Legal corpus: the complete U.S. Code (59,740 sections, all 53 titles)

Ingested titles 12–51 and 54 from OLRC USLM XML @119-100 (the whole Code
now, uniform edition; Title 53 is reserved/empty). LegalText 11,221 ->
59,740; repo total 105,704 records. Deterministic (byte-identical rerun,
verified on Title 42's 8,356 sections); make check green. make
legal-us-code default now covers every title.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-153.md

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+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 153"
+description: "Definitions"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "153"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 153"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s153"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "358028427f864c6469e0149f7c10bb107a6da7e2c5d3a4d0d9f99b2ffd330aee"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "853b35ba753d7a0ce6dcef73ab324de57931648db054a0ec6f49adef5dcc9a8f"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 153 - Definitions
+
+## Text
+
+For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires—
+
+(1) Advanced communications services The term “advanced communications services” means—
+
+(A) interconnected VoIP service;
+
+(B) non-interconnected VoIP service;
+
+(C) electronic messaging service;
+
+(D) interoperable video conferencing service; and
+
+(E) any audio or video communications service used by inmates for the purpose of communicating with individuals outside the correctional institution where the inmate is held, regardless of technology used.
+
+(2) Affiliate The term “affiliate” means a person that (directly or indirectly) owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, another person. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “own” means to own an equity interest (or the equivalent thereof) of more than 10 percent.
+
+(3) Amateur station The term “amateur station” means a radio station operated by a duly authorized person interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.
+
+(4) AT&T Consent Decree The term “AT&T Consent Decree” means the order entered August 24, 1982, in the antitrust action styled United States v. Western Electric, Civil Action No. 82–0192, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and includes any judgment or order with respect to such action entered on or after August 24, 1982.
+
+(5) Bell operating company The term “Bell operating company”—
+
+(A) means any of the following companies: Bell Telephone Company of Nevada, Illinois Bell Telephone Company, Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Incorporated, Michigan Bell Telephone Company, New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, New Jersey Bell Telephone Company, New York Telephone Company, U S West Communications Company, South Central Bell Telephone Company, Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, The Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company of Maryland, The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company of Virginia, The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company of West Virginia, The Diamond State Telephone Company, The Ohio Bell Telephone Company, The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, or Wisconsin Telephone Company; and
+
+(B) includes any successor or assign of any such company that provides wireline telephone exchange service; but
+
+(C) does not include an affiliate of any such company, other than an affiliate described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
+
+(6) Broadcast station The term “broadcast station”, “broadcasting station”, or “radio broadcast station” means a radio station equipped to engage in broadcasting as herein defined.
+
+(7) Broadcasting The term “broadcasting” means the dissemination of radio communications intended to be received by the public, directly or by the intermediary of relay stations.
+
+(8) Cable service The term “cable service” has the meaning given such term in section 522 of this title.
+
+(9) Cable system The term “cable system” has the meaning given such term in section 522 of this title.
+
+(10) Chain broadcasting The term “chain broadcasting” means simultaneous broadcasting of an identical program by two or more connected stations.
+
+(11) Common carrier The term “common carrier” or “carrier” means any person engaged as a common carrier for hire, in interstate or foreign communication by wire or radio or interstate or foreign radio transmission of energy, except where reference is made to common carriers not subject to this chapter; but a person engaged in radio broadcasting shall not, insofar as such person is so engaged, be deemed a common carrier.
+
+(12) Connecting carrier The term “connecting carrier” means a carrier described in clauses (2), (3), or (4) of section 152(b) of this title.
+
+(13) Construction permit The term “construction permit” or “permit for construction” means that instrument of authorization required by this chapter or the rules and regulations of the Commission made pursuant to this chapter for the construction of a station, or the installation of apparatus, for the transmission of energy, or communications, or signals by radio, by whatever name the instrument may be designated by the Commission.
+
+(14) Consumer generated media The term “consumer generated media” means content created and made available by consumers to online websites and services on the Internet, including video, audio, and multimedia content.
+
+(15) Corporation The term “corporation” includes any corporation, joint-stock company, or association.
+
+(16) Customer premises equipment The term “customer premises equipment” means equipment employed on the premises of a person (other than a carrier) to originate, route, or terminate telecommunications.
+
+(17) Dialing parity The term “dialing parity” means that a person that is not an affiliate of a local exchange carrier is able to provide telecommunications services in such a manner that customers have the ability to route automatically, without the use of any access code, their telecommunications to the telecommunications services provider of the customer’s designation from among 2 or more telecommunications services providers (including such local exchange carrier).
+
+(18) Disability The term “disability” has the meaning given such term under section 12102 of title 42.
+
+(19) Electronic messaging service The term “electronic messaging service” means a service that provides real-time or near real-time non-voice messages in text form between individuals over communications networks.
+
+(20) Exchange access The term “exchange access” means the offering of access to telephone exchange services or facilities for the purpose of the origination or termination of telephone toll services.
+
+(21) Foreign communication The term “foreign communication” or “foreign transmission” means communication or transmission from or to any place in the United States to or from a foreign country, or between a station in the United States and a mobile station located outside the United States.
+
+(22) Great Lakes Agreement The term “Great Lakes Agreement” means the Agreement for the Promotion of Safety on the Great Lakes by Means of Radio in force and the regulations referred to therein.
+
+(23) Harbor The term “harbor” or “port” means any place to which ships may resort for shelter or to load or unload passengers or goods, or to obtain fuel, water, or supplies. This term shall apply to such places whether proclaimed public or not and whether natural or artificial.
+
+(24) Information service The term “information service” means the offering of a capability for generating, acquiring, storing, transforming, processing, retrieving, utilizing, or making available information via telecommunications, and includes electronic publishing, but does not include any use of any such capability for the management, control, or operation of a telecommunications system or the management of a telecommunications service.
+
+(25) Interconnected VoIP service The term “interconnected VoIP service” has the meaning given such term under section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section may be amended from time to time.
+
+(26) InterLATA service The term “interLATA service” means telecommunications between a point located in a local access and transport area and a point located outside such area.
+
+(27) Interoperable video conferencing service The term “interoperable video conferencing service” means a service that provides real-time video communications, including audio, to enable users to share information of the user’s choosing.
+
+(28) Interstate communication The term “interstate communication” or “interstate transmission” means communication or transmission (A) from any State, Territory, or possession of the United States (other than the Canal Zone), or the District of Columbia, to any other State, Territory, or possession of the United States (other than the Canal Zone), or the District of Columbia, (B) from or to the United States to or from the Canal Zone, insofar as such communication or transmission takes place within the United States, or (C) between points within the United States but through a foreign country; but shall not, with respect to the provisions of subchapter II of this chapter (other than section 223 of this title), include wire or radio communication between points in the same State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, through any place outside thereof, if such communication is regulated by a State commission.
+
+(29) Land station The term “land station” means a station, other than a mobile station, used for radio communication with mobile stations.
+
+(30) Licensee The term “licensee” means the holder of a radio station license granted or continued in force under authority of this chapter.
+
+(31) Local access and transport area The term “local access and transport area” or “LATA” means a contiguous geographic area—
+
+(A) established before February 8, 1996, by a Bell operating company such that no exchange area includes points within more than 1 metropolitan statistical area, consolidated metropolitan statistical area, or State, except as expressly permitted under the AT&T Consent Decree; or
+
+(B) established or modified by a Bell operating company after February 8, 1996, and approved by the Commission.
+
+(32) Local exchange carrier The term “local exchange carrier” means any person that is engaged in the provision of telephone exchange service or exchange access. Such term does not include a person insofar as such person is engaged in the provision of a commercial mobile service under section 332(c) of this title, except to the extent that the Commission finds that such service should be included in the definition of such term.
+
+(33) Mobile service The term “mobile service” means a radio communication service carried on between mobile stations or receivers and land stations, and by mobile stations communicating among themselves, and includes (A) both one-way and two-way radio communication services, (B) a mobile service which provides a regularly interacting group of base, mobile, portable, and associated control and relay stations (whether licensed on an individual, cooperative, or multiple basis) for private one-way or two-way land mobile radio communications by eligible users over designated areas of operation, and (C) any service for which a license is required in a personal communications service established pursuant to the proceeding entitled “Amendment to the Commission’s Rules to Establish New Personal Communications Services” (GEN Docket No. 90–314; ET Docket No. 92–100), or any successor proceeding.
+
+(34) Mobile station The term “mobile station” means a radio-communication station capable of being moved and which ordinarily does move.
+
+(35) Network element The term “network element” means a facility or equipment used in the provision of a telecommunications service. Such term also includes features, functions, and capabilities that are provided by means of such facility or equipment, including subscriber numbers, databases, signaling systems, and information sufficient for billing and collection or used in the transmission, routing, or other provision of a telecommunications service.
+
+(36) Non-interconnected VoIP service The term “non-interconnected VoIP service”—
+
+(A) means a service that—
+
+(i) enables real-time voice communications that originate from or terminate to the user’s location using Internet protocol or any successor protocol; and
+
+(ii) requires Internet protocol compatible customer premises equipment; and
+
+(B) does not include any service that is an interconnected VoIP service.
+
+(37) Number portability The term “number portability” means the ability of users of telecommunications services to retain, at the same location, existing telecommunications numbers without impairment of quality, reliability, or convenience when switching from one telecommunications carrier to another.
+
+(38) Operator (A) The term “operator” on a ship of the United States means, for the purpose of parts II and III of subchapter III of this chapter, a person holding a radio operator’s license of the proper class as prescribed and issued by the Commission.
+
+(B) “Operator” on a foreign ship means, for the purpose of part II of subchapter III of this chapter, a person holding a certificate as such of the proper class complying with the provisions of the radio regulations annexed to the International Telecommunication Convention in force, or complying with an agreement or treaty between the United States and the country in which the ship is registered.
