PacLII Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback

Tonga Consolidated Legislation

You are here:  PacLII >> Databases >> Tonga Consolidated Legislation >> Radiocommunication Act

Database Search | Name Search | Noteup | Download | Help

Radiocommunication Act

LAWS OF TONGA

1988 Ed.]

CHAPTER 98


RADIOCOMMUNICATION


ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS


SECTION


l. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Exclusive privileges of the Prime Minister.


PART I. - REGULATION OF RADIOCOMMUNICATION


4. Licence for radiocommunication.
5. Apparatus on board ships to be worked in accordance with regulations.
6. Regulations.
7. Exclusive privilege in respect of radio-telegrams.
8. Search warrant.
9. Penalties and procedure.


PART II. - PROTECTION FROM INTERFERENCE


10. Interference to be eliminated.
11. Machinery or parts may be condemned in certain cases.
12. Service of notices or certificates.
13. Penalty.
14. General Manager to have right of entry.


__________


Acts Nos. 6 of 1930, 14 of 1938, 3 of 1939, 13 of 1948, 4 of 1962, 14 of 1982, 15 of 1983


AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF RADIOCOMMUNICATION


[8th August, 1930]


Short title.


1. This Act may be cited as the Radiocommunication Act.
(Amended by Act of 1982.)


Interpretation.


2. In this Act-


"Radio-telegram" means a message from one person to another sent or received by radio by a person duly authorized in that behalf by the Prime Minister;

(Added by Act 13 of 1948.)


"radiocommunication" means any transmission emission or reception of signs, signals, impulses, writing, images, sounds or intelligence of any nature by the free radiation of electromagnetic waves of frequencies between 9 kHz and 400 GHz.

(Inserted by Act 14 of 1982.)


Exclusive privileges of the Prime Minister.


3. The Prime Minister shall have the exclusive privilege of establishing, erecting, maintaining and using radiocommunication stations in any place or on board any vessel in or on board any ship or aircraft registered in the Kingdom. (Inserted by Act 14 of 1982.)


PART I.-REGULATION OF RADIOCOMMUNICATION


Licence for radiocommunication.


4. (1) A person shall not establish any radiocommunication station or install or work any apparatus for radiocommunication in any place or on board any ship registered in the Kingdom except under and in accordance with a licence granted in that behalf by the Prime Minister, or an officer duly authorized by him for the purpose.
(Amended by Acts 14 of 1982 and 15 of 1983.)


(2) Every such licence shall be in such form and for such purpose as the Prime Minister may determine and shall contain the terms, conditions and restrictions on and subject to which it is granted.
(Amended by Act 14 of 1982.)


(3) The classes of licences that may be granted under this Act and the fee payable in respect to the grant or renewal of the licence are specified in the Third Schedule to this Act.
(Inserted by Act 14 of 1982.)


Apparatus on board ships to be worked in accordance with regulations.


5. A person shall not work any apparatus for radiocommunication installed or being on any foreign ship of war or on any service aircraft accompanying such man of war or on any merchant or other ship whether Tongan, British or foreign whilst that ship is in the territorial waters of the Kingdom otherwise than in accordance with regulations made under this Act.


Regulations.


6. (1) The King in Council may make regulations for carrying into effect the purposes of this Act and such regulations shall on publication in the Gazette have the same effect as if enacted in this Act.


(2) The regulations in the First Schedule to this Act shall have effect except in so far as they may be amended, added to or rescinded by regulations made under the authority of this section.


(3) If at any time in the opinion of the King in Council an emergency has arisen in which it is expedient for the public service that the Tongan Government should have control over the transmission of messages by radiocommunication, the use of radiocommunication on board merchant ships whilst in the territorial waters of the Kingdom shall be subject to such further regulations as may be made by the King in Council from time to time and such regulations may prohibit or regulate such use in all cases or in such cases as may be deemed advisable.
(Amended by Act 14 of 1982.)


