Telephone Regulations (Amendment) (Provisional)

Overview

The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, enacted in 1914, was introduced to address the need for urgent amendments to the Telephone Regulations of 1913. This legislative instrument, certified by the Governor-General in accordance with advice from the Federal Executive Council, aimed to expedite changes in the regulatory framework governing telephone services, particularly concerning the classification of trunk lines and the associated charges for their use. The policy objective was to provide a more structured and efficient approach to managing long-distance telephone communications, ensuring fair and transparent pricing while accommodating the evolving demands of the telecommunications industry.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, certified by the Governor-General, addresses the amendment of the Telephone Regulations of 1913. This legislative instrument applies to all entities and individuals utilising telephone trunk lines for communication between separate towns or exchanges, as outlined in the Act. The charges for these trunk line services are calculated based on the length of the trunk line used and the time of day for the conversation. The regulation specifies different rates for trunk line conversations during specific time periods, such as between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m., with further differentiation based on the distance between the connected towns or exchanges. The regulation also limits the duration of conversations to six minutes if another person is waiting to use the line. It is important to note that the regulation does not apply to conversations between towns connected by trunk lines that are within one mile of the specified mileage limits. This provisional regulation comes into immediate effect, underscoring the urgency of the amendments to the existing telephone regulations.

Key Provisions

The key provision of this statutory rule (C1914L00038) amends the Telephone Regulations of 1913, specifically Regulation 51 (section 1). This regulation reclassifies lines joining two separate towns, or lines joining exchanges other than those specified in the previous regulation, as trunk lines. The use of these trunk lines will be charged according to the distance of the line used. The charges vary based on the length of the conversation and the time of day, with different rates applied between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. Conversations are limited to six minutes if another person is waiting, and if a public telephone is used for trunk line conversations, only the trunk line fee will be charged (section 2). The obligations imposed by this amended regulation include adhering to the specified charges for trunk line usage based on distance and time of day, and ensuring that conversations do not exceed six minutes if others are waiting. Additionally, the regulation mandates that when two towns are connected by trunk lines and the connection is within one mile beyond the mileage fixed for various rates, the conversation is to be charged according to the limit without considering the additional distance (section 3 and 4). Breach of these regulations could lead to civil or criminal consequences, although specific penalties are not detailed in this statutory rule. However, it is important to note that the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, under which these regulations operate, likely includes provisions for penalties in case of non-compliance. Generally, such breaches could result in fines or other civil penalties, with more severe breaches potentially leading to criminal charges depending on the nature and extent of the violation.