+
+(39) Person The term “person” includes an individual, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, or corporation.
+
+(40) Radio communication The term “radio communication” or “communication by radio” means the transmission by radio of writing, signs, signals, pictures, and sounds of all kinds, including all instrumentalities, facilities, apparatus, and services (among other things, the receipt, forwarding, and delivery of communications) incidental to such transmission.
+
+(41) Radio officer (A) The term “radio officer” on a ship of the United States means, for the purpose of part II of subchapter III of this chapter, a person holding at least a first or second class radiotelegraph operator’s license as prescribed and issued by the Commission. When such person is employed to operate a radiotelegraph station aboard a ship of the United States, he is also required to be licensed as a “radio officer” in accordance with chapter 71 of title 46.
+
+(B) “Radio officer” on a foreign ship means, for the purpose of part II of subchapter III of this chapter, a person holding at least a first or second class radiotelegraph operator’s certificate complying with the provisions of the radio regulations annexed to the International Telecommunication Convention in force.
+
+(42) Radio station The term “radio station” or “station” means a station equipped to engage in radio communication or radio transmission of energy.
+
+(43) Radiotelegraph auto alarm The term “radiotelegraph auto alarm” on a ship of the United States subject to the provisions of part II of subchapter III of this chapter means an automatic alarm receiving apparatus which responds to the radiotelegraph alarm signal and has been approved by the Commission. “Radiotelegraph auto alarm” on a foreign ship means an automatic alarm receiving apparatus which responds to the radiotelegraph alarm signal and has been approved by the government of the country in which the ship is registered: Provided, That the United States and the country in which the ship is registered are parties to the same treaty, convention, or agreement prescribing the requirements for such apparatus. Nothing in this chapter or in any other provision of law shall be construed to require the recognition of a radiotelegraph auto alarm as complying with part II of subchapter III of this chapter, on a foreign ship subject to part II of subchapter III of this chapter, where the country in which the ship is registered and the United States are not parties to the same treaty, convention, or agreement prescribing the requirements for such apparatus.
+
+(44) Rural telephone company The term “rural telephone company” means a local exchange carrier operating entity to the extent that such entity—
+
+(A) provides common carrier service to any local exchange carrier study area that does not include either—
+
+(i) any incorporated place of 10,000 inhabitants or more, or any part thereof, based on the most recently available population statistics of the Bureau of the Census; or
+
+(ii) any territory, incorporated or unincorporated, included in an urbanized area, as defined by the Bureau of the Census as of August 10, 1993;
+
+(B) provides telephone exchange service, including exchange access, to fewer than 50,000 access lines;
+
+(C) provides telephone exchange service to any local exchange carrier study area with fewer than 100,000 access lines; or
+
+(D) has less than 15 percent of its access lines in communities of more than 50,000 on February 8, 1996.
+
+(45) Safety convention The term “safety convention” means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea in force and the regulations referred to therein.
+
+(46) Ship (A) The term “ship” or “vessel” includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance, except aircraft, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, whether or not it is actually afloat.
+
+(B) A ship shall be considered a passenger ship if it carries or is licensed or certificated to carry more than twelve passengers.
+
+(C) A cargo ship means any ship not a passenger ship.
+
+(D) A passenger is any person carried on board a ship or vessel except (1) the officers and crew actually employed to man and operate the ship, (2) persons employed to carry on the business of the ship, and (3) persons on board a ship when they are carried, either because of the obligation laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked, distressed, or other persons in like or similar situations or by reason of any circumstance over which neither the master, the owner, nor the charterer (if any) has control.
+
+(E) “Nuclear ship” means a ship provided with a nuclear powerplant.
+
+(47) State The term “State” includes the District of Columbia and the Territories and possessions.
+
+(48) State commission The term “State commission” means the commission, board, or official (by whatever name designated) which under the laws of any State has regulatory jurisdiction with respect to intrastate operations of carriers.
+
+(49) Station license The term “station license”, “radio station license”, or “license” means that instrument of authorization required by this chapter or the rules and regulations of the Commission made pursuant to this chapter, for the use or operation of apparatus for transmission of energy, or communications, or signals by radio, by whatever name the instrument may be designated by the Commission.
+
+(50) Telecommunications The term “telecommunications” means the transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.
+
+(51) Telecommunications carrier The term “telecommunications carrier” means any provider of telecommunications services, except that such term does not include aggregators of telecommunications services (as defined in section 226 of this title). A telecommunications carrier shall be treated as a common carrier under this chapter only to the extent that it is engaged in providing telecommunications services, except that the Commission shall determine whether the provision of fixed and mobile satellite service shall be treated as common carriage.
+
+(52) Telecommunications equipment The term “telecommunications equipment” means equipment, other than customer premises equipment, used by a carrier to provide telecommunications services, and includes software integral to such equipment (including upgrades).
+
+(53) Telecommunications service The term “telecommunications service” means the offering of telecommunications for a fee directly to the public, or to such classes of users as to be effectively available directly to the public, regardless of the facilities used.
+
+(54) Telephone exchange service The term “telephone exchange service” means (A) service within a telephone exchange, or within a connected system of telephone exchanges within the same exchange area operated to furnish to subscribers intercommunicating service of the character ordinarily furnished by a single exchange, and which is covered by the exchange service charge, or (B) comparable service provided through a system of switches, transmission equipment, or other facilities (or combination thereof) by which a subscriber can originate and terminate a telecommunications service.
+
+(55) Telephone toll service The term “telephone toll service” means telephone service between stations in different exchange areas for which there is made a separate charge not included in contracts with subscribers for exchange service.
+
+(56) Television service (A) Analog television service The term “analog television service” means television service provided pursuant to the transmission standards prescribed by the Commission in section 73.682(a) of its regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.682(a)).
+
+(B) Digital television service The term “digital television service” means television service provided pursuant to the transmission standards prescribed by the Commission in section 73.682(d) of its regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.682(d)).
+
+(57) Transmission of energy by radio The term “transmission of energy by radio” or “radio transmission of energy” includes both such transmission and all instrumentalities, facilities, and services incidental to such transmission.
+
+(58) United States The term “United States” means the several States and Territories, the District of Columbia, and the possessions of the United States, but does not include the Canal Zone.
+
+(59) Wire communication The term “wire communication” or “communication by wire” means the transmission of writing, signs, signals, pictures, and sounds of all kinds by aid of wire, cable, or other like connection between the points of origin and reception of such transmission, including all instrumentalities, facilities, apparatus, and services (among other things, the receipt, forwarding, and delivery of communications) incidental to such transmission.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 3, 48 Stat. 1065; May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 2, 50 Stat. 189; Proc. No. 2695, eff. July 4, 1946, 11 F.R. 7517, 60 Stat. 1352; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 2, 66 Stat. 711; Apr. 27, 1954, ch. 175, §§ 2, 3, 68 Stat. 64; Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, § 3, 68 Stat. 707; Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 735, § 1, 68 Stat. 729; Aug. 6, 1956, ch. 973, § 3, 70 Stat. 1049; Pub. L. 89–121, § 1, Aug. 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 511; Pub. L. 90–299, § 2, May 3, 1968, 82 Stat. 112; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 120(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1097; Pub. L. 103–66, title VI, § 6002(b)(2)(B)(ii), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 396; Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(a), (c), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 58, 61; Pub. L. 105–33, title III, § 3001(b), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 258; Pub. L. 111–260, title I, § 101, Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2752; Pub. L. 117–338, § 2(b), Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6156.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables. For definition of Canal Zone, referred to in pars. (28) and (58), see section 3602(b) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. Part II of subchapter III of this chapter, referred to in pars. (38), (41), and (43), is classified to section 351 et seq. of this title. Part III of subchapter III of this chapter, referred to in par. (38)(A), is classified to section 381 et seq. of this title.
+
+Codification In par. (41)(A), “chapter 71 of title 46” substituted for “the Act of May 12, 1948 (46 U.S.C. 229a–h)” on authority of Pub. L. 98–89, § 2(b), Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 598, section 1 of which enacted Title 46, Shipping. References to Philippine Islands in pars. (28) and (58) of this section omitted on authority of Proc. No. 2695, issued pursuant to section 1394 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, which proclamation recognized the independence of Philippine Islands as of July 4, 1946. Proc. No. 2695 is set out under section 1394 of Title 22.