(4) Where it appears to the Prime Minister that such a course is expedient in the public interest, he may, by warrant under his hand, require any person who owns or controls any telegraphic cable or wire, or any apparatus for radiocommunication, used for the sending or receiving of telegrams, to or from any place out of the Kingdom, to produce to him, or to any person named in the warrant, the originals and transcripts, either of all telegrams of any specified class or description or of telegrams sent from or addressed to any specified person or place, sent or received to or from any place out of the Kingdom by means of any such cable, wire or apparatus and all other papers relating to any such telegram as aforesaid.
(Added by Act 3 of 1939 and Amended by Act 14 of 1982.)


Exclusive privilege in respect of radio-telegrams.


7. (1) Subject to the provisions of this section the Prime Minister or an officer duly authorized by him for the purpose shall have the exclusive privilege of transmitting and receiving radio-telegrams and to charge therefor.


(2) The Prime Minister may make in respect of the transmission or reception of such radio-telegrams such charges as may from time to time be authorized by His Majesty in Council:


Provided always that the Prime Minister may, with the approval of His Majesty in Council, permit the master of any specified vessel in respect of which a coasting licence has been issued, to transmit and receive radio-telegrams within Tongan territorial waters, and to levy charges therefor at rates not in excess of those levied under this section.
(Added by Act 13 of 1948.)


Search warrant.


8. If a magistrate is satisfied by information on oath that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that a radiocommunication station has been established without a licence in that behalf or that any apparatus for radiocommunication has been installed or worked in any place or on board any merchant ship without a licence in that behalf or contrary to the provisions of any regulations made under this Act or of any licence granted under this Act, he may grant a search warrant to any police officer or any person appointed in that behalf by the Minister of Police and named in the warrant and a warrant so granted shall authorize the police officer or person named therein to enter and inspect the station, place or ship and to seize any apparatus which appears to him to be used or intended to be used for radiocommunication therein.
(Amended by Act 14 of 1982.)


Penalties and procedure.


9. (1) Any person who shall offend against any provisions of this part of this Act or of any regulations made thereunder shall be liable on conviction for every such offence either to a fine not exceeding $500 and/or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months and upon such conviction the Court may order that any apparatus for radiocommunication in connection with which the offence was committed shall be seized and forfeited.
(Amended by Act 14 of 1982.)


(2) Proceedings shall be taken before a magistrate on the complaint of the police or of any person authorized by the Minister of Police in writing.


PART II.-PROTECTION FROM INTERFERENCE


Interference to be eliminated.


10. All electrical or other machinery and/or plant or any part or parts thereof may from time to time be inspected by the General Manager of the Tonga Telecommunications Commission or an officer duly authorized by him for the purpose and if in his opinion such electrical or other machinery and/or plant or any part thereof interferes or is likely to interfere with reception by any wireless receiving set he shall order, in writing in form number 1 in the Second Schedule hereto, such electric or other machinery and/or plant, within a reasonable time, to be repaired and/or fitted with a device or devices of a type or types to be approved by the said General Manager, or he shall order in writing as aforesaid, such part or parts to be repaired or renewed within a reasonable time if, in the opinion of the said General Manager or duly authorized officer the interference can be eliminated in whole or in part by the fitting of such device or devices or by such repair or renewal.
(Amended by Acts 14 of 1982 and 15 of 1983.)


Machinery of parts may be condemned in certain cases.


11. Any electrical or other machinery or plant or any part or parts thereof, the condition of which is such that in the opinion of the General Manager of the Tonga Telecommunications Commission interference therefrom cannot be readily suppressed, may be condemned by Cabinet on the recommendation of the said General Manager who shall thereupon cause to be served on the owner, or person for the time being in apparent charge or control of such electrical or other machinery or plant or any part or parts thereof, notice in writing in the form number 2 in the Second Schedule hereto and the using of any such condemned electrical or other machinery or plant or any part or parts thereof so condemned, after the expiry of the period of time stated in such notice shall constitute an offence under this Act.
(Amended by Act 15 of 1983.)


Service of notice or certificates.


12. Any certificate or notice hereunder shall be properly issued or served if posted, addressed to the person concerned or to be charged, at his last known place of abode or residence, or handed to such person, or by leaving it for him with some adult inmate at his last known place of abode.


