Wireless Telegraphy Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1925L00123 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES

1925. No. 123.

________

REGULATIONS UNDER THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT 1905-1919.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1919, to come into operation on the 1st August, 1925.

Dated this sixteenth day of July, 1925.

FORSTER,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

W. G. GIBSON,

Postmaster-General.

_____

Amendment of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations.

(Statutory Rules 1924, No. 101.)

1. Regulation 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Division 3—Sale of Apparatus” and inserting in their stead the words “Division 3—Dealer’s Listening Licences”.

2. Regulation 4 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting paragraph (17) of sub-regulation (1) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

“(g) Dealers’ Listening Licences (Form 7).”

3. Regulation 11 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by adding at the end thereof the following proviso:—

“Provided that, subject to the licensee complying with the provisions of these Regulations, a licence granted on or after the first day of August, 1925, shall be renewable, and the renewal fee shall be payable twelve calendar months after the grant, or any renewal of the licence.”

4. Regulation 12 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Fee for licences.

“12. (1) The fees payable in respect of the grant or renewal of licences shall be as follows:—

(a) For a Coast Station Licence—£1 per annum or portion thereof.

(b) For a Ship Station Licence—£1 per annum or portion thereof.

(c) For a Land Station Licence—£1 per annum or portion thereof.

(d) For a Broadcasting Station Licence—The fee provided in Part III. of these Regulations.

(e) For a Broadcast Listener’s Licence—The fee provided in Part III. of these Regulations.

(f) For a Dealer’s Listening Licence—The fee provided in Part III. of these Regulations.

(g) For an Experimental Licence—The fee provided in Part IV. of these Regulations.

C. 9869.—Price 3d.


(h) For a Portable Station Licence—£1 per annum or portion thereof.

(i) For an Aircraft Station Licence—£1 per annum or portion thereof.

(j) For a Special Licence—As fixed in each case.

Provided that the Minister may grant free of charge to Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited such licences other than Broadcast Listeners Licences or Dealers’ Listening Licences as he considers necessary for the purposes of the agreement made on 28th March, 1922, between the Commonwealth and Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited.

“(2) The fees referred to in this regulation shall be paid in advance”

5. Regulation 22 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words (excepting Broadcasting Station Licences and Dealers’ Licences)”.,

6. Regulation 38 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the word “dealer’s” and inserting, in its stead the words; “dealer’s listening”.

7. Regulation 67 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting the words “Ordinary Broadcast Listeners’ Licence 5s.” and inserting in their stead the words “Ordinary Broadcast Listeners’ Licence 2s. 6d. if the fee be fully paid in advance, or 2s. 6d., per half-yearly payment of the fee if paid in two half-yearly instalments;” and

(b) by omitting the word “Dealers’” and inserting, in its stead the words “Dealers’ Listening”.

Classes of licences and fees.

8. Regulation 84 of the Wireless Telegraph Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“84. (1) The classes of licences and fees payable therefor shall be as follows:—

Class of Licence.

Fee payable according to Zone in which the Licensed Station is to be operated.

(For definition of Zones see Regulation 53.)

Zone 1.

Zone 2.

Zone 3.

Ordinary Licence ......

27s. 6d per annum

22s. 6d. per annum

17s. 6d. per annum

Special Licence .......

£10 per annum

£9 per annum

£7 16s. per annum

Temporary Licence.....

£1 per week

17s. 6d. per week

15s. per week

Provided that the fee for an Ordinary Licence may be paid in two equal half-yearly instalments, and, if so paid, the fee for an Ordinary Licence shall be 30s. per annum for Zone 1, 25s. per annum for Zone 2, and £1 per annum for Zone 3.

“(2) An Ordinary Licence shall be granted for a residence or place where the licensee operates the receiver for his own purposes and not for financial gain either direct or indirect.

“(3) A Special Licence shall be granted for use in hotels, restaurants, places of amusement or other places where the reception of the broadcast programme is intended for a number of people.