+
+Amendments2023—Par. (1)(E). Pub. L. 117–338 added subpar. (E). 2010—Pub. L. 111–260 added pars. (53) to (59), reordered pars. in alphabetical order based on headings of pars., and renumbered pars. as so reordered, resulting in the renumbering of pars. (1) to (59) as pars. (2) to (13), (15) to (17), (20) to (24), (26), (28) to (35), (37) to (59), (1), (14), (18), (19), (25), (36), and (27), respectively. 1997—Pars. (49) to (52). Pub. L. 105–33 added par. (49) and redesignated former pars. (49) to (51) as (50) to (52), respectively. 1996—Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(a)(2), (c)(4)–(8), redesignated subsecs. (a) to (ff) as pars. (1) to (32), respectively, realigned margins, inserted headings and words “The term”, changed capitalization, added pars. (33) to (51), reordered pars. in alphabetical order based on headings of pars., and renumbered pars. as so reordered. Subsecs. (e), (n). Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(c)(1), redesignated clauses (1) to (3) as (A) to (C), respectively. Subsec. (r). Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(a)(1), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B). Subsec. (w). Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(c)(2), redesignated pars. (1) to (5) as subpars. (A) to (E), respectively. Subsecs. (y), (z). Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(c)(3), redesignated pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively. 1993—Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 103–66, § 6002(b)(2)(B)(ii)(I), inserted cl. (1) designation and added cls. (2) and (3). Subsec. (gg). Pub. L. 103–66, § 6002(b)(2)(B)(ii)(II), struck out subsec. (gg) which read as follows: “ ‘Private land mobile service’ means a mobile service which provides a regularly interacting group of base, mobile, portable, and associated control and relay stations (whether licensed on an individual, cooperative, or multiple basis) for private one-way or two-way land mobile radio communications by eligible users over designated areas of operation.” 1982—Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 97–259, § 120(b)(2), substituted “a radio” for “the radio”, inserted “or receivers” after “between mobile stations”, and inserted provision that “mobile service” includes both one-way and two-way radio communication services. Subsec. (gg). Pub. L. 97–259, § 120(b)(1), added subsec. (gg). 1968—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 90–299 inserted “(other than section 223 of this title)” after “subchapter II of this chapter”. 1965—Subsec. (w)(5). Pub. L. 89–121, § 1(1), added par. (5). Subsec. (x). Pub. L. 89–121, § 1(2), among other changes, substituted “radiotelegraph auto alarm” for “auto-alarm” wherever appearing, “receiving apparatus which responds to the radiotelegraph alarm signal” for “receiver” in two places, and “country in which the ship is registered” for “country to which the ship belongs” and for “country of origin”. Subsec. (y). Pub. L. 89–121, § 1(3), struck out “qualified operator” from pars. (1) and (2), and substituted “country in which the ship is registered” for “country to which the ship belongs”. Subsec. (z). Pub. L. 89–121, § 1(4)(D), (E), added subsec. (z) and redesignated former subsec. (z) as (aa). Subsec. (aa). Pub. L. 89–121, § 1(4)(A), (D), redesignated former subsec. (z) as (aa) and former subsec. (aa) as (bb). Subsecs. (bb) to (dd). Pub. L. 89–121, § 1(4)(A), redesignated former subsecs. (aa) to (cc) as (bb) to (dd) and former subsec. (dd) as (ee). Subsec. (ee). Pub. L. 89–121, § 1(4)(A), (B), redesignated former subsec. (dd) as (ee), and repealed former subsec. (ee) which defined “existing installation”. Subsecs. (ff), (gg). Pub. L. 89–121, § 1(4)(B), (C), redesignated subsec. (gg) as (ff) and repealed former subsec. (ff) which defined “new installation”. 1956—Subsec. (y)(2). Act Aug. 6, 1956, substituted “parts II and III of subchapter III of this chapter” for “part II of subchapter III of this chapter”. 1954—Subsec. (e). Act Apr. 27, 1954, § 2, obviated any possible construction that the Commission is empowered to assert common-carrier jurisdiction over point-to-point communication by radio between two points within a single State when the only possible claim that such an operation constitutes an interstate communication rests on the fact that the signal may traverse the territory of another State. Subsec. (u). Act Apr. 27, 1954, § 3, inserted reference to clauses (3) and (4) of section 152(b) of this title. Subsecs. (ee), (ff). Act Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, added subsecs. (ee) and (ff). Subsec. (gg), “Great Lakes Agreement”. Act Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 735, added another subsec. (ee) which for purposes of codification was designated subsec. (gg). 1952—Subsecs. (bb) to (dd). Act July 16, 1952, added subsecs. (bb) to (dd). 1937—Subsecs. (w) to (aa). Act May 20, 1937, added subsecs. (w) to (aa).
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1956 AmendmentAmendment by act Aug. 6, 1956, effective Mar. 1, 1957, see section 4 of act Aug. 6, 1956, set out as an Effective Date note under section 381 of this title.
+
+Effective Date of 1954 AmendmentAmendment by act Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 735, effective Nov. 13, 1954, see section 6 of act Aug. 13, 1954, set out as an Effective Date note under section 507 of this title.
+
+Effective Date of 1952 AmendmentSection 19 of act July 16, 1952, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 1343 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, amending this section and sections 154, 155, 307 to 312, 315, 316, 319, 402, 405, 409, and 410 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 609 of this title] shall take effect on the date of its enactment [July 16, 1952], but— “(1) Insofar as the amendments made by this Act to the Communications Act of 1934 [this chapter] provide for procedural changes, requirements imposed by such changes shall not be mandatory as to any agency proceeding (as defined in the Administrative Procedure Act) [see sections 551 et seq. and 701 et seq. of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees] with respect to which hearings have been commenced prior to the date of enactment of this Act [July 16, 1952]. “(2) The amendments made by this Act to section 402 of the Communications Act of 1934 [section 402 of this title] (relating to judicial review of orders and decisions of the Commission) shall not apply with respect to any action or appeal which is pending before any court on the date of enactment of this Act [July 16, 1952].”
+
+Limitation on LiabilityPub. L. 111–260, § 2, Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2751, provided that: “(a) In General.—Except as provided in subsection (b), no person shall be liable for a violation of the requirements of this Act [see Short Title of 2010 Amendment note set out under section 609 of this title] (or of the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 [47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.] that are amended or added by this Act) with respect to video programming, online content, applications, services, advanced communications services, or equipment used to provide or access advanced communications services to the extent such person—“(1) transmits, routes, or stores in intermediate or transient storage the communications made available through the provision of advanced communications services by a third party; or “(2) provides an information location tool, such as a directory, index, reference, pointer, menu, guide, user interface, or hypertext link, through which an end user obtains access to such video programming, online content, applications, services, advanced communications services, or equipment used to provide or access advanced communications services. “(b) Exception.—The limitation on liability under subsection (a) shall not apply to any person who relies on third party applications, services, software, hardware, or equipment to comply with the requirements of this Act (or of the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 that are amended or added by this Act) with respect to video programming, online content, applications, services, advanced communications services, or equipment used to provide or access advanced communications services.”
+
+Proprietary TechnologyPub. L. 111–260, § 3, Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2752, provided that: “No action taken by the Federal Communications Commission to implement this Act [see Short Title of 2010 Amendment note set out under section 609 of this title] or any amendment made by this Act shall mandate the use or incorporation of proprietary technology.”
+
+Great Lakes AgreementThe Great Lakes Agreement, referred to in this section, relates to the bilateral Agreement for the Promotion of Safety on the Great Lakes by Means of Radio, signed at Ottawa, Canada, Feb. 21, 1952; entered into force Nov. 13, 1954, 3 UST 4926. A subsequent agreement for Promotion of Safety on the Great Lakes by Means of Radio, 1973, was signed at Ottawa, Canada, Feb. 26, 1973, and entered into force May 16, 1975, 25 UST 935.
+
+Safety ConventionThe United States was a party to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, signed at London May 31, 1929, entered into force as to the United States, Nov. 7, 1936, 50 Stat. 1121, 1306. For subsequent International Conventions for the Safety of Life at Sea to which the United States has been a party, see section 1602 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, and notes thereunder.
+
+Definitions Pub. L. 113–200, title I, § 112, Dec. 4, 2014, 128 Stat. 2066, provided that: “In this title [amending sections 325, 338, 534, and 543 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 325, 338, and 534 of this title]: “(1) Appropriate congressional committees.—The term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. “(2) Commission.—The term ‘Commission’ means the Federal Communications Commission.” Pub. L. 111–260, title II, § 206, Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2776, provided that: “In this title [amending sections 303, 330, and 613 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 303 and 613 of this title]: “(1) Advisory committee.—The term ‘Advisory Committee’ means the advisory committee established in section 201 [47 U.S.C. 613 note]. “(2) Chairman.—The term ‘Chairman’ means the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. “(3) Commission.—The term ‘Commission’ means the Federal Communications Commission. “(4) Emergency information.—The term ‘emergency information’ has the meaning given such term in section 79.2 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations. “(5) Internet protocol.—The term ‘Internet protocol’ includes Transmission Control Protocol and a successor protocol or technology to Internet protocol. “(6) Navigation device.—The term ‘navigation device’ has the meaning given such term in section 76.1200 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations. “(7) Video description.—The term ‘video description’ has the meaning given such term in section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613). “(8) Video programming.—The term ‘video programming’ has the meaning given such term in section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613).” Pub. L. 105–33, title III, § 3001(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 258, provided that: “Except as otherwise provided in this title [enacting section 337 of this title, amending this section and sections 303, 309, and 923 to 925 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 254, 309, and 925 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 309 of this title], the terms used in this title have the meanings provided in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153), as amended by this section.” Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(b), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 61, provided that: “Except as otherwise provided in this Act [see Short Title of 1996 Amendment note set out under section 609 of this title], the terms used in this Act have the meanings provided in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153), as amended by this section.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-155.md

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 155"
+description: "Commission"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "155"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 155"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s155"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "b2e87d64907f5c768f23b66d8b3a4b585231e01225e7ad1ee83f68bb235b1edd"
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+text_hash: "c8633fdfc2ade3bf433a85ae55b82581dcc7c91d5394107c4dcd166c55e20557"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 155 - Commission
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Chairman; duties; vacancy The member of the Commission designated by the President as chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the Commission. It shall be his duty to preside at all meetings and sessions of the Commission, to represent the Commission in all matters relating to legislation and legislative reports, except that any commissioner may present his own or minority views or supplemental reports, to represent the Commission in all matters requiring conferences or communications with other governmental officers, departments or agencies, and generally to coordinate and organize the work of the Commission in such manner as to promote prompt and efficient disposition of all matters within the jurisdiction of the Commission. In the case of a vacancy in the office of the chairman of the Commission, or the absence or inability of the chairman to serve, the Commission may temporarily designate one of its members to act as chairman until the cause or circumstance requiring such designation shall have been eliminated or corrected.
+
+(b) Organization of staff From time to time as the Commission may find necessary, the Commission shall organize its staff into (1) integrated bureaus, to function on the basis of the Commission’s principal workload operations, and (2) such other divisional organizations as the Commission may deem necessary. Each such integrated bureau shall include such legal, engineering, accounting, administrative, clerical, and other personnel as the Commission may determine to be necessary to perform its functions.