Penalty.


13. Any person who commits an offence under this Part of this Act shall upon conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding $10 for a first offence, and to a fine not exceeding $20 for each subsequent offence.


General Manager to have right of entry.


14. For the purposes of this Act the General Manager of the Tonga Telecommunications Commission or an officer duly authorized have of by him for the purpose shall be and is hereby authorized to enter in, upon or about any premises for the purpose of any inspection under this Act, and any person who by any means whatsoever prevents the said General Manager or duly authorized officer from entering or wilfully obstructs, hinders or misleads the said General Manager or duly authorized officer during an inspection shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.
(Amended by Acts 14 of 1982 and 15 of 1983.)


__________


FIRST SCHEDULE


(Section 6(2))


REGULATIONS


Interpretation


1. In these regulations "naval signalling" means signalling by means of any system of radiocommunication between two or more ships of His Majesty's Navy, between ships of His Majesty’s Navy and Naval stations; or between a ship of His Majesty's Navy or a Naval station and any other radiocommunication station whether on shore or on any ship. (Amended by Act 14 of 1982.)


Wireless Apparatus on Merchant Ships not to interfere with Naval Signalling or Wireless Stations


2. All apparatus for radiocommunication on board a merchant ship in the territorial waters of the Kingdom shall be worked in such a way as not to interfere with-


(a) naval signalling;


(b) the working of any radiocommunication station lawfully established installed or worked in the Kingdom or the territorial waters thereof and in particular the said apparatus shall be so worked as not to interrupt or interfere with the transmission of any messages between radiocommunication stations established as aforesaid on land and radiocommunication stations established on ships at sea. (Amended by Act 14 of 1982.)


Permission of Prime Minister required for Working of Radiocommunication Apparatus on Merchant Ships in Harbour of the Kingdom


3. No apparatus for radiocommunication on board a merchant shall [shall] be worked or used whilst such ship is in any harbour or bay of the Kingdom except with the special or general permission of the Prime Minister.


Foreign Ships of War and Aircraft - Use of Radiocommunication by


4. Foreign ships of war and service aircraft accompanying them lying or being in any harbour port or roadstead within the Kingdom shall conform to the following provisions-


(a) transmission on 50 kHz is forbidden, except for the purpose of making or answering signals of distress; (Amended by Act 14 of 1982.)


(b) interference with Commonwealth country naval, army or air force signalling or with any fixed shore station, must be avoided; (Amended by Act 14 of 1982)


(c) transmission must be discontinued on request from:


(i) any Commonwealth country naval authority; (Amended by Act 14 of 1982.)


(ii) the port authorities;


(iii) any fixed shore station;


(d) protracted signalling, using apparatus transmitting other than pure continuous waves, must be avoided;


(e) if there is a Commonwealth authority fleet or warship lying in the harbour, the senior naval officer should be consulted. (Amended by Act 14 of 1982.)


Master of Ship to be Responsible


5. For the purpose of any proceedings under these rules the master or person being or appearing to be in command or charge of any ship shall be deemed to have authorized and to be responsible for the use or working of any apparatus on board such ship.


Service of Summons


6. Any summons or other document in any proceedings under these rules shall be deemed to have been duly served on the person to whom the same is addressed by being left on board the ship on which the offence is charged to have been committed with the person being or appearing to be in command or charge of the ship.


Saving Clause


7. These rules shall not apply to the use of radiocommunication for the purpose of making or answering signals of distress.


_________


SECOND SCHEDULE


Form No. 1


(Section 10)


Issued by Authority under the Radiocommunication Act


NOTICE OF REPAIRS OR REQUIREMENTS


To...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................


Take Notice that you are required, within................................. days, from the date hereof, to comply with the following requirements-


Further Take Notice that failure to comply herewith will render you liable to a penalty under the Act.


Dated this ................................ day of ............................19...

