Wireless Telegraphy Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1967L00110 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES

1967 No. 110

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REGULATIONS UNDER THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT 1905-1966.*

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 1905-1966.

Dated this fourteenth day of August, 1967.

CASEY

Governor-General,

By His Excellency’s Command,

 

 

 

 

Postmaster-General.

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Amendments of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations.

Parts.

1. Regulation 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended omitting the words—

 “Part IV.—Amateur Stations.”

and inserting in their stead the words—

 “Part IV.—Additional Provisions relating to Amateur Stations.”.

Definitions.

2.—(1.) Regulation 3 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by inserting, after the definition of “aircraft station”, the following definition—

“‘amateur station’ means a station used solely for the purpose of investigation or research into, or instructions in, wireless telegraphy;”.

(2.) Regulation 3 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is further amended by omitting the definition of “Amateur station” appearing immediately after the definition of “direction-finding station”.

(3.) Regulation 3 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the definitions of “the Safety Convention” and “the Telecommunication Convention” and inserting in their stead the following definitions:—

“‘the Safety Convention’ means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1948, signed in London on the tenth day of June, 1948, as affected by any amendment, other than an amendment not accepted by Australia, made under Article IX. of that Convention;

‘the Telecommunication Convention’ means the International Telecommunication Convention signed at Montreux on the twelfth day of November, 1965.”.

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* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on                                            1967.

† Statutory Rules 1912, No. 348 as amended by Statutory Rules 1945, No. 185; 1947, No. 129;

1951, No. 19; 1954, No. 50; 1955, No. 1; 1958, No. 54; and 1959, No. 55.

4935/67—Price 8c  11/29.6.1967


Licence fees.

3. Regulation 7 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words “One pound” and inserting in their stead the words “Two dollars”.

Application of the Telecommunication Convention and Regulations.

4. Regulation 15 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words “for the time being”.

Transmission and reception of public correspondence.

5. Regulation 28 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the words “for the time being”.

Used message forms.

6. Regulation 33 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words “from time to time” and the words “for the time being”.

Certificates.

7. Regulation 40 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1a.) the words “sixteen years” and inserting in their stead the words “fourteen years”.

Fees for examination and issue of certificates.

8.—(1.) Regulation 42 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (1.) and inserting in its stead the following table:—

 

$

“First Class Commercial Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency.........

4.00

Second Class Commercial Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency........

3.00

Third Class Commercial Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency.........

2.00

Broadcast Station Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency.............

3.00

Amateur Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency...................

2.00

Amateur Operator’s Limited Certificate of Proficiency..............

2.00”.

(2.) Regulation 42 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is further amended by omitting from sub-regulation (3.) the words “Ten shillings” and inserting in their stead the words “One dollar”.

Heading of Part IV.

9. The heading to Part IV. of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is repealed and the following heading inserted in its stead:—

 

Part IV.—Additional Provisions Relating to Amateur Stations”.

Amateur station licence.

10. Regulation 53 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1.) the words “sixteen years” and inserting in their stead the words “fifteen years”.

Power to be used in amateur transmitter.

11. Regulation 57 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (1.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulations:

“(1.) Except in the case of an amateur station that is utilizing a type of transmission specified in the next succeeding sub-regulation, the power (measured at the anode of the valve or valves delivering power to the aerial circuit) to be used in the transmitter of an amateur station shall not, except in such special circumstances as are approved by an authorized officer, exceed one hundred and fifty watts.

“(2.) Where an amateur station is utilizing the A3a type of transmission or the A3j type of transmission, the peak envelope power of the radio frequency output, measured at the input to the antenna transmission line, shall not exceed four hundred watts.


(2a.) For the purposes of the last preceding sub-regulation—

(a) ‘A3a type of transmission’ means single-sideband transmission in which the carrier wave is transmitted at a power level between six decibels and thirty-two decibels below the peak envelope power; and

(b) ‘A3j type of transmission’ means single-sideband transmission in which the carrier wave is transmitted at a power level more than thirty-two decibels below the peak envelope power.”.

Types of emissions.

12. Regulation 58 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words “associated with such frequencies” and inserting in their stead the words “within such frequency bands”; and

(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the words “the frequencies on” and inserting in their stead the words “the frequency bands within”.

13. Regulation 59 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Frequency control.

“59.—(1.) The licensee of an amateur station shall ensure that any transmission from the station is within a frequency band included in the frequency bands indicated on his licence for that station.

