- In this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context,

(1)

[ Fund means the Universal Service Obligation Fund established under sub-section (1) of section 9-A;

(1-A) Universal Service Obligation means the [obligation to provide access to telegraph services] [Inserted by Act 8 of 2004, Section 2 (w.r.e.f. 1.4.2002).] to people in the rural and remote areas at affordable and reasonable prices;]

[[(1-AA)] [Substituted by Act 15 of 1961, Section 2, for Clause (1)(w.e.f. 2.5.1961).] telegraph means any appliance, instrument, material or apparatus used or capable of use for transmission or reception of signs, signals, writing, images, and sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, visual or other electro-magnetic emissions, Radio waves or Hertzian waves, galvanic, electric or magnetic means.

Explanation. Radio waves or Hertzian waves means electro-magnetic waves of frequencies lower than 3,000 giga-cycles per second propagated in space without artificial guide;]

(2)

telegraph officer means any person employed either permanently or temporarily in connection with a telegraph established, maintained or worked by [the Central Government] [Substituted by A.O.1937, for "the Government ".] or by a person licensed under this Act;

(3)

message means any communication sent by telegraph, or given to a telegraph officer to be sent by telegraph or to be delivered;

(4)

telegraph line means a wire or wires used for the purpose of a telegraph, with any casing, coating, tube or pipe enclosing the same, and any appliances and apparatus connected therewith for the purpose of fixing or insulating the same;

(5)

post means a post, pole, standard, stay, strut or other above ground contrivance for carrying, suspending or supporting a telegraph line;

(6)

telegraph authority means the Director-General of [Posts and Telegraphs] [Substituted by Act 14 of 1914, Section 2, for "Telegraphs ".], and includes any officer empowered by him to perform all or any of the functions of the telegraph authority under this Act;

(7)

local authority means any municipal committee, district board, body of port commissioners or other authority legally entitled to, or entrusted by [the Central or any State Government] [Substituted by A.O.1937, for "the Government ".] with, the control or management of any municipal or local fund.

[* * *] [Cl(8) which was inserted by A.O.1950, omitted by Act 3 of 1951, Section 3 and Sch.(w.e.f. 1.4.1951).]