General Manager of the Tonga Telecommunications Commission


_______


Form No. 2


(Section 11)


Issued by Authority under the Radiocommunication Act


NOTICE THAT MACHINERY OR FITTINGS CONDEMNED


To.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


Take Notice that at a meeting of Cabinet, held at Nuku'alofa, the following was condemned-


Take Notice also that the use thereof after the expiry of............................. days from the date hereof will constitute an offence under the Act.


Dated this ................................. day of ............................19...

General Manager of the Tonga Telecommunications Commission


________


THIRD SCHEDULE


(Section 4(3))


CLASSES OF LICENCES AND FEES PAYABLE FOR LICENCES


Item No.
Class of Licence
Fee per annum - in Pa'angas.


$
1.
Fixed station


a) below 30 MHZ:
40

b) above 30 MHZ


(i) 1 to 6 telephone channels:
40

(ii) 7 to 24 telephone channels:
100

(iii) above 24 telephone channels:
300
2.
Aeronautical station:
40
3.
Aircraft station:
20
4.
Limited Coast station
20
5.
Ship station:


(i) in commercial vessel
20

(ii) in private vessel:
10
6.
Base station:
20
7.
Land Mobile station:
10
8.
Radiodetermination station:
40
9.
Private Experimental


(i) full privileges:
20

(ii) novice category:
10
10.
Special station:
Determined by the Prime Minister, on a case by case basis.

________


CHAPTER 98


RADIOCOMMUNICATION


Subsidiary Legislation


SECTION 6-Private Experimental (Amateur) Radio Stations Regulations


Made by the Queen in Council on 3rd February, 1934


G. 19/34, 43/49, G. S. 123/79


1. Private experimental (amateur) radioelectric station licences, in the form of the Schedule hereto, may be issued in respect of stations to be established and operated by persons solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.


2. (1) The licensee shall observe at the said station the provisions of the Radiocommunication Act and any Act amending or replacing the same for the time being in force and the regulations from time to time in force thereunder.


(2) All the general rules laid down in the General Radiocommunication Regulations annexed to the International Telecommunication Convention shall apply to amateur stations.


3. Any person over the age of 14 desirous of erecting or operating an amateur station must prove to the satisfaction of the General Manager of the Tonga Telecommunications Commission that he is capable of sending and receiving in the Morse code at least twelve words per minute, five letters to the word, and that he has an adequate knowledge of the principles of the adjustment and operation of the radio apparatus used in a typical amateur station.


4. The power permitted to be used by amateur stations shall be determined by the Prime Minister, but shall not exceed 500 watts of radiated energy. (Amended, G. 43/49.).


5. Transmission will only be permitted on such bands of frequencies as are allocated by the General Radiocommunication Regulations annexed to the International Telecommunications Convention for amateur use.


6. The use of waves of type A2 and type B is prohibited.


7. The high-tension anode supply of valve transmitters shall be such that its wave form is practically a straight line, i.e. equivalent to a constant current supply. If the anode current is obtained from an alternating-current source, it shall be smoothed by rectifying and filtering before being applied to the anode of the transmitting valve: if obtained from a generator the current must likewise be filtered to minimise commutator ripple.


8. The licensee of an amateur station shall so work the apparatus as not to interfere with the working of any Radiocommunication Station in the Kingdom, or with Naval or maritime signalling on the waters or territory of the Kingdom.


9. The licensee of an amateur station shall cause the station to be so designed and operated that local interference due to keying impacts and dynamic instability is precluded.


10. In the event of the operation of an amateur station causing general interference with broadcast reception by receiving apparatus of modern design, the licensee of the station concerned shall forthwith cease to operate the station on the frequency or frequencies which cause interference until such interference is removed. Should the complete elimination of the interference be impossible, then the Prime Minister may permit the operation of the station on such conditions and at such times as he may think fit.


11. Except as may be provided herein or with special approval of the Prime Minister, amateur stations shall be used for the purpose of communicating with stations of similar class only.


12. Licensees of amateur stations shall not transmit or receive messages for hire nor engage in communication for material compensation, direct or indirect, paid or promised.


