History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Legislation/C1919A00004

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1919

Although wireless telephony had been the subject of experiments in Australia since the early 1900s (most notably by Henry Sutton, callsign XLM), by 1919 there was considerable public interest in wireless telephony, with demonstrations most notably by AWA. The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1915 most likely extended to cover wireless telephony also, but to remove all doubt, the Act was simply and concisely amended to extend the definition of wireless telegraphy to include telephonic communication also. Thus the Australian Government asserted complete control of both wireless telegraphy and the emerging technology of wireless telephony.

Resources

A comprehensive summary of matters pertaining to the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1919 has not yet been prepared, however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:

• Research - Wireless Telegraphy Act 1919 - Summary of research to date

• FRLI - Wireless Telegraphy Act 1919 - Transcription of the instrument from the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments

• Transcriptions and Notes - Wireless Telegraphy Act 1919 - More than 10 transcriptions and notes, primarily from the NLA's Trove

• Photos and other graphics - Wireless Telegraphy Act 1919 - Nothing uploaded as yet, no material identified as yet

• Incubator of Wikipedia Article on Wireless Telegraphy Act 1919 - Coming real soon now!

Internet Material

No significant articles specifically about the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1919 and in the public domain have yet been identified