“(4) A Temporary licence (Form 6) shall be granted for the temporary use of a Special Licence as at show grounds, exhibitions, or as the case may be.

“(5) The decision of the Postmaster-General, regarding the class of licence which is proper for any specific purpose shall be final.”

Renewal of licence.

9. Regulation 85 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is repealed and the following regulation, inserted in its stead:—

“85. Subject to the licensee complying with the provisions of these Regulations an Ordinary or Special Licence granted on or after the 1st August, 1925, shall be renewable and the renewal fee shall be payable twelve calendar months after the grant or any renewal of the licence.”

10. The heading to Division III. of Part III. of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words; “Sale of Apparatus” and inserting in their stead the words “Dealers’ Listening Licences”.

11. Regulation 92 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Use of receiving equipment for demonstration purposes.

“92. No person or firm shall operate receiving equipment for the purpose of demonstration or test of receivers with the object of promoting the sale of receiving equipment unless he holds a Dealer’s Listening Licence”.

12. Regulation 93 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Dealer’s Licence” and inserting in their stead the words “Dealer’s Listening Licence”.

13. Regulation 98 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Dealer’s Licence” and inserting in their stead the words “Dealer’s Listening Licence”.

14. Regulation 99 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words “licensed dealer” and inserting in their stead the words “licensee holding a Dealer’s Listening Licence”.

15. Regulation 100 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words “all licensed dealers” and inserting in their stead the words “Every licensee holding a Dealer’s Listening Licence”.

16. Regulation 102 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the word “dealer” and inserting in its stead the words “A licensee holding a Dealer’s Listening Licence”.

17. Regulation 103 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is repealed.”

18. The schedule to the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting Forms 5 and 7 and inserting in their stead the following forms:—

_____

“Form 5.

No.

Present this Licence when Paying Renewal Fee or Second Instalment.

Commonwealth of Australia.

Postmaster-General’s Department.

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1919.

BROADCAST LISTENER’S LICENCE.—ORDINARY/SPECIAL.

In pursuance and exercise of the powers and authority conferred upon the Postmaster-General by clause 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1919 and by the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, a licence is hereby granted to


to erect and operate a Broadcast Listener’s Station at  for a period of twelve month ending               subject to payment of the prescribed fee. The installation and operation of the said station shall be carried out in accordance with the said Regulations, and any such amendments and additions as are made from time to time.

(a)To be scored out if licence fee for one year is paid in advance.

The fee for this licence is  . Payment thereof to the extent of   is hereby acknowledged; (a) the balance of                             is due and payable on             

The licensee agrees to comply with the conditions of the licence as set out in the above-mentioned Regulations and to respect the secrecy of commercial, naval, and military radio communications, and to pay the requisite fee for renewal of the licence when such renewal fee is due.

By direction of the Postmaster General,

Postmaster.

Office date stamp.

Adhesive receipt for second instalment to be attached hereon.

Signature of licensee—

Office date stamp—

Date.—

1. A fresh licence must be obtained after the period of twelve months shown above.

2. Penalty for operating a receiver without a licence: Not exceeding £20.

3. As no restrictions are placed on the construction of receiving sets, licensees are requested to exercise special care in the operation of sets containing re-action (back coupling), so as to avoid interference with neighbouring receivers. Any such interference is a breach of the Regulations.

4. The receipt of the second instalment of the fee will be acknowledged only by attaching to this form an adhesive official receipt for the required amount and post office date stamped impression”

____

“Form 7,

No.

Present this Licence when Paying Renewal Fee.

Commonwealth of Australia.

Postmaster General’s Department.

Wireless Telegraph Act 1905-1919.

DEALERS’ LISTENING LICENCE.

In pursuance and exercise of the powers and authorities conferred upon the Postmaster-General by clause 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1919 and by the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, a Dealer’s listening Licence is hereby granted to                                                                      to erect and operate a Dealer’s Listening Station at                                                                                                                 for a period of twelve months ending

The installation and operation of the said station shall be carried out in accordance with the said Regulations and any such amendments and additions thereto as are made from time to time

The payment by the Licensee of the licence fee of    is hereby acknowledged.