13. Licensees of amateur stations shall not transmit or receive messages for any third party, whether for reward or otherwise, other than for a member of their immediate family.


14. All communications from amateur stations must be conducted in plain language either in English or French and must be limited to messages and remarks of a personal character or research for which, by reason of their unimportance, recourse to the public telegraph service would not enter into consideration.


15. The exchange of communications with private experimental stations in another country is forbidden if the administration of the country concerned has notified objection thereto.


16. The issue of a licence to operate a private experimental amateur station shall not confer upon the licensee the right to transmit matter of a news or entertainment character, or in any respect to usurp the functions of a broadcasting station.


17. Licensees of amateur stations shall keep a record of all transmissions showing the date, time, station called or worked, the frequency and system (i.e. A1 or A3) employed.


18. The licensee of an amateur station shall not divulge or allow to be divulged to any person (other than a duly authorized officer of His Majesty's Government or a competent legal tribunal), or make any use whatsoever of, any message received by means of his apparatus, except messages in connection with his experiments received from another experimental amateur station.


19. The installation shall be open to inspection by the General Manager of the Tonga Telecommunications Commission or his authorized officers who may, from time to time, enter upon the licensed experimental amateur station for the purpose of inspection, and may inspect any apparatus fixed or in use in such station for the purpose of sending and receiving messages by means of radiocommunication, the working of such apparatus and the records kept of all communications as laid down in regulation 17.


20. In the case of any breach, nonobservance or nonperformance by the licensee of any or part of these regulations, then and in any such case the Prime Minister may, by writing under his hand, cancel the licence to operate an experimental amateur station.


21. If and when in the opinion of the Prime Minister an emergency shall have arisen in which it is expedient for the public service that the Government should have control over the use of the licensed apparatus he may, by warrant under his hand, direct and cause the licensed apparatus or any part thereof to be taken possession of in the name and on behalf of His Majesty and to be used for His Majesty's Service, and in that event any person authorized by the Prime Minister shall enter upon the experimental amateur station or any of them and take possession thereof and use the same as aforesaid.


22. The licensee shall at all times indemnify His Majesty's Government against all actions, claims and demands which may be brought or made by any corporation company or person in respect of any injury arising from any act authorized by this licence.


23. The fee for a private amateur station licence shall be $20 per annum, and the fee for the renewal of such a licence shall be $10 per annum. Such fees shall be payable in advance. (Substituted by G.S. 123/79.)


________


SCHEDULE


KINGDOM OF TONGA


District..................................................... Licence No. ..................................................
Licence to establish and operate a Private Experimental amateur Radioelectric Station. (Issued under authority of the Radiocommunication Act and regulations made thereunder.)


Name of licensee.............................................................................................


Nationality.......................................................................................................


Address where apparatus installed.....................................................................


Call sign................................. Power permitted .........watts


Date of expiry.................................................................................


Amount paid: $.................


Prime Minister.


__________


SECTION 6-Radio Operator’s Certificates Regulations


Made by the Queen in Council on 10th November, 1961


G.S. 78/61, 1/63


1. These regulations may be cited as the Radio Operator's Certificates Regulations.


2. The service of every radiotelegraph station aboard a ship registered in the Kingdom of Tonga shall be performed by an operator holding a certificate issued in accordance with these regulations.


3. The service of every radiotelephone station aboard a ship registered in the Kingdom of Tonga and every radiotelephone land station in the Kingdom of Tonga shall be controlled by an operator holding a certificate issued in accordance with these regulations.


Provided that the station is so controlled, other persons besides the holder of the certificate may use the radiotelephone equipment.


4. The service of radiotelephone ship or land stations operating solely on frequencies above thirty megacycles per second, other than those stations working on frequencies assigned for international use, may be performed and controlled by a person who does not hold a certificate. The service of a portable radiotelephone station operating in the bands above twenty-five megacycles per second other than on frequencies assigned for international use, may be performed and controlled by a person who does not hold a certificate, provided that the radiated power of the transmitter does not exceed one watt. (Amended, G.S. 1/63.)