“(2.) The licensee of an amateur station shall, for the purpose of enabling him to comply with the last preceding sub-regulation, maintain in good working order apparatus of a type approved by an authorized officer for the purposes of this sub-regulation.

“(3.) The licensee shall not be taken to comply with the last preceding sub-regulation unless the apparatus referred to in that sub-regulation is kept in such a place that it is readily available for use by a person operating the station whenever the station is being operated.”.

Frequency of carrier wave.

14. Regulation 61 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words “One hundred and sixty-six megacycles” and inserting in their stead the words “Fifty-two megacycles”.

Offences against Regulations.

15. Regulation 71 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Twenty pounds” and inserting in their stead the words “Forty dollars”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra

Overview

The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1967 were enacted to amend the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1966. These amendments aimed to update and modernise the regulatory framework governing wireless telegraphy in Australia, reflecting changes in technology, international conventions, and operational practices. The Regulations were made by the Governor-General in Council under the authority of the Act, and the primary objective was to ensure that the regulatory provisions remained current and effective. Key changes included updates to definitions, adjustments to licence fees, the application of international conventions, modifications to transmission and reception standards, updates to message forms and certificates, and amendments to fees for examinations and certificates. These amendments collectively aimed to streamline regulatory compliance and improve the overall governance of wireless telegraphy operations in Australia.

Scope and Application

The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1967, made under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1966, apply to the regulation of wireless telegraphy in Australia, including the issuance of licenses for stations, the control of transmission and reception of public correspondence, and the setting of standards for amateur stations. These regulations cover individuals and entities involved in the operation of wireless telegraphy equipment within Australia, with a focus on ensuring safe and efficient use of the radio spectrum. The geographic reach of these regulations is nationwide, applying to all states and territories within the Commonwealth of Australia. Notably, the regulations do not explicitly state exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds but imply a comprehensive application through various amendments and detailed provisions concerning licence fees, definitions, and specific operational standards. The application of the regulations is further extended and detailed through subordinate instruments, which provide additional clarity and enforcement mechanisms for specific aspects of wireless telegraphy operations.

Key Provisions

The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1967, under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1966, include several key provisions. Firstly, Regulation 2 amends the definition of "amateur station" (reg. 3) to mean a station used for investigation, research, or instruction into wireless telegraphy (reg. 3(1)). It further refines the definitions of "the Safety Convention" and "the Telecommunication Convention" (reg. 3(3)). Licence fees are updated, with Regulation 7 amending the fee from one pound to two dollars (reg. 7). The application of the Telecommunication Convention and its regulations is clarified by amending Regulation 15 (reg. 15). Transmission and reception of public correspondence are governed by amending Regulation 28 (reg. 28). Regulation 33 is amended to clarify the used message forms (reg. 33). Certificates, specifically the age requirement for obtaining a Certificate of Proficiency, are updated in Regulation 40 from sixteen to fourteen years (reg. 40(1a)). Fees for examinations and issuance of certificates are revised in Regulation 42 (reg. 42). The heading of Part IV is updated to reflect "Additional Provisions Relating to Amateur Stations" (reg. 9). The age requirement for amateur station licence holders is amended in Regulation 53 from sixteen to fifteen years (reg. 53(1)(a)). The power limitations for amateur transmitters are updated in Regulation 57, specifying maximum power levels and transmission types (reg. 57(1)-(2a)). Regulation 58 is amended to clarify the types of emissions within specific frequency bands (reg. 58(1)-(2)). Regulation 59, repealed and replaced, mandates that amateur station licensees must ensure transmissions are within specified frequency bands and maintain approved apparatus (reg. 59(1)-(3)). The frequency of the carrier wave is adjusted in Regulation 61 from one hundred and sixty-six megacycles to fifty-two megacycles (reg. 61). Offences against the regulations are updated, with the penalty increased from twenty pounds to forty dollars (reg. 71). The obligations imposed by these regulations on parties and entities governed by the Act include maintaining specific apparatus in good working order and ensuring transmissions are within the designated frequency bands. Licensees must adhere to the power limitations for their amateur transmitters and comply with the specified types of emissions within frequency bands. Additionally, they must ensure their transmissions do not contravene the regulations regarding public correspondence, message forms, and licence fees. Violations of these regulations can lead to civil and criminal consequences. For example, transmitting outside the specified frequency bands or using unapproved apparatus can result in penalties. The maximum penalty for offences against the regulations is now set at forty dollars (reg. 71), reflecting an increase from the previous twenty-pound penalty. Non-compliance with these provisions could lead to enforcement actions by authorised officers, potentially resulting in fines or other legal repercussions.

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