Functional Responsibility:
The Alberta Government Telephones Commission is incorporated under The Alberta Government Telephones Act (S.A. Chapter 85, 1958). The Commission functioned to administer the power to purchase, construct, extend, maintain, operate and lease to and from other persons, system or systems in the Province, including private communication systems. The Commission is an agent of the Crown in the right of Alberta and its powers may only be exercised as an agent of the Crown. Alberta Government Telephones Commission is a commercial enterprise of the Government of Alberta.
The Telecommunication Act (S.A. Chapter T-3.5, 1988) repealed The Alberta Government Telephones Act. The Alberta Government Telephones Commission operates under the authority of the Telecommunications Act (R.S.A. Chapter T-3.5, 2000) and the Alberta Government Telephones Reorganization Act (S.A. Chapter A-23.5, 1990).

Predecessor and Successor Bodies:
The function of administrating the power to purchase, lease, construct, extend, maintain and operate a telephone or telegraph system or systems first began in the Province of Alberta with The Municipal Telephone Act (S.A. Chapter 31, 1906). This legislation gave the administrating power to the municipalities. In 1908 legislation gave the Government of Alberta this power in An Act Respecting Government Telephone and Telegraph Systems (S.A. Chapter 14, 1908). The Telephone Branch of the Department of Public Works first issued a report in 1908. The Telephone Branch ceased operation in 1912 and the function emerged in a new Department of Railways and Telephones (S.A. Chapter 10, 1911-12). In 1955 the Department of Railways and Telephones became the Department of Telephones (S.A. Chapter 38, 1955). In 1958 The Alberta Government Telephone Act created a corporate entity to administer the function of a government owned communication system.

Administrative Relationships:
In 1958 legislation that created Alberta Government Telephones Commission designated the Minister of Telephones as Chairman of the Commission. In the initial enabling legislation the Lieutenant Governor in Council appointed and prescribe the duties of the executive officers of the Commission.
In 1972 the Minister of Telephones became the Minister of Telephones and Utilities and continued to have jurisdiction over the Alberta Government Telephones Commission (S.A. Chapter 93, 1972). In 1973, the new Department of Telephones and Utilities was created (S.A. Chapter 68, 1973) and later in 1975 renamed the Department of Utilities and Telephones (S.A. Chapter 16, 1975). The Department of Utilities and Telephones became the Department of Utilities and Telecommunication (S.A. Chapter 27, 1983). The Department of Utilities and Telecommunication became the Department of Technology, Research and Telecommunications in 1986 (S.A. Chapter D-28.5, 1986). In 1994 the Government Organization Act (S.A. Chapter G-8.5, 1994) repealed the Department of Technology, Research and Telecommunications Act. Responsibility for the Alberta Government Telephones Commission was transferred to The Department of Treasury (A.R. 398/94). Financial statements for the Commission and its wholly-owned subsidiaries were included in Alberta Treasury's annual report. In 2001 the responsibility for the Alberta Government Telephones Commission was transferred to Alberta Finance (A.R. 44/2001).

Administrative Structure:
The Commission consists of a chairman and any other persons appointed as members by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. InThe Alberta Government Telephones Act the Chairman is the Minister of Telephones. In 1979 the legislation was amended making the Associate Minister of Telephones the Chairman and the Minister of Utilities and Telephones the vice-chairman (S.A. Chapter 13, 1979). In a following amendment to the enabling legislation the Lieutenant Governor in Council could appoint the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Commission (S.A. Chapter 5, 1983). In the Telecommunications Act the Lieutenant Governor in Council continues to appoint the Chairman along with any other persons members.

Names of the Corporate bodies:
The enabling legislation allowed the Commission to also be known as Alberta Government Telephones. Alberta Government Telephones was also known by its acronym AGT.

Names of Chief Officers:
Peter McNeil [1999]-[2000]