+
+(c) Delegation of functions; exceptions to initial orders; force, effect and enforcement of orders; administrative and judicial review; qualifications and compensation of delegates; assignment of cases; separation of review and investigative or prosecuting functions; secretary; seal (1) When necessary to the proper functioning of the Commission and the prompt and orderly conduct of its business, the Commission may, by published rule or by order, delegate any of its functions (except functions granted to the Commission by this paragraph and by paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of this subsection and except any action referred to in sections 204(a)(2), 208(b), and 405(b) of this title) to a panel of commissioners, an individual commissioner, an employee board, or an individual employee, including functions with respect to hearing, determining, ordering, certifying, reporting, or otherwise acting as to any work, business, or matter; except that in delegating review functions to employees in cases of adjudication (as defined in section 551 of title 5), the delegation in any such case may be made only to an employee board consisting of two or more employees referred to in paragraph (8) of this subsection. Any such rule or order may be adopted, amended, or rescinded only by a vote of a majority of the members of the Commission then holding office. Except for cases involving the authorization of service in the instructional television fixed service, or as otherwise provided in this chapter, nothing in this paragraph shall authorize the Commission to provide for the conduct, by any person or persons other than persons referred to in paragraph (2) or (3) of section 556(b) of title 5, of any hearing to which such section applies.
+
+(2) As used in this subsection the term “order, decision, report, or action” does not include an initial, tentative, or recommended decision to which exceptions may be filed as provided in section 409(b) of this title.
+
+(3) Any order, decision, report, or action made or taken pursuant to any such delegation, unless reviewed as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, shall have the same force and effect, and shall be made, evidenced, and enforced in the same manner, as orders, decisions, reports, or other actions of the Commission.
+
+(4) Any person aggrieved by any such order, decision, report or action may file an application for review by the Commission within such time and in such manner as the Commission shall prescribe, and every such application shall be passed upon by the Commission. The Commission, on its own initiative, may review in whole or in part, at such time and in such manner as it shall determine, any order, decision, report, or action made or taken pursuant to any delegation under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
+
+(5) In passing upon applications for review, the Commission may grant, in whole or in part, or deny such applications without specifying any reasons therefor. No such application for review shall rely on questions of fact or law upon which the panel of commissioners, individual commissioner, employee board, or individual employee has been afforded no opportunity to pass.
+
+(6) If the Commission grants the application for review, it may affirm, modify, or set aside the order, decision, report, or action, or it may order a rehearing upon such order, decision, report, or action in accordance with section 405 of this title.
+
+(7) The filing of an application for review under this subsection shall be a condition precedent to judicial review of any order, decision, report, or action made or taken pursuant to a delegation under paragraph (1) of this subsection. The time within which a petition for review must be filed in a proceeding to which section 402(a) of this title applies, or within which an appeal must be taken under section 402(b) of this title, shall be computed from the date upon which public notice is given of orders disposing of all applications for review filed in any case.
+
+(8) The employees to whom the Commission may delegate review functions in any case of adjudication (as defined in section 551 of title 5) shall be qualified, by reason of their training, experience, and competence, to perform such review functions, and shall perform no duties inconsistent with such review functions. Such employees shall be in a grade classification or salary level commensurate with their important duties, and in no event less than the grade classification or salary level of the employee or employees whose actions are to be reviewed. In the performance of such review functions such employees shall be assigned to cases in rotation so far as practicable and shall not be responsible to or subject to the supervision or direction of any officer, employee, or agent engaged in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions for any agency.
+
+(9) The secretary and seal of the Commission shall be the secretary and seal of each panel of the Commission, each individual commissioner, and each employee board or individual employee exercising functions delegated pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.
+
+(d) Meetings Meetings of the Commission shall be held at regular intervals, not less frequently than once each calendar month, at which times the functioning of the Commission and the handling of its work load shall be reviewed and such orders shall be entered and other action taken as may be necessary or appropriate to expedite the prompt and orderly conduct of the business of the Commission with the objective of rendering a final decision (1) within three months from the date of filing in all original application, renewal, and transfer cases in which it will not be necessary to hold a hearing, and (2) within six months from the final date of the hearing in all hearing cases.
+
+(e) Managing Director; appointment, functions, pay The Commission shall have a Managing Director who shall be appointed by the Chairman subject to the approval of the Commission. The Managing Director, under the supervision and direction of the Chairman, shall perform such administrative and executive functions as the Chairman shall delegate. The Managing Director shall be paid at a rate equal to the rate then payable for level V of the Executive Schedule.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 5, 48 Stat. 1068; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 4, 66 Stat. 712; Pub. L. 87–192, §§ 1, 2, Aug. 31, 1961, 75 Stat. 420; Pub. L. 96–470, title I, § 116, Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2240; Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1252, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 738; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 105, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1091; Pub. L. 99–272, title V, § 5002(c), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 118; Pub. L. 100–594, §§ 4, 8(a), Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 3021, 3023; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(a)(2), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4294; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(c), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 130.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables. Level V of the Executive Schedule, referred to in subsec. (e), is set out in section 5316 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
+
+Codification In subsec. (c)(1), (8), “adjudication (as defined in section 551 of title 5)” substituted for “adjudication (as defined in the Administrative Procedure Act)”, and in subsec. (c)(1) “section 556(b) of title 5” substituted for references to “section 7(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act”, on authority of Pub. L. 89–554, § 7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
+
+Amendments1996—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–104 inserted last sentence and struck out former last sentence which read as follows: “Nothing in this paragraph shall authorize the Commission to provide for the conduct, by any person or persons other than persons referred to in clauses (2) and (3) of section 556(b) of title 5, of any hearing to which such section 556(b) applies.” 1994—Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 103–414 redesignated subsec. (f) as (e). 1988—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 100–594, § 8(a), inserted “and except any action referred to in sections 204(a)(2), 208(b), and 405(b) of this title” after “and (6) of this subsection” in first sentence. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 100–594, § 4, struck out subsec. (g) which required an annual report to Congress and specified its contents. 1986—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 99–272 substituted “March 31” for “January 31”. 1982—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–259, § 105(a), substituted “From” for “Within six months after July 16, 1952, and from” at beginning of subsection, and struck out “thereafter” after “time to time”. Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 97–259, § 105(b), (c), redesignated subsecs. (d) and (e) as (c) and (d), respectively, and in par. (1) of subsec. (c), as so redesignated, substituted “two” for “three” after “employee board consisting of”. 1981—Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 97–35 added subsecs. (f) and (g). 1980—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96–470 struck out “; and the Commission shall promptly report to the Congress each such case which has been pending before it more than such three- or six-month period, respectively, stating the reasons therefor” after “hearing cases”. 1961—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 87–192, § 1, repealed subsec. (c) which provided for establishment of review staff, its composition, responsibility and duties. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 87–192, § 2, substituted provisions which authorized the delegation of functions by published rule or by order to a panel of commissioners, and individual commissioner, an employee board, or an individual employee, and of review functions to an employee board of three or more employees, enumerated the functions to be delegated, with stated exceptions, and prescribed majority vote for order delegating review functions for former provision which authorized the assignment of reference of work, business or functions by order to an individual commissioner or commissioners or to a board of one or more employees and eliminated provision concerning force, effect and enforcement of orders, now incorporated in par. (3) of this subsection. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 87–192, § 2, added par. (2). The subject matter was formerly covered by the introductory words of former par. (1) of this subsection which read “Except as provided in section 409 of this title.” Sentences 1 and 2 of former par. (2) redesignated pars. (4) and (6), respectively. Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 87–192, § 2, redesignated second sentence of former par. (1) as par. (3) and substituted therein “report, or action made or taken pursuant to any such delegation, unless reviewed as provided in paragraph (4), shall have” and “other actions” for “report made, or other action taken, pursuant to any such order of assignment or reference shall, unless reviewed pursuant to paragraph (2), have” and “action”, respectively. Former par. (3) redesignated (9). Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 87–192, § 2, redesignated first sentence of former par. (2) as par. (4), included “action” in enumeration, and inserted provision for review on initiative of the Commission. Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 87–192, § 2, added par. (5). Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 87–192, § 2, redesignated second sentence of former par. (2) as par. (6), inserting “for review” after “applications” and substituting “the Commission”, “the order”, “it may order” and “in accordance with” for “it”, “such order”, “may order” and “under”, respectively. Subsec. (d)(7), (8). Pub. L. 87–192, § 2, added pars. (7) and (8). Subsec. (d)(9). Pub. L. 87–192, § 2, redesignated former par. (3) as (9) and made it applicable to each panel of the Commission, each employee board instead of each board, and each individual employee. 1952—Act July 16, 1952, amended section generally to provide for the organization of the staff, integrated bureaus, and for a review staff.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-155a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 155a"
+description: "Authority of Chief Information Officer"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "155a"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 155a"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s155a"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "4d39714e6941c17c849739d1ee238e8b42921527941b1409660922e568a63f6e"
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+text_hash: "ca3c6e27b08b2c656db0506088cac6fe2685037c13e9b5c39f739cafb435facb"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 155a - Authority of Chief Information Officer
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In general The Commission shall ensure that the Chief Information Officer of the Commission has a significant role in—
+
+(1) the decision-making process for annual and multi-year planning, programming, budgeting, and execution decisions, related reporting requirements, and reports related to information technology;
+
+(2) the management, governance, and oversight processes related to information technology; and
+
+(3) the hiring of personnel with information technology responsibilities.
