the period of currency exceeds six months.”.

Charge for extra words and entries.

7. Regulation 79 of the Telephone Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting the figures and letters “3s. 9d.” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “Five shillings”;

(b) by omitting the figures and letter “10s.” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “Thirteen shillings and fourpence”; and

(c) by omitting the figures and letters “7s. 6d.” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “Ten shillings”.

Alteration fee.

8. Regulation 83 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the figure and letter “4s.” and inserting in their stead the Words “Five shillings”.

Provision of services not wholly provided by Department.

9. Regulation 91 of the Telephone Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (f) the sign and figure “£1” and inserting in their stead the words “One pound seven shillings and sixpence”; and


(b) by omitting from sub-paragraph (ii) of that paragraph the figures and letter “10s.” and inserting in their stead the words “Seventeen shillings and sixpence”.

Lines erected upon the Department’s poles at subscriber’s cost.

10. Regulation 110 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (g) the figures and letters “5s.” and “2s. 6d.” and inserting in their stead the words “Ten shillings” and “Five shillings”, respectively.

Unit call.

11. Regulation 127 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the figure and letter “3d.” and inserting in their stead the word “Fourpence”.

Charge for trunk line calls.

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

“(1.) Subject to this regulation, the charges payable for trunk line calls shall be in accordance with the following table:—

Radial distance between exchanges or offices

Each three minutes or part thereof.

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

5

0

5

Exceeding  10 but not exceeding  15 miles..........

0

7

0

7

Exceeding  15 but not exceeding  20 miles..........

0

10

0

10

Exceeding  20 but not exceeding  25 miles..........

1

0

0

10

Exceeding  25 but not exceeding  30 miles..........

1

3

1

0

Exceeding  30 but not exceeding  35 miles..........

1

5

1

1

Exceeding  35 but nut exceeding  40 miles..........

1

8

1

3

Exceeding  40 but not exceeding  50 miles..........

2

1

1

6

Exceeding  50 but not exceeding  60 miles..........

2

6

1

10

Exceeding  60 but not exceeding  80 miles..........

2

11

2

2

Exceeding  80 but not exceeding  100 miles..........

3

4

2

6

Exceeding  100 but not exceeding  150 miles..........

4

4

3

3

Exceeding  150 but not exceeding  200 miles..........

5

4

4

1

Exceeding  200 but not exceeding  250 miles..........

6

5

4

10

Exceeding  250 but not exceeding  300 miles..........

7

6

5

8

Exceeding  300 but not exceeding  350 miles..........

8

6

6

4

Exceeding  350 but not exceeding  400 miles..........

9

7

7

2

Exceeding  400 but not exceeding  500 miles..........

11

3

8

5

Exceeding  500 but not exceeding  600 miles..........

12

11

9

8

Exceeding  600 but not exceeding  700 miles..........

14

7

10

11

Exceeding  700 but not exceeding  800 miles..........

16

3

12

2

Exceeding  800 but not exceeding  900 miles..........

17

11

13

5

Exceeding  900 but not exceeding  1,000 miles..........

19

7

14

8

Exceeding  1,000 but not exceeding  1,150 miles..........

21

3

15

11

Exceeding  1,150 but not exceeding  1,300 miles..........

22

11

17

2

Exceeding  1,300 miles .............................

24

7

18

5”.

 

Overview

The Telephone Regulations 1951, enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1950, were introduced to address the need for updated and comprehensive regulations governing telephone services in Australia. These regulations, made by the Commonwealth of Australia under the authority of the Post and Telegraph Act, were designed to ensure the efficient and fair management of telephone services, including defining terms, setting rental fees, and outlining charges for various telephone services. The primary policy objective of these regulations was to provide clear and accessible guidelines for both the telecommunications providers and consumers, ensuring that services were provided in a structured and equitable manner. The regulations were brought into operation on the ninth of July, 1951, replacing previous regulations and providing a modern framework for the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry.

Scope and Application

The Telephone Regulations, 1951, apply to subscribers of telephone services within the Commonwealth of Australia, governing various aspects of telephone services including rental fees, unit fees, and charges for trunk line calls. These Regulations are made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1950 and came into operation on 9 July 1951. The Regulations set out detailed schedules for annual rental fees based on the number of subscribers' lines an exchange has access to within a two-mile radius, unit fees for effective unit calls, and charges for trunk line calls varying according to the radial distance between exchanges or offices. Additionally, the Regulations outline fees for various services such as directory entries, alteration fees, and charges for lines erected at subscribers' costs. The geographic reach of these Regulations is national, applying to all subscribers across Australia, and they do not include explicit exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond those specified in the text. The application of the Regulations can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Telephone Regulations (Statutory Rules 1951, No. 74) establish various requirements and fees for telephone services provided by the Commonwealth. The regulations specify definitions, rental fees, unit fees, charges for directory entries, and fees for additional services such as block type entries, alteration fees, and trunk line calls. Specifically, Regulation 4 defines "straight line service" as an exchange service that terminates on a telephone and is not connected by any switching device. Regulation 29 outlines the annual rental fees based on the number of subscriber lines at the unit fee area, with rates varying depending on the radius of the network and whether the service is for business or residence use. Regulation 37 details the unit fees for effective calls originating from a subscriber's telephone, with rates based on the number of subscribers' lines and the distance of the call. Regulation 77 specifies the charges for inserting a subscriber's name, occupation, or address in block type in the Telephone Directory, with rates varying by city and the duration of the directory's currency. The obligations imposed by the regulations include adherence to the specified rental and unit fees, payment of charges for directory entries and additional services, and compliance with the terms for straight line services and joint use of telephones. Subscribers must ensure that they pay the appropriate fees for their services as outlined in the regulations. For instance, subscribers with straight line services must pay the unit fee if their telephone is made available to the public or their employees, tenants, or lodgers. The regulations also require subscribers to pay for any additional words or entries in the Telephone Directory and for services that are not wholly provided by the Department, such as lines erected on the Department's poles at the subscriber's cost. Breach of these regulations can result in various consequences. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, but typically, failure to pay the prescribed fees or adhere to the regulations could result in fines or other civil penalties. Additionally, there may be criminal consequences for wilfully or negligently breaching the regulations, although the exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach. The regulations are designed to ensure that subscribers are aware of and comply with the financial obligations and service requirements for their telephone services.

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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.