Subsequently, in closer times to the civil war, the department assumed powers over the merchant marine and other transports.

It was created on 15 April 1931, a day after the proclamation of the republic, and it assumed the powers of the Directorate-General for the Postal Service and Telegraphs of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

[1] From this ministry also assumed the competences relating the link between the Government and the Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España.

Months later, in December 1931, minister Martínez Barrio left the portfolio and Santiago Casares Quiroga, Minister of Home Affairs,[3] assumed the office temporarily until April 1932 when the Department was abolished and the Undersecretariat of Communications (main department of the Ministry) was transferred to the Ministry led by Casares Quiroga.

After the end of the Civil War in April 1939, the dictator Franco did not use this department and the communications powers were part of the Ministry of Home Affairs during all the dictatorship.