Telephone Regulations (Amendment) (Provisional)

Overview

The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, enacted in 1913, was introduced to address the need for urgent updates to the existing telephone regulations. This legislative instrument, certified by the Governor-General acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, aimed to swiftly amend the existing telephone regulations to accommodate the growing complexity and demand of telephone services. The policy objective was to facilitate the insertion of additional information on telephone lines, such as details about accessible departments within businesses, subject to the approval of the Deputy Postmaster-General, in exchange for an annual fee. This regulatory change underscored the importance of maintaining efficient and transparent communication services as the nation's infrastructure evolved.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910 pertains specifically to telephone exchanges, as amended by Statutory Rules 1912, No. 65. It applies to all businesses or entities that operate telephone lines within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulation allows for the inclusion of additional information on which departments of a business are accessible via telephone lines, subject to the Deputy Postmaster-General's approval and the payment of an annual fee of Five shillings per line or part thereof. The regulation is issued as a provisional measure to ensure immediate operation, reflecting the urgency of the matter. The scope of this regulation is national, impacting all telephone services across Australia, and it extends to any business entity utilising telephone lines for their operations. It is pertinent to note that the regulation does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, implying a broad application across all sectors unless otherwise noted in subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislation concern the amendment of the Telephone Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, specifically within Part 1—Telephone Exchanges (Regulation 23). The amendment allows for the insertion of additional information on telephone lines, such as a statement detailing which departments of a business are accessible over any particular line. This amendment is subject to the approval of the Deputy Postmaster-General and requires the payment of an annual fee of five shillings per line or part thereof (Reg. 23). The obligations imposed by this Act are primarily administrative and financial in nature. Any party wishing to include additional information on their telephone lines must seek approval from the Deputy Postmaster-General. This involves submitting the requested information and ensuring that the requisite annual fee is paid in advance. The Deputy Postmaster-General has the authority to approve or reject the inclusion of this additional information. The financial obligation of paying the annual fee is a direct requirement under this amendment, ensuring that the Postmaster-General's Office is compensated for the administrative burden of processing and maintaining this additional information. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Act can result in civil consequences. If a party includes additional information without the necessary approval or fails to pay the required annual fee, they may be in breach of the Telephone Regulations. While the exact civil penalties are not detailed in this statutory rule, the potential repercussions could include the removal of the additional information or additional administrative actions taken against the non-compliant party. The inclusion of such amendments and the financial requirements ensures that the Postmaster-General's Office can manage the distribution and accuracy of telephone directory information efficiently.