+
+(b) CIO approval The Chief Information Officer of the Commission, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer of the Commission and budget officials, shall specify and approve the allocation of amounts appropriated to the Commission for information technology, consistent with the provisions of appropriations Acts, budget guidelines, and recommendations from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
+
+(Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title V, § 502, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1091.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Codification Section was enacted as part of the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act of 2018, also known as the RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018, and also as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Definition Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, § 2, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1081, provided that: “In this division [see Short Title of 2018 Amendment note set out under section 609 of this title], the term ‘Commission’ means the Federal Communications Commission.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-156.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 156"
+description: "Authorization of appropriations"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "156"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 156"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s156"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "976fef323fc021ccc0db885c3bbd09d0d5e85737777ae0fd13bb0a0801b0edea"
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+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 156 - Authorization of appropriations
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Authorization There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission to carry out the functions of the Commission $333,118,000 for fiscal year 2019 and $339,610,000 for fiscal year 2020.
+
+(b) Offsetting collections The sum appropriated in any fiscal year to carry out the activities described in subsection (a), to the extent and in the amounts provided for in Appropriations Acts, shall be derived from fees authorized by section 159 of this title.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 6, as added Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1251(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 738; amended Pub. L. 98–214, § 2(a), Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1467; Pub. L. 99–272, title V, § 5002(a)(1), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 117; Pub. L. 100–594, § 2(a), Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 3021; Pub. L. 101–396, § 2(a), Sept. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 848; Pub. L. 103–66, title VI, § 6003(b), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 401; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title I, § 101(a), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1081.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2018—Pub. L. 115–141 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to authorization of appropriations for fiscal years 1990 and 1991. 1993—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–66 added subsec. (d). 1990—Pub. L. 101–396 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated for the administration of this chapter by the Commission $107,250,000 for fiscal year 1988 and $109,250,000 for fiscal year 1989, together with such sums as may be necessary for increases resulting from adjustments in salary, pay, retirement, other employee benefits required by law, and other nondiscretionary costs, for each of the fiscal years 1988 and 1989.” 1988—Pub. L. 100–594 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated for the administration of this chapter by the Commission $98,100,000 for fiscal year 1986 and $97,600,000 for fiscal year 1987, together with such sums as may be necessary for increases resulting from adjustments in salary, pay, retirement, other employee benefits required by law, and other nondiscretionary costs, for each of the fiscal years 1986 and 1987.” 1986—Pub. L. 99–272 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated for the administration of this chapter by the Commission $91,156,000, together with such sums as may be necessary for increases resulting from adjustments in salary, pay, retirement, other employee benefits required by law, and other nondiscretionary costs, for each of the fiscal years 1984 and 1985.” 1983—Pub. L. 98–214 substituted provisions authorizing appropriations of $91,156,000 for each of the fiscal years 1984 and 1985 for provisions authorizing appropriations of $76,900,000 for each of the fiscal years 1982 and 1983.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2018 AmendmentPub. L. 115–141, div. P, title I, § 103, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1086, provided that: “This title [enacting section 159a of this title, amending this section and sections 158, 159, and 309 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 158 and 159 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under this section] and the amendments made by this title shall take effect on October 1, 2018.”
+
+Effective Date of 1988 AmendmentPub. L. 100–594, § 2(b), Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 3021, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) of this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1987.”
+
+Effective Date of 1986 AmendmentPub. L. 99–272, title V, § 5002(a)(2), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 118, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) of this subsection [amending this section] shall apply with respect to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1985.”
+
+Effective Date of 1983 AmendmentPub. L. 98–214, § 2(b), Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1467, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1983.”
+
+Authorization of AppropriationsPub. L. 104–104, title VII, § 710(a), (b), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 160, which authorized additional appropriations to the Federal Communications Commission, was repealed by Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title I, § 101(c)(1), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1082.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-157.md

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+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 157"
+description: "New technologies and services"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "157"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 157"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s157"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "308db9897176f761b3d2b0206e0b5508d58a23f4c04cda45608f3ff96c7c9f1a"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "e93a47f1eb1bf09592b9b136b1e6b2035cd223f71160d4d9ac777b51817f5d9c"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 157 - New technologies and services
+
+## Text
+
+(a) It shall be the policy of the United States to encourage the provision of new technologies and services to the public. Any person or party (other than the Commission) who opposes a new technology or service proposed to be permitted under this chapter shall have the burden to demonstrate that such proposal is inconsistent with the public interest.
+
+(b) The Commission shall determine whether any new technology or service proposed in a petition or application is in the public interest within one year after such petition or application is filed. If the Commission initiates its own proceeding for a new technology or service, such proceeding shall be completed within 12 months after it is initiated.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 7, as added Pub. L. 98–214, § 12, Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1471; amended Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 304(a)(1), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4296.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–414 struck out “or twelve months after December 8, 1983, if later” after “petition or application is filed” and after “12 months after it is initiated”.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Advanced Telecommunications IncentivesPub. L. 104–104, title VII, § 706, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 153, as amended by Pub. L. 107–110, title X, § 1076(gg), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2093; Pub. L. 110–385, title I, § 103(a), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4096, was transferred and is classified to section 1302 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-158.md

@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 158"
+description: "Application fees"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "158"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 158"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s158"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "9a6fac1b43497cdcee7013fa498bb3c9db4def29da596916faf9cf758cf1daac"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "0d02ebeba9b3dbc9c79967735bd7842b4e05abaeaf9fda53e4c9a80c21a5f163"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 158 - Application fees
+
+## Text
+
+(a) General authority; establishment of schedule The Commission shall assess and collect application fees at such rates as the Commission shall establish in a schedule of application fees to recover the costs of the Commission to process applications.
+
+(b) Adjustment of schedule (1) In general In every even-numbered year, the Commission shall review the schedule of application fees established under this section and, except as provided in paragraph (2), set a new amount for each fee in the schedule that is equal to the amount of the fee on the date when the fee was established or the date when the fee was last amended under subsection (c), whichever is later—
+
+(A) increased or decreased by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index during the period beginning on such date and ending on the date of the review; and
+
+(B) rounded to the nearest $5 increment.
+
+(2) Threshold for adjustment The Commission may not adjust a fee under paragraph (1) if—
+
+(A) in the case of a fee the current amount of which is less than $200, the adjustment would result in a change in the current amount of less than $10; or
+
+(B) in the case of a fee the current amount of which is $200 or more, the adjustment would result in a change in the current amount of less than 5 percent.
+
+(3) Current amount defined In paragraph (2), the term “current amount” means, with respect to a fee, the amount of the fee on the date when the fee was established, the date when the fee was last adjusted under paragraph (1), or the date when the fee was last amended under subsection (c), whichever is latest.
+
+(c) Amendments to schedule In addition to the adjustments required by subsection (b), the Commission shall by rule amend the schedule of application fees established under this section if the Commission determines that the schedule requires amendment—
+
+(1) so that such fees reflect increases or decreases in the costs of processing applications at the Commission; or
+
+(2) so that such schedule reflects the consolidation or addition of new categories of applications.
+
+(d) Exceptions (1) Parties to which fees are not applicable The application fees established under this section shall not be applicable to—
+
+(A) a governmental entity;
+
+(B) a nonprofit entity licensed in the Local Government, Police, Fire, Highway Maintenance, Forestry-Conservation, Public Safety, or Special Emergency Radio radio services; or
+
+(C) a noncommercial radio station or noncommercial television station.
+
+(2) Cost of collection If, in the judgment of the Commission, the cost of collecting an application fee established under this section would exceed the amount collected, the Commission may by rule eliminate such fee.
+
+(e) Deposit of collections Moneys received from application fees established under this section shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 8, as added Pub. L. 99–272, title V, § 5002(e), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 118; amended Pub. L. 100–594, § 5, Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 3021; Pub. L. 101–239, title III, § 3001(a), (b), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2124, 2131; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 209, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3544; Pub. L. 103–66, title VI, § 6003(a)(2), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 401; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, §§ 302, 303(a)(3), (4), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4294; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title I, § 102(a), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1082.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2018—Pub. L. 115–141 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to application fees. 1994—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(3), substituted “payment of an” for “payment of a”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(4), substituted “Additional Application Fee” for “Additional Charge” in item 7.f. under heading “equipment approval services/experimental radio” in Schedule of Application Fees. Pub. L. 103–414, § 302, added item 1.d. under heading “common carrier services” in Schedule of Application Fees. 1993—Pub. L. 103–66, § 6003(a)(2)(A), substituted “Application fees” for “Charges” as section catchline. Subsecs. (a) to (e). Pub. L. 103–66, § 6003(a)(2)(B)–(D), substituted “application fees” for “charges” and “Schedule of Application Fees” for “Schedule of Charges” wherever appearing, and substituted “application fee” for “charge” in subsec. (c). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–66, § 6003(a)(2)(D), in text substituted “Schedule of Application Fees” for “Schedule of Charges”. Pub. L. 103–66, § 6003(a)(2)(E), which directed amendment of schedule by substituting “Schedule of Application Fees” for “Schedule of Charges”, “Application fees” for “Charges”, “application fee” for “charge”, and “Application fees” for “Charges” was executed by substituting “SCHEDULE OF APPLICATION FEES” for “SCHEDULE OF CHARGES” in heading, “miscellaneous application fees” for “miscellaneous charges” in last subheading, and “application fee” for “charge” in two places in text of schedule, to reflect probable intent of Congress. 1992—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 102–538 in Schedule of Charges added twenty-second category, relating to Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Systems, under heading “common carrier services”, and substituted “75.00” for “360.00” in item 3.c., relating to inspection of vessels under the Great Lakes Agreement, under heading “miscellaneous charges”. 1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–239, § 3001(b)(1), struck out at end “The Schedule of Charges established under this subsection shall be implemented not later than 360 days after April 7, 1986.” Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 101–239, § 3001(b)(2), substituted “October 1, 1991” for “April 1, 1987”. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 101–239, § 3001(b)(3), substituted “(A) to governmental entities and nonprofit entities licensed in the following radio services:” for “to the following radio services:” and inserted “(B)” after “Emergency Radio, or”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–239, § 3001(a), added subsec. (g). 1988—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 100–594 substituted “two years after April 1, 1987,” for “two years after April 7, 1986,”.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–141 effective Oct. 1, 2018, see section 103 of div. P of Pub. L. 115–141, set out as a note under section 156 of this title.
