Telephone Regulations (Amendment) (Provisional)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1914 No. 11, enacted as a Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1912, was introduced to address the need for immediate updates to the Telephone Regulations of 1913. The Governor-General, on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, certified this urgency due to the necessity for quick amendments to the charges and procedures for telephone subscribers when they requested changes to their telephone services, such as relocations or alterations. This Provisional Regulation sought to streamline the process by providing clear guidelines on the costs involved and the conditions under which additional charges might apply, ensuring transparency and consistency in service delivery. The policy objective was to maintain operational efficiency while providing subscribers with necessary services without undue delay.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1912 applies to subscribers who request the removal or alteration of their telephone apparatus within the same network, thereby setting out the financial responsibilities associated with such changes. This amendment pertains to both individuals and entities that are subscribers to the telephone network operated under the Commonwealth’s jurisdiction. The regulation specifies detailed charges for various alterations, such as changes in the location of the telephone instrument, reversal of positions of main and extension sets, and alterations to exchange numbers, while also addressing additional costs related to travel expenses that exceed a certain threshold. The regulation’s geographic reach is national, given that it operates under the Commonwealth’s legislative authority. While the regulation itself does not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions, it does outline specific conditions under which additional charges may apply, thus indirectly setting parameters for exceptions to the standard fees. The application of the regulation can be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, which may provide additional clarifications or modifications to the prescribed charges and conditions.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the amended Telephone Regulations 1913 (Statutory Rules 1913, No. 349) include the detailed charges subscribers must pay when they request the removal or alteration of their telephone services (Regulation 21(1)). This regulation sets out a specific scale of charges depending on the type and extent of the requested changes. For instance, the cost of moving a telephone instrument within the same room is 9 shillings, while moving it to another room with less than 50 yards of internal wiring costs 15 shillings. If the relocation requires more than 50 yards of internal wiring, the cost escalates to 25 shillings. Similar scales are provided for changing the position of main and extension sets, altering the exchange number, and modifying the apparatus itself. Furthermore, if the travel costs associated with performing the removal or alteration exceed 25 per cent of the specified charge, the subscriber must pay the additional amount over this threshold (Regulation 21(1)(c)). The obligations imposed by these regulations primarily concern subscribers who wish to move or alter their telephone services. Subscribers must ensure they pay the specified charges if their rental is not increased due to the removal or alteration (Regulation 21(1)(a)). They must also be aware of the potential additional costs if the travel expenses for the service provider exceed 25 per cent of the base charge for the service (Regulation 21(1)(c)). Subscribers must proactively communicate their requests and be prepared to pay the appropriate fees as stipulated in the regulation. Any failure to comply with the payment requirements set out in the amended regulations could lead to disputes or non-service of the requested changes. While the regulations do not explicitly state offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance, it is reasonable to infer that non-payment of the specified charges could result in service disruption or denial of the requested alteration or removal. This could potentially lead to legal action by the service provider for unpaid charges, although the specific legal consequences would depend on the terms of the service agreement and relevant consumer protection laws.