1Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

No. 8 of 1905.

An Act relating to Wireless Telegraphy.

[Assented to 18th October, 1905.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905.

Interpretation.

2. In this Act,—

“Australia” includes the territorial waters of the Commonwealth and any territory of the Commonwealth;

“Wireless telegraphy” includes all systems of transmitting and receiving telegraphic messages by means of electricity without a continuous metallic connexion between the transmitter and the receiver.

Exemption of ships of war.

3. This Act shall not apply to ships belonging to the King’s Navy.

Exclusive privileges of Postmaster-General.

4. The Postmaster-General shall have the exclusive privilege of establishing, erecting, maintaining, and using stations and appliances for the purpose of—

(a) transmitting messages by wireless telegraphy within Australia, and receiving messages so transmitted, and

(b) transmitting messages by wireless telegraphy from Australia to any place or ship outside Australia, and

(c) receiving in Australia messages transmitted by wireless telegraphy from any place or ship outside Australia.

Licences.

5. Licences to establish, erect, maintain, or use stations and appliances for the purpose of transmitting or receiving messages by means of wireless telegraphy may be granted by the Postmaster-General for such terms and on such conditions and on payment of such fees as are prescribed.

Penalty for breach of Act.

6.—(1.) Except as authorized by or under this Act, no person shall—

(a) establish, erect, maintain, or use any station or appliance for the purpose of transmitting or receiving messages by means of wireless telegraphy; or

(b) transmit or receive messages by wireless telegraphy.

Penalty: Five hundred pounds, or imprisonment with or without hard labour for a term not exceeding Five years.

Ships fitted with apparatus for wireless telegraphy.

(2.) Sub-section (1) of this section shall not, except as prescribed extend to appliances maintained on any ship, arriving from any place beyond Australia, for the purpose of enabling messages to be transmitted from or received on that ship by means of wireless telegraphy; but all such appliances shall, while the ship is within Australia—