+
+Effective Date of 1989 AmendmentPub. L. 101–239, title III, § 3001(c), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2131, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 19, 1989], and the Schedule of Charges required by the amendment made by subsection (a) of this section shall be implemented not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this Act.”
+
+Transitional Rules for Application FeesPub. L. 115–141, div. P, title I, § 102(d)(1), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1085, provided that: “An application fee established under section 8 of the Communications Act of 1934 [47 U.S.C. 158], as such section is in effect on the day before the effective date described in section 103 of this title [Oct. 1, 2018], shall remain in effect under section 8 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, until such time as the Commission [Federal Communications Commission] adjusts or amends such fee under subsection (b) or (c) of such section 8, as so amended.”
+
+Schedule of ChargesSection 5002(f) of Pub. L. 99–272 established the Schedule of Charges which the Federal Communications Commission is required to prescribe pursuant to subsec. (a) of this section. See subsec. (g) of this section as added by Pub. L. 101–239.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-159.md

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 159"
+description: "Regulatory fees"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "159"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 159"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s159"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "3d22844789a6a813ce6f5e5a041b9c61b52d5d2628bd865762fb63e6c455bfb0"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "b7d8c6d817cbdceb9f20ceadceb4a223615ecda3bad58e0a598c07fabedf7684"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 159 - Regulatory fees
+
+## Text
+
+(a) General authority The Commission shall assess and collect regulatory fees to recover the costs of carrying out the activities described in section 156(a) of this title only to the extent, and in the total amounts, provided for in Appropriations Acts.
+
+(b) Establishment of schedule The Commission shall assess and collect regulatory fees at such rates as the Commission shall establish in a schedule of regulatory fees that will result in the collection, in each fiscal year, of an amount that can reasonably be expected to equal the amounts described in subsection (a) with respect to such fiscal year.
+
+(c) Adjustment of schedule (1) In general For each fiscal year, the Commission shall by rule adjust the schedule of regulatory fees established under this section to—
+
+(A) reflect unexpected increases or decreases in the number of units subject to the payment of such fees; and
+
+(B) result in the collection of the amount required by subsection (b).
+
+(2) Rounding In making adjustments under this subsection, the Commission may round fees to the nearest $5 increment.
+
+(d) Amendments to schedule In addition to the adjustments required by subsection (c), the Commission shall by rule amend the schedule of regulatory fees established under this section if the Commission determines that the schedule requires amendment so that such fees reflect the full-time equivalent number of employees within the bureaus and offices of the Commission, adjusted to take into account factors that are reasonably related to the benefits provided to the payor of the fee by the Commission’s activities. In making an amendment under this subsection, the Commission may not change the total amount of regulatory fees required by subsection (b) to be collected in a fiscal year.
+
+(e) Exceptions (1) Parties to which fees are not applicable The regulatory fees established under this section shall not be applicable to—
+
+(A) a governmental entity or nonprofit entity;
+
+(B) an amateur radio operator licensee under part 97 of the Commission’s rules (47 CFR part 97); or
+
+(C) a noncommercial radio station or noncommercial television station.
+
+(2) Cost of collection If, in the judgment of the Commission, the cost of collecting a regulatory fee established under this section from a party would exceed the amount collected from such party, the Commission may exempt such party from paying such fee.
+
+(f) Deposit of collections (1) In general Amounts received from fees authorized by this section shall be deposited as an offsetting collection in, and credited to, the account through which funds are made available to carry out the activities described in section 156(a) of this title.
+
+(2) Deposit of excess collections Any regulatory fees collected in excess of the total amount of fees provided for in Appropriations Acts for a fiscal year shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury of the United States for the sole purpose of deficit reduction.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 9, as added Pub. L. 103–66, title VI, § 6003(a)(1), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 397; amended Pub. L. 103–121, title I, Oct. 27, 1993, 107 Stat. 1167; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(a)(5), (6), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4294; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title I, § 102(b), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1083.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2018—Pub. L. 115–141 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to regulatory fees. 1994—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(5), designated second sentence of par. (1) as par. (2) and inserted par. (2) heading. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(6), inserted “95” after “(47 C.F.R. Part” in item pertaining to Interactive Video Data Service under Private Radio Bureau in Schedule of Regulatory Fees. 1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–121 designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and added par. (2).
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–141 effective Oct. 1, 2018, see section 103 of div. P of Pub. L. 115–141, set out as a note under section 156 of this title.
+
+Continued Applicability of Regulatory FeesPub. L. 115–141, div. P, title I, § 102(d)(2), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1086, provided that: “A regulatory fee established under section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934 [47 U.S.C. 159], as such section is in effect on the day before the effective date described in section 103 of this title [Oct. 1, 2018], shall remain in effect under section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by subsection (b) of this section, until such time as the Commission [Federal Communications Commission] adjusts or amends such fee under subsection (c) or (d) of such section 9, as so amended.”
+
+Rulemaking To Amend Schedule of Regulatory FeesPub. L. 115–141, div. P, title I, § 102(e)(1), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1086, provided that: “Not later than 1 year after the effective date described in section 103 of this title [Oct. 1, 2018], the Commission [Federal Communications Commission] shall complete a rulemaking proceeding under subsection (d) of section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934 [47 U.S.C. 159], as amended by subsection (b) of this section.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-159a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 159a"
+description: "Provisions applicable to application and regulatory fees"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "159a"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 159a"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s159a"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "b6db66f82d669945940c8fb191e56a82a4e7f31a272fb979b4321164e984ed55"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "9978dcb13a937c358a47b970daf47c163836bc79cbe2c2ea793ff9a6b0bde083"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 159a - Provisions applicable to application and regulatory fees
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Judicial review prohibited Any adjustment or amendment to a schedule of fees under subsection (b) or (c) of section 158 of this title or subsection (c) or (d) of section 159 of this title is not subject to judicial review.
+
+(b) Notice to Congress The Commission shall transmit to Congress notification—
+
+(1) of any adjustment under section 158(b) or 159(c) of this title immediately upon the adoption of such adjustment; and
+
+(2) of any amendment under section 158(c) or 159(d) of this title not later than 90 days before the effective date of such amendment.
+
+(c) Enforcement (1) Penalties for late payment The Commission shall by rule prescribe an additional penalty for late payment of fees under section 158 or 159 of this title. Such additional penalty shall be 25 percent of the amount of the fee that was not paid in a timely manner.
+
+(2) Interest on unpaid fees and penalties The Commission shall charge interest, at a rate determined under section 3717 of title 31, on a fee under section 158 or 159 of this title or an additional penalty under this subsection that is not paid in a timely manner. Such section 3717 shall not otherwise apply with respect to such a fee or penalty.
+
+(3) Dismissal of applications or filings The Commission may dismiss any application or other filing for failure to pay in a timely manner any fee under section 158 or 159 of this title or any interest or additional penalty under this subsection.
+
+(4) Revocations (A) In general In addition to or in lieu of the penalties and dismissals authorized by this subsection, the Commission may revoke any instrument of authorization held by any licensee that has not paid in a timely manner a regulatory fee assessed under section 159 of this title or any related interest or penalty.
+
+(B) Notice Revocation action may be taken by the Commission under this paragraph after notice of the Commission’s intent to take such action is sent to the licensee by registered mail, return receipt requested, at the licensee’s last known address. The notice shall provide the licensee at least 30 days to either pay the fee, interest, and any penalty or show cause why the fee, interest, or penalty does not apply to the licensee or should otherwise be waived or payment deferred.
+
+(C) Hearing (i) Generally not required A hearing is not required under this paragraph unless the licensee’s response presents a substantial and material question of fact.
+
+(ii) Evidence and burdens In any case where a hearing is conducted under this paragraph, the hearing shall be based on written evidence only, and the burden of proceeding with the introduction of evidence and the burden of proof shall be on the licensee.
+
+(iii) Costs Unless the licensee substantially prevails in the hearing, the Commission may assess the licensee for the costs of such hearing.
+
+(D) Opportunity to pay prior to revocation Any Commission order adopted under this paragraph shall determine the amount due, if any, and provide the licensee with at least 30 days to pay that amount or have its authorization revoked.
+
+(E) Finality No order of revocation under this paragraph shall become final until the licensee has exhausted its right to judicial review of such order under section 402(b)(5) of this title.
+
+(d) Waiver, reduction, and deferment The Commission may waive, reduce, or defer payment of a fee under section 158 or 159 of this title or an interest charge or penalty under this section in any specific instance for good cause shown, where such action would promote the public interest.
+
+(e) Payment rules The Commission shall by rule permit payment—
+
+(1) in the case of fees under section 158 or 159 of this title in large amounts, by installments; and
+
+(2) in the case of fees under section 158 or 159 of this title in small amounts, in advance for a number of years not to exceed the term of the license held by the payor.