The licensee agrees comply with the conditions of the Licence as set out in the above-mentioned Regulations, and, to pay the requisite fee for renewal of the Licence when such falls due.

By direction of the Postmaster-General;

Postmaster.

Office date stamp

Signature of licensee—

Date

Not for Transmitting unless specially Endorsed by an Authorized Officer.

Note—This Licence is for a period of twelve months only from date above-mentioned. A fresh Licence or renewal Licence must be obtained for any additional period.

Penalty for operating a Station without a Licence: Sum not exceeding £20.

As no restrictions are placed on the construction of receiving sets, licensees are requested to exercise special care in the operation of sets containing re-action (back coupling) so as to avoid interference with neighbouring receivers, any such interference is a breach of the Regulations.”

_______________________

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by H. J. Green, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

Overview

The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1925 were enacted to bring the regulatory framework for wireless telegraphy up-to-date and to address issues surrounding the licensing and operation of wireless equipment in Australia. These regulations were made under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1919 by the Governor-General in Council, reflecting the Commonwealth's role in overseeing and regulating wireless communications. The primary objective of these regulations is to establish a structured approach to licensing various classes of wireless stations, including broadcast listeners and dealers, and to specify fees and renewal procedures to ensure orderly management of wireless operations. The changes introduced include amendments to the licensing categories, fee structures, and the conditions under which different types of wireless stations can operate, ensuring compliance with the overarching provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act.

Scope and Application

The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, enacted under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1919, govern the operation of wireless telegraphy stations in Australia. These regulations apply to individuals and entities involved in the operation of various types of wireless stations, including Coast, Ship, Land, Broadcasting, Portable, Aircraft, and Special Stations, as well as Dealer's Listening Stations. The regulations cover the issuance of different classes of licences, each with specific fees and conditions for operation, such as Ordinary, Special, and Temporary Licences. Furthermore, the regulations mandate that all licences, with certain exceptions, be renewable annually, with fees payable twelve months after the grant or renewal. The geographic scope of these regulations is national, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulations also provide for specific exclusions, such as the exemption of certain licences granted to Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited under an agreement dated 28 March 1922. Additionally, the Act allows for the extension and modification of its application through subordinate instruments, as evidenced by the amendments to various regulations detailed in the Statutory Rules.

Key Provisions

The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, as amended by these statutory rules, include several key provisions. For example, Regulation 2 now refers to "Dealer’s Listening Licences" instead of "Sale of Apparatus," and Regulation 4 now includes a new paragraph (g) specifically for Dealer’s Listening Licences (Form 7). Regulation 11 stipulates that any licence granted after 1 August 1925 can be renewed, with the renewal fee payable twelve months after the grant or any renewal of the licence. The fees for various licences, such as Coast Station Licences, Ship Station Licences, and Broadcasting Station Licences, are detailed in Regulation 12, with the fees varying depending on the type of licence and the zone in which the station operates. These regulations impose specific obligations on the parties they govern. For instance, they require all licensees to comply with the provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, ensuring that their operations adhere to the stipulated guidelines. The regulations also mandate that fees for licences be paid in advance, as stated in Regulation 12(2). Furthermore, Regulation 92 specifies that no person or firm can operate receiving equipment for demonstration or test purposes with the intent to promote sales without holding a Dealer’s Listening Licence. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in various consequences, including financial penalties. Regulation 92, for example, outlines a penalty of not exceeding £20 for operating receiving equipment without a Dealer’s Listening Licence. Similarly, operating a station without a valid licence, as mentioned in Form 7, carries a penalty of a sum not exceeding £20. These provisions underscore the importance of adhering to the stipulated requirements and obtaining the necessary licences to avoid incurring penalties.

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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.