5. A First- or Second-class Postmaster-General's Certificate of Competency in Radiotelegraphy issued by the Government of a Commonwealth country shall be deemed to have been issued in accordance with these regulations, and shall be valid for the operation by the holder of any radiotelegraph station aboard a ship registered in the Kingdom of Tonga, and for the control and operation of any radiotelephone station aboard a ship registered in the Kingdom of Tonga or radiotelephone land station in the Kingdom of Tonga, provided that the certificate is not endorsed limiting its validity to the operation of radiotelegraph stations exclusively.


6. In the case of complete unavailability of the operator in the course of a sea passage, and solely as a temporary measure, the master or the person responsible for the station may authorize an operator holding a certificate other than one issued in accordance with these regulations or recognized under these regulations to perform the radiocommunications service.


7. When it is necessary to employ a person not in possession of a certificate authorized by these regulations as a temporary operator, his performance of such must be limited solely to signals of distress, urgency and safety; messages relating thereto; and urgent messages relating to the movement of the ship. Persons employed in these cases are bound by the provisions of the Telegraph Act regarding the secrecy of correspondence.


8. In all cases, such temporary operators must be replaced as soon as possible by operators holding a certificate prescribed by these regulations.


9. Each certificate issued under the provisions of these regulations shall bear the holder's signature, and the date and place of his birth.


10. Each successful candidate for a radiotelegraph or radiotelephone operator's certificate must sign a declaration that he will preserve the secrecy of radiocommunications correspondence in the manner and on the form prescribed by section 20 of the Telegraph Act, and shall be bound by those sections of the Telegraph Act relating to the secrecy of telecommunications correspondence.

Cap. 99


11. Certificates issued under the provisions of these regulations shall be valid for a period of 5 years from the date of issue. They may be cancelled or suspended at any time at the discretion of the Prime Minister.


12. The issue of a renewal certificate or the re-issue of a cancelled or suspended certificate without further examination of the holder shall be at the discretion of the Prime Minister.


13. Certificates shall be cancelled if the holder has not been officially engaged as a radiotelephone or radiotelegraph operator as the case may be, for a period of 24 consecutive months, or has not been officially engaged as a radiotelephone or radiotelegraph operator as the case may be, for more than 12 full months in any 36 consecutive months.


14. Certificates issued under these regulations shall not be applicable to amateur experimental stations.


15. Classes of certificates that may be issued under these regulations are the Radio Telegraph Operator's Special Certificate, the Radio Telephone Operator's General Certificate and the Radio Telephone Operator's Restricted Certificate.


16. A Radiotelegraph Operator's Special Certificate may be issued to candidates who have given proof of the knowledge and professional qualifications enumerated below-


(a) ability to send correctly by hand and receive correctly by ear in the Morse code, code groups (mixed letters, figures and punctuation marks) at a speed of 16 groups a minute, and plain language text at a speed of 20 words a minute. Each code group shall comprise 5 characters, each figure or punctuation mark counting as two characters. The average word of the text in plain language shall contain 5 characters;


(b) ability to send correctly and receive correctly by telephone;


(c) knowledge of that part of the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea which relates to radiotelegraph and radiotelephone communications;


(d) knowledge of the regulations applying to the operation of radiotelegraph and radiotelephone communications;


(e) knowledge of the regulations governing the acceptance, transmission and reception of radiotelegrams;


(f) knowledge of the care and maintenance of accumulators;


(g) knowledge of the operation and adjustment of typical radiotelegraph and radiotelephone apparatus.


17. The examination for the Radiotelegraph Operator’s Special Certificate shall consist of a one-hour written paper for each of sections (c), (d) and (e), and of oral and practical examination for each of the other sections.


18. Examinations for Radiotelegraph Operator's Special Certificate shall be conducted in the English language, and certificates will be issued only to those successful candidates who display an adequate knowledge of the English language.


19. A Radiotelegraph Operator's Special Certificate may be limited exclusively to the radiotelegraph service. In such cases the certificate shall be suitably endorsed.