+
+(f) Accounting system The Commission shall develop accounting systems necessary to make the amendments authorized by sections 158(c) and 159(d) of this title.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 9A, as added Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title I, § 102(c), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1084.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective DateSection effective Oct. 1, 2018, see section 103 of div. P of Pub. L. 115–141, set out as an Effective Date of 2018 Amendment note under section 156 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-160.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 160"
+description: "Competition in provision of telecommunications service"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "160"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 160"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s160"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "83c68d7eb3250b6eccf6948eae92616144e08d7ebfa2f4dcf812706a759e5ee7"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "56d1be17ea4401dc353ee4ef8e9c3b35c45a9ae7fb51181de3d7f7b4fae1e613"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 160 - Competition in provision of telecommunications service
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Regulatory flexibility Notwithstanding section 332(c)(1)(A) of this title, the Commission shall forbear from applying any regulation or any provision of this chapter to a telecommunications carrier or telecommunications service, or class of telecommunications carriers or telecommunications services, in any or some of its or their geographic markets, if the Commission determines that—
+
+(1) enforcement of such regulation or provision is not necessary to ensure that the charges, practices, classifications, or regulations by, for, or in connection with that telecommunications carrier or telecommunications service are just and reasonable and are not unjustly or unreasonably discriminatory;
+
+(2) enforcement of such regulation or provision is not necessary for the protection of consumers; and
+
+(3) forbearance from applying such provision or regulation is consistent with the public interest.
+
+(b) Competitive effect to be weighed In making the determination under subsection (a)(3), the Commission shall consider whether forbearance from enforcing the provision or regulation will promote competitive market conditions, including the extent to which such forbearance will enhance competition among providers of telecommunications services. If the Commission determines that such forbearance will promote competition among providers of telecommunications services, that determination may be the basis for a Commission finding that forbearance is in the public interest.
+
+(c) Petition for forbearance Any telecommunications carrier, or class of telecommunications carriers, may submit a petition to the Commission requesting that the Commission exercise the authority granted under this section with respect to that carrier or those carriers, or any service offered by that carrier or carriers. Any such petition shall be deemed granted if the Commission does not deny the petition for failure to meet the requirements for forbearance under subsection (a) within one year after the Commission receives it, unless the one-year period is extended by the Commission. The Commission may extend the initial one-year period by an additional 90 days if the Commission finds that an extension is necessary to meet the requirements of subsection (a). The Commission may grant or deny a petition in whole or in part and shall explain its decision in writing.
+
+(d) Limitation Except as provided in section 251(f) of this title, the Commission may not forbear from applying the requirements of section 251(c) or 271 of this title under subsection (a) of this section until it determines that those requirements have been fully implemented.
+
+(e) State enforcement after Commission forbearance A State commission may not continue to apply or enforce any provision of this chapter that the Commission has determined to forbear from applying under subsection (a).
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 10, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 401, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 128.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (e), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-161.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 161"
+description: "Regulatory reform"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "161"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 161"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s161"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "67ba4b33cd64bbe906c6c1c497b7fd52b9139699adcb4e56ce2be0e68ea8bcbc"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "94ff23acf880d13c3914414385ec77e595a2e7f8b47c98cd76b69c80d7b31f45"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 161 - Regulatory reform
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Biennial review of regulations In every even-numbered year (beginning with 1998), the Commission—
+
+(1) shall review all regulations issued under this chapter in effect at the time of the review that apply to the operations or activities of any provider of telecommunications service; and
+
+(2) shall determine whether any such regulation is no longer necessary in the public interest as the result of meaningful economic competition between providers of such service.
+
+(b) Effect of determination The Commission shall repeal or modify any regulation it determines to be no longer necessary in the public interest.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 11, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 402(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 129.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-162.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 162"
+description: "Additional research authorities of the FCC"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "162"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 162"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s162"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "e03a2a3ff9890869c827cc723ed139149a615f8659cd2cf5827e97719a0b6d54"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "c9e0ed9c997aa7d315943e275422a6f279bc87f816418ccd659804ca343b0d0e"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 162 - Additional research authorities of the FCC
+
+## Text
+
+In order to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the Commission may—
+
+(1) undertake research and development work in connection with any matter in relation to which the Commission has jurisdiction; and
+
+(2) promote the carrying out of such research and development by others, or otherwise to arrange for such research and development to be carried out by others.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 12, as added Pub. L. 111–358, title VIII, § 803, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4043.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-163.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 163"
+description: "Communications marketplace report"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "163"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 163"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s163"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "4b41e4ad9b6ac9656991f0372e154594ebaf5404de57b4ea9715ffcb2edbc780"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "c85fde2f132771e544d4b2fe6656bc457b36b0984c5c84de506ea1695b1a4d68"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 163 - Communications marketplace report
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In general In the last quarter of every even-numbered year, the Commission shall publish on its website and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the state of the communications marketplace.
+
+(b) Contents Each report required by subsection (a) shall—
+
+(1) assess the state of competition in the communications marketplace, including competition to deliver voice, video, audio, and data services among providers of telecommunications, providers of commercial mobile service (as defined in section 332 of this title), multichannel video programming distributors (as defined in section 522 of this title), broadcast stations, providers of satellite communications, Internet service providers, and other providers of communications services;
+
+(2) assess the state of deployment of communications capabilities, including advanced telecommunications capability (as defined in section 1302 of this title), regardless of the technology used for such deployment;
+
+(3) assess whether laws, regulations, regulatory practices (whether those of the Federal Government, States, political subdivisions of States, Indian tribes or tribal organizations (as such terms are defined in section 5304 of title 25), or foreign governments), or demonstrated marketplace practices pose a barrier to competitive entry into the communications marketplace or to the competitive expansion of existing providers of communications services;
+
+(4) describe the agenda of the Commission for the next 2-year period for addressing the challenges and opportunities in the communications marketplace that were identified through the assessments under paragraphs (1) through (3); and
+
+(5) describe the actions that the Commission has taken in pursuit of the agenda described pursuant to paragraph (4) in the previous report submitted under this section.
+
+(c) Extension If the President designates a Commissioner as Chairman of the Commission during the last quarter of an even-numbered year, the portion of the report required by subsection (b)(4) may be published on the website of the Commission and submitted to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate as an addendum during the first quarter of the following odd-numbered year.
+
+(d) Special requirements (1) Assessing competition In assessing the state of competition under subsection (b)(1), the Commission shall consider all forms of competition, including the effect of intermodal competition, facilities-based competition, and competition from new and emergent communications services, including the provision of content and communications using the Internet.
+
+(2) Assessing deployment In assessing the state of deployment under subsection (b)(2), the Commission shall compile a list of geographical areas that are not served by any provider of advanced telecommunications capability.
+
+(3) Considering small businesses In assessing the state of competition under subsection (b)(1) and regulatory barriers under subsection (b)(3), the Commission shall consider market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and other small businesses in the communications marketplace in accordance with the national policy under section 257(b) of this title.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 13, as added Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, § 401, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1087.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-201.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 201"
+description: "Service and charges"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "201"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 201"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s201"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "c77da0c44938809e1ab22e6d42bd77916fb40ab01d0f818746cda4bb292e0944"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "40253ea29a5e7a467628222a9a857d452675a198c2a7366a35f6b75a372249bf"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 201 - Service and charges
+
+## Text
+
+(a) It shall be the duty of every common carrier engaged in interstate or foreign communication by wire or radio to furnish such communication service upon reasonable request therefor; and, in accordance with the orders of the Commission, in cases where the Commission, after opportunity for hearing, finds such action necessary or desirable in the public interest, to establish physical connections with other carriers, to establish through routes and charges applicable thereto and the divisions of such charges, and to establish and provide facilities and regulations for operating such through routes.
+
+(b) All charges, practices, classifications, and regulations for and in connection with such communication service, shall be just and reasonable, and any such charge, practice, classification, or regulation that is unjust or unreasonable is declared to be unlawful: Provided, That communications by wire or radio subject to this chapter may be classified into day, night, repeated, unrepeated, letter, commercial, press, Government, and such other classes as the Commission may decide to be just and reasonable, and different charges may be made for the different classes of communications: Provided further, That nothing in this chapter or in any other provision of law shall be construed to prevent a common carrier subject to this chapter from entering into or operating under any contract with any common carrier not subject to this chapter, for the exchange of their services, if the Commission is of the opinion that such contract is not contrary to the public interest: Provided further, That nothing in this chapter or in any other provision of law shall prevent a common carrier subject to this chapter from furnishing reports of positions of ships at sea to newspapers of general circulation, either at a nominal charge or without charge, provided the name of such common carrier is displayed along with such ship position reports. The Commission may prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary in the public interest to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 201, 48 Stat. 1070; May 31, 1938, ch. 296, 52 Stat. 588.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1938—Subsec. (b). Act May 31, 1938, inserted proviso relating to reports of positions of ships at sea.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Telephone Rates for Members of Armed Forces Deployed AbroadPub. L. 109–459, § 2, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3399, provided that: “(a) In General.—The Federal Communications Commission shall take such action as may be necessary to reduce the cost of calling home for Armed Forces personnel who are stationed outside the United States under official military orders or deployed outside the United States in support of military operations, training exercises, or other purposes as approved by the Secretary of Defense, including the reduction of such costs through the waiver of government fees, assessments, or other charges for such calls. The Commission may not regulate rates in order to carry out this section. “(b) Factors To Consider.—In taking the action described in subsection (a), the Commission, in coordination with the Department of Defense and the Department of State, shall—“(1) evaluate and analyze the costs to Armed Forces personnel of such telephone calls to and from American military bases abroad; “(2) evaluate methods of reducing the rates imposed on such calls, including deployment of new technology such as voice over Internet protocol or other Internet protocol technology; “(3) encourage telecommunications carriers (as defined in section 3(44) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153(44) [now 153(51)])) to adopt flexible billing procedures and policies for Armed Forces personnel and their dependents for telephone calls to and from such Armed Forces personnel; and “(4) seek agreements with foreign governments to reduce international surcharges on such telephone calls. “(c) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) Armed forces.—The term ‘Armed Forces’ has the meaning given that term by section 2101(2) of title 5, United States Code. “(2) Military base.—The term ‘military base’ includes official duty stations to include vessels, whether such vessels are in port or underway outside of the United States.” Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 213, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3545, which required the Federal Communications Commission to make efforts to reduce telephone rates for Armed Forces personnel in certain countries, was repealed by Pub. L. 109–459, § 3, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3400.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-202.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 202"
+description: "Discriminations and preferences"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "202"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 202"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s202"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "e9772412855284cd3d49b9203ba98f2b0a378e2d0ed05178b197c9c4bdd0e7ce"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "779892222f1265c22062e9a075ce3c9a1835330df5ba68ee28a338afce4a80d4"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 202 - Discriminations and preferences
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Charges, services, etc. It shall be unlawful for any common carrier to make any unjust or unreasonable discrimination in charges, practices, classifications, regulations, facilities, or services for or in connection with like communication service, directly or indirectly, by any means or device, or to make or give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any particular person, class of persons, or locality, or to subject any particular person, class of persons, or locality to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage.
