PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1912.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the undermentioned amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, namely :—
Telephone Regulations.
Part VI.—Telephone Junction and Trunk Lines.
should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulations to come into operation forthwith as Provisional Regulations.
Dated this twenty-fourth day of September, One thousand nine hundred and thirteen.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency's Command,
AGAR WYNNE,
Telephone Regulations.
Part VI.—Telephone Junction and Trunk Lines.
The Regulations under this head (Statutory Rules 1912, No. 65) are amended—
1. By repealing Sub-regulation (1) of Regulation 52 and inserting the following Sub-regulation in its stead : —
" 52. (1) Subscribers to Telephone Exchanges may use the trunk lines, when required, by paying the trunk-line fees prescribed by Regulation 51. Trunk-line calls made by any subscriber shall be recorded and included in the subscriber's half-yearly account for calls, prescribed by Regulation 5 (3), provided that the total fees for such trunk-line calls do not exceed Five shillings in any half-yearly accounting period. If the subscriber's estimated requirements in respect of trunk-line calls for any half-yearly accounting period exceed Five shillings, a sum of money equal to the subscriber's estimated requirements for one month, but not less than Five shillings, shall be deposited by the subscriber in advance. Accounts concerning the expenditure of money so deposited shall be rendered monthly, reimbursements must be made promptly, and, when notification has been made that an advance has been exhausted, no connexion will be made until the advance has been renewed."
and
2. By repealing Sub-regulation (1) of Regulation 53 and inserting the following Sub-regulation in its stead : —
" 53. (1) The charges prescribed by this part of these Regulations only shall be made for calls over trunk lines."
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.14498.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, enacted by the Governor-General in 1913, were introduced to address the urgent need for amendments to the existing telephone regulations. This legislative instrument, issued under the authority of the Governor-General and advised by the Federal Executive Council, aimed to swiftly update the regulatory framework governing telephone services in Australia. The key policy objective was to ensure that the revised regulations concerning trunk lines and related fees could be implemented immediately, addressing both subscriber access and financial arrangements for trunk-line calls. The urgency of these changes underscores the evolving nature of telecommunications at the time and the necessity for timely regulatory updates to accommodate the growing demand for telephone services.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912 specifically pertain to the operation and use of telephone junction and trunk lines by subscribers to telephone exchanges. These Regulations apply to individuals or entities that subscribe to telephone exchanges and require the use of trunk lines for making calls. The regulations are designed to ensure that subscribers who use trunk lines for calls pay the prescribed trunk-line fees and to manage the accounting and financial aspects of such usage, including the recording of calls, billing, and the deposit of estimated fees in advance if the anticipated costs exceed a certain threshold. The Regulations have a national reach, as they are issued under the Commonwealth of Australia, and they are intended to come into immediate operation due to their urgent nature. The amended regulations include detailed provisions for how trunk-line calls are to be recorded, billed, and paid for, with specific limits on the amount that can be accrued before a deposit is required, as well as provisions for monthly accounting and reimbursement. These Regulations do not specify any exclusions or exemptions, and their scope is limited to the financial and procedural aspects of trunk-line usage by telephone subscribers.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of these Provisional Regulations concern the use of trunk lines by subscribers to telephone exchanges and the fees associated with such use. Under Regulation 52 (1), subscribers may utilise trunk lines for calls by paying the prescribed trunk-line fees. These fees are detailed in Regulation 51, and they must be accounted for in the subscriber's half-yearly call account, as stipulated in Regulation 5(3). The total fees for trunk-line calls should not exceed five shillings in any half-yearly period. However, if a subscriber anticipates that their trunk-line call fees will surpass this amount, they must deposit an advance payment equal to their estimated monthly requirements, but not less than five shillings. This deposit must be renewed if it is exhausted, and monthly accounts for the deposit must be rendered, with reimbursements made promptly.
The Regulations impose several obligations on the subscribers. Subscribers must ensure that they pay the trunk-line fees as prescribed, and if their anticipated needs exceed the five shillings limit, they must make the required advance deposit. Additionally, subscribers must ensure that the deposit is renewed if it is exhausted, and they must comply with the monthly accounting and reimbursement requirements. These obligations are detailed in Regulation 52 (1) and ensure that the use of trunk lines is financially accountable and transparent.
Failure to comply with the provisions of these Regulations may result in penalties or consequences. While the specific penalties are not outlined in the Regulations themselves, breaches of similar provisions in the overarching Post and Telegraph Act or related Acts could potentially lead to fines or other sanctions. The exact nature and extent of the penalties would depend on the specific breach and the discretion of the relevant authorities. However, it is clear that adherence to the financial obligations and the timely renewal of deposits is crucial to avoid any potential adverse outcomes.