20. The holder of a Radiotelegraph Operator's Special Certificate is authorized to operate licensed ship stations in which the radiotelegraph or radiotelephone installation is provided but not prescribed by international agreements.


21. A Radiotelephone Operator's General Certificate may be issued to candidates who have given proof of the knowledge and professional qualifications enumerated below:


(a) knowledge of the elementary principles of radiotelephony;


(b) ability to send correctly and to receive correctly by telephone;


(c) knowledge of that part of the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea which relates to radiotelephone communications;


(d) knowledge of the regulations applying to the operation of the radiotelephone communications;


(e) knowledge of the regulations governing the acceptance, transmission and reception of radiotelegrams;


(f) knowledge of the care and maintenance of accumulators;


(g) knowledge of the operation and adjustment of typical radiotelephone apparatus.


22. The examination for the Radiotelephone Operator's General Certificate shall consist of a one-hour written paper for each of sections (c), (d) and (e), and or oral and practical examinations for each of the other sections.


23. Examinations for the Radiotelephone Operator's General Certificate shall be conducted in the English language, and certificates will be issued only to those successful candidates who display an adequate knowledge of the English language.


24. The holder of a Radiotelephone Operator's General Certificate is authorized to carry out the radiotelephone service of any licenced ship, station or licenced land station.


25. A Radiotelephone Operator's Restricted Certificate may be issued to candidates who have given proof of the knowledge and professional qualifications enumerated below-


(a) practical knowledge of radiotelephone operation and procedure;


(b) ability to send correctly and to receive correctly by telephone;


(c) general knowledge of the regulations applying to radiotelephone communications and specifically of that part of those regulations relating to the safety of life at sea;


(d) practical knowledge of the adjustment of the radiotelephone apparatus on which the candidate will be employed.


26. The examination for the Radiotelephone Operator's Restricted Certificates shall be an oral one.


27. A knowledge of the English language is not essential for the holder of a Radiotelephone Operator's Restricted Certificate.


28. The holder of a Radiotelephone Operator's Restricted Certificate is authorized to operate licensed radiotelephone stations aboard ships registered in the Kingdom of Tonga and land radiotelephone stations within the Kingdom of Tonga provided that-


(a) in the case of ship stations the carrier power of the transmitter does not exceed 100 watts, and in the case of land stations the carrier power of the transmitter does not exceed 10 watts; and that, in either case, the operation of the transmitter requires only the use of simple external switching devices, excluding all manual adjustments of frequency determining elements, and that the stability of the frequencies is maintained by the transmitter itself within the limits prescribed by the Radio Regulations, Geneva, 1959, and subsequent regulations;


(b) in the case of ship stations, communications are restricted to matters relating to the ship's business only; and in the case of land stations, communications are restricted to matters relating to the business or personal affairs of the licensee only.


29. A Radiotelephone Operator's Restricted Certificate may be limited to the operation by the holder of a specified ship or land station, and/or limited to the operation by the holder of stations aboard ships engaged on voyages within Tongan waters exclusively. In such cases the certificate shall be suitably endorsed.


30. Applications for examination for a radiotelegraph or radiotelephone operator's certificate shall be made in writing to the General Manager of the Tonga Telecommunications Commission, Nuku'alofa, and accompanied by an examination fee of $1.


31. Should a candidate be unsuccessful in passing the examination, a further application must be made at a later date, and further examination fee paid.


32. A candidate who fails in any one or more sections of the examination and applies for re-examination at a later date, will be required to sit the full examination.


33. Certificates may be issued to successful candidates on payment of a fee of $1.


34. After the expiration of certificates, renewal certificates will be issued on payment of a fee of $1. Should, however, the holder be required to be re-examined, a further examination fee of $1 must also be paid.


35. Land stations owned and operated by the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga for the internal public telegraph and telephone services shall be exempt from the provisions of these regulations.


36. Except as provided under regulations 4, 6 and 7, any person not holding a valid certificate issued in accordance with these regulations, who operates a radiotelegraph land station in the Kingdom of Tonga, or aboard a vessel registered in Tonga, or who operates a radiotelephone land station in the Kingdom of Tonga or aboard a vessel registered in Tonga which is not controlled by an operator holding a certificate issued in accordance with these regulations, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $40 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months. (Added, G.S. 1/63.)