+
+(b) Charges or services included Charges or services, whenever referred to in this chapter, include charges for, or services in connection with, the use of common carrier lines of communication, whether derived from wire or radio facilities, in chain broadcasting or incidental to radio communication of any kind.
+
+(c) Penalty Any carrier who knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $6,000 for each such offense and $300 for each and every day of the continuance of such offense.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 202, 48 Stat. 1070; Pub. L. 86–751, Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 888; Pub. L. 101–239, title III, § 3002(a), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2131.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1989—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–239 substituted “$6,000” for “$500” and “$300” for “$25”. 1960—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 86–751 substituted “common carrier lines of communication, whether derived from wire or radio facilities,” for “wires”.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-203.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 203"
+description: "Schedules of charges"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "203"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 203"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s203"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "ce4a3f114950f8a31b2b2770bd6ece5afec4dbb3c934ce888a35ba5b16f0e6c6"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "5d0079bea857c5115794f3dbf58cbc9593990a8652afb22af4b9ad67987f1645"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 203 - Schedules of charges
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Filing; public display Every common carrier, except connecting carriers, shall, within such reasonable time as the Commission shall designate, file with the Commission and print and keep open for public inspection schedules showing all charges for itself and its connecting carriers for interstate and foreign wire or radio communication between the different points on its own system, and between points on its own system and points on the system of its connecting carriers or points on the system of any other carrier subject to this chapter when a through route has been established, whether such charges are joint or separate, and showing the classifications, practices, and regulations affecting such charges. Such schedules shall contain such other information, and be printed in such form, and be posted and kept open for public inspection in such places, as the Commission may by regulation require, and each such schedule shall give notice of its effective date; and such common carrier shall furnish such schedules to each of its connecting carriers, and such connecting carriers shall keep such schedules open for inspection in such public places as the Commission may require.
+
+(b) Changes in schedule; discretion of Commission to modify requirements (1) No change shall be made in the charges, classifications, regulations, or practices which have been so filed and published except after one hundred and twenty days notice to the Commission and to the public, which shall be published in such form and contain such information as the Commission may by regulations prescribe.
+
+(2) The Commission may, in its discretion and for good cause shown, modify any requirement made by or under the authority of this section either in particular instances or by general order applicable to special circumstances or conditions except that the Commission may not require the notice period specified in paragraph (1) to be more than one hundred and twenty days.
+
+(c) Overcharges and rebates No carrier, unless otherwise provided by or under authority of this chapter, shall engage or participate in such communication unless schedules have been filed and published in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and with the regulations made thereunder; and no carrier shall (1) charge, demand, collect, or receive a greater or less or different compensation for such communication, or for any service in connection therewith, between the points named in any such schedule than the charges specified in the schedule then in effect, or (2) refund or remit by any means or device any portion of the charges so specified, or (3) extend to any person any privileges or facilities in such communication, or employ or enforce any classifications, regulations, or practices affecting such charges, except as specified in such schedule.
+
+(d) Rejection or refusal The Commission may reject and refuse to file any schedule entered for filing which does not provide and give lawful notice of its effective date. Any schedule so rejected by the Commission shall be void and its use shall be unlawful.
+
+(e) Penalty for violations In case of failure or refusal on the part of any carrier to comply with the provisions of this section or of any regulation or order made by the Commission thereunder, such carrier shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $6,000 for each such offense, and $300 for each and every day of the continuance of such offense.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 203, 48 Stat. 1070; Pub. L. 94–376, § 1, Aug. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1080; Pub. L. 101–239, title III, § 3002(b), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2131; Pub. L. 101–396, § 7, Sept. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 850.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–396 substituted “one hundred and twenty days” for “ninety days” in pars. (1) and (2). 1989—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–239 substituted “$6,000” for “$500” and “$300” for “$25”. 1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–376 designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “after ninety days notice” for “after thirty days’ notice”, and struck out provision that the Commission may, in its discretion and for good cause shown, modify the requirements made by or under authority of this section in particular instances or by a general order applicable to special circumstances or conditions, and added par. (2).

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-204.md

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 204"
+description: "Hearings on new charges; suspension pending hearing; refunds; duration of hearing; appeal of order concluding hearing"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "204"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 204"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s204"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "4edad0ec5a8826b2f1697a18f6b1f51151e5f906ef92bbe4bcacf6cbec15a1b2"
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+text_hash: "67f4ee4d7b2119f8343d779f47eeb44c9e718592abd35d745969be69e0dc63f6"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 204 - Hearings on new charges; suspension pending hearing; refunds; duration of hearing; appeal of order concluding hearing
+
+## Text
+
+(a) (1) Whenever there is filed with the Commission any new or revised charge, classification, regulation, or practice, the Commission may either upon complaint or upon its own initiative without complaint, upon reasonable notice, enter upon a hearing concerning the lawfulness thereof; and pending such hearing and the decision thereon the Commission, upon delivering to the carrier or carriers affected thereby a statement in writing of its reasons for such suspension, may suspend the operation of such charge, classification, regulation, or practice, in whole or in part but not for a longer period than five months beyond the time when it would otherwise go into effect; and after full hearing the Commission may make such order with reference thereto as would be proper in a proceeding initiated after such charge, classification, regulation, or practice had become effective. If the proceeding has not been concluded and an order made within the period of the suspension, the proposed new or revised charge, classification, regulation, or practice shall go into effect at the end of such period; but in case of a proposed charge for a new service or a revised charge, the Commission may by order require the interested carrier or carriers to keep accurate account of all amounts received by reason of such charge for a new service or revised charge, specifying by whom and in whose behalf such amounts are paid, and upon completion of the hearing and decision may by further order require the interested carrier or carriers to refund, with interest, to the persons in whose behalf such amounts were paid, such portion of such charge for a new service or revised charges as by its decision shall be found not justified. At any hearing involving a new or revised charge, or a proposed new or revised charge, the burden of proof to show that the new or revised charge, or proposed charge, is just and reasonable shall be upon the carrier, and the Commission shall give to the hearing and decision of such questions preference over all other questions pending before it and decide the same as speedily as possible.
+
+(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Commission shall, with respect to any hearing under this section, issue an order concluding such hearing within 5 months after the date that the charge, classification, regulation, or practice subject to the hearing becomes effective.
+
+(B) The Commission shall, with respect to any such hearing initiated prior to November 3, 1988, issue an order concluding the hearing not later than 12 months after November 3, 1988.
+
+(C) Any order concluding a hearing under this section shall be a final order and may be appealed under section 402(a) of this title.
+
+(3) A local exchange carrier may file with the Commission a new or revised charge, classification, regulation, or practice on a streamlined basis. Any such charge, classification, regulation, or practice shall be deemed lawful and shall be effective 7 days (in the case of a reduction in rates) or 15 days (in the case of an increase in rates) after the date on which it is filed with the Commission unless the Commission takes action under paragraph (1) before the end of that 7-day or 15-day period, as is appropriate.
+
+(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the Commission may allow part of a charge, classification, regulation, or practice to go into effect, based upon a written showing by the carrier or carriers affected, and an opportunity for written comment thereon by affected persons, that such partial authorization is just, fair, and reasonable. Additionally, or in combination with a partial authorization, the Commission, upon a similar showing, may allow all or part of a charge, classification, regulation, or practice to go into effect on a temporary basis pending further order of the Commission. Authorizations of temporary new or increased charges may include an accounting order of the type provided for in subsection (a).
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 204, 48 Stat. 1071; Pub. L. 94–376, § 2, Aug. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1080; Pub. L. 100–594, § 8(b), Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 3023; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 203, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3542; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 402(b)(1)(A), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 129.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1996—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 104–104, § 402(b)(1)(A)(i), (ii), substituted “such hearing within 5 months” for “such hearing within 12 months” and struck out before period at end “, or within 15 months after such date if the hearing raises questions of fact of such extraordinary complexity that the questions cannot be resolved within 12 months”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 104–104, § 402(b)(1)(A)(iii), added par. (3). 1992—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–538 substituted “a revised charge” for “an increased charge” after “a proposed charge for a new service or”, “or revised” for “or increased” before “charge, specifying by whom and in whose behalf”, “revised charges” for “increased charges” before “as by its decision shall be found not justified”, “new or revised charge, or a proposed new or revised charge” for “charge increased, or sought to be increased” before “, burden of proof to show”, and “new or revised charge” for “increased charge” before “, or proposed charge, is just and reasonable”. 1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–594 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2). 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–376 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted “any new or revised charge” for “any new charge”, “in whole or in part but not for a longer period than five months” for “but not for a longer period than three months”, “after such charge, classification, regulation, or practice had become effective” for “after it had become effective”, “the proposed new or revised charge” for “the proposed change of charge”, “but in case of a proposed charge for a new service or an increased charge” for “but in case of a proposed increased charge”, “by reason of such charge for a new service or increased charge” for “by reason of such increase”, “such portion of such charge for a new service or increased charges” for “such portion of such increased charges”, “burden of proof to show that the increased charge, or proposed charge” for “burden of proof to show that the increased