The Australian Telecommunications Commission was established under the Telecommunications Act 1975.
The functions of the Commission are:
a) to plan, establish, maintain and operate telecommunications services  within Australia;
b) to operate such other services as the Commission is authorised by  this Act to operate
c) to provide, at the request of the Australian
 Government, technical assistance outside Australia
 in relation to the planning, establishment,
 maintenance and operation of telecommunications services
 in countries outside Australia; and
d) to do anything incidental or conducive to the performance
 of any of the preceding functions.
The duties of the Commission are to perform its functions in such a manner as will best meet the social, industrial and commercial needs of the Australian people for telecommunications services and shall, so far as it is, in its opinion, reasonably practicable to do so, make its telecommunications services available throughout Australia for all people who reasonably require those services.
The Minister may, after consultation with the Commission,
give to the Commission, in writing such directions, with respect to the performance of its functions and the exercise of its powers, as appear to the Minister to be necessary in the public interest.
The Commission, in performing its functions, shall comply
with the directions of the Minister, shall have regard to -
a) the desirability of improving and extending its
 telecommunications services in the light of developments
 in the field of communications;
b) the need to operate its services as efficiently and
 economically as practicable; and
c) the special needs for telecommunications services
 of Australian people who reside or carry on business
 outside Australia.
The Commission has power, for or in connection with the
performance of its function -
a) to purchase land;
b) to take land on lease;
c) to take easements over land;
d) to sell, or otherwise dispose of, land visited in
 the Commission but not required for the purposes of the
 Commission;
e) to lease land visited in the Commission the use of which is  not for the time being required by the Commission;
f) to release any easement over land; and
g) to do anything incidental to any of the powers specified
 in the preceding paragraphs.
The Commission may conduct investigations and research with a view to the development and improved efficiency of telecommunications services generally. It may construct telecommunication installations above, upon or beneath the surface of any land or above or beneath the surface of any water.
The Commission -
a) is a body corporate with perpetual succession;
b) shall have a common seal;
c) may acquire, hold and dispose of real and
 personal property; and
d) may sue or be sued in its corporate name
All courts, judges and persons acting judicially shall take judicial notice of the common seal of the Commission affixed to a document and shall presume that it was duly affixed. The Commission is not subject to any requirement, obligation, liability, penalty or disability under a law of a State or Territory to which Australia is not subject. The Commission shall consist of (7) Commissioners, namely -
a) the Managing Director;
b) (1) Commissioner, who shall be an officer of the
 Department administered by the Minister administering
 this Act;
c) (1) Commissioner to represent officers and employees
 of the Commission; and
d) (4) other Commissioners.
The Commissioners shall be appointed by the Governor-General, the Managing Director being appointed as a full-time Commissioner and the other Commissioners being appointed as part-time Commissioners. The Commissioners were appointed by the Governor-General in
July 1975. They were:
John Henry Curtis - Managing Director
Joan Hancock
Thomas Ernest May
Allan George Gibbs - Chairman
Robert Duncan Sommerville
Kenneth Charles Turbet - Officers' and employees' representative  
Australian Telecommunications Commission was abolished on 1 February 1992 following its merger with Overseas Telecommunications Commission (OTC) (CA 270) with functions going to the newly created Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation (AOTC) (CA 7643).
 

Historical agency address
Communications House, 199 William Street, Melbourne
Legislation administered
Telecommunications Act 1975 Postal and Telecommunications Commission (Transitional Provisions) Act 1975