________


KINGDOM OF TONGA


RADIOTELEGRAPH OPERATOR'S SPECIAL CERTIFICATE


No..................


Issued under the provisions of the Radio Regulations, Geneva, 1959


THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT


has given proof of the knowledge and professional qualifications enumerated below-


(a) ability to send correctly by hand and receive correctly by ear in the Morse code, code groups at a speed of sixteen words a minute, and plain language text at a speed of twenty words a minute;


(b) ability to send correctly and receive correctly by telephone;


(c) knowledge of that part of the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea which relates to radiotelegraph and radiotelephone communications;


(d) knowledge of the regulations applying to the operation of radiotelegraph and radiotelephone communications;


(e) knowledge of the regulations governing the acceptance, transmission and reception of radiotelegrams;


(f) knowledge of the care and maintenance of accumulators;


(g) knowledge of the operation and adjustment of typical radiotelegraph and radiotelephone apparatus.


It is also certified that the holder of this certificate has executed a declaration that he will preserve the secrecy of correspondence.


THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IS AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE LICENSED SHIP STATIONS IN WHICH THE RADIOTELEGRAPH AND RADIOTELEPHONE INSTALLATION IS PROVIDED BUT NOT PRESCRIBED BY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS


By authority of the Radiocommunication Act


Date of issue......................


Date of expiry....................


.......................
Prime Minister

Signature of holder........................


Date of birth.................................................. Place of birth.......................................................


________


KINGDOM OF TONGA


RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR'S GENERAL CERTIFICATE


No...................


Issued under the provisions of the Radio Regulations, Geneva, 1959


THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT


has given proof of the knowledge and professional qualifications enumerated below


(a) knowledge of the elementary principles of radiotelephony;


(b) ability to send correctly and receive correctly by telephone;


(c) knowledge of that part of the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea which relates to radiotelephone communications;


(d) knowledge of the regulations applying to the operation of radiotelephone communications;


(e) knowledge of the regulations governing the acceptance, transmission and reception of radiotelegrams;


(f) knowledge of the care and maintenance of accumulators;


(g) knowledge of the operation and adjustment of typical radiotelephone apparatus.


It is also certified that the holder of this certificate has executed a declaration that he will preserve the secrecy of correspondence.


THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IS AUTHORIZED TO CARRY OUT THE RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICE OF ANY LICENSED SHIP STATION OR LICENSED LAND STATION


By authority of the Radiocommunication Act


Date of issue................................


Date of expiry..............................


.....................................
Prime Minister

Signature of holder........................


Date of birth................................... Place of birth......................................................


________


KINGDOM OF TONGA


RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR'S RESTRICTED CERTIFICATE


No................


Issued under the provisions of the Radio Regulations, Geneva, 1959


THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT


has given proof of the knowledge and professional qualifications enumerated below-


(a) practical knowledge of radiotelephone operation and procedure;


(b) ability to send correctly and receive correctly by telephone;


(c) general knowledge of the regulations applying to radiotelephone communications and specifically of that part of those regulations relating to the safety of life.


It is also certified that the holder of this certificate has executed a declaration that he will preserve the secrecy of correspondence.


THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IS AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE LICENSED RADIOTELEPHONE STATIONS ABOARD SHIPS REGISTERED IN THE KINGDOM OF TONGA AND LICENSED LAND RADIOTELEPHONE STATIONS WITHIN THE KINGDOM OF TONGA SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION TWENTY-EIGHT OF THE RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR'S CERTIFICATES REGULATIONS AND PROVIDED THAT


By authority of the Radiocommunication Act


Date of issue................................


Date of expiry..............................

................................
Prime Minister


Signature of holder........................


Date of birth........................................... Place of birth...............................................


----------------------------------


PacLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback
URL: http://www.paclii.org/to/legis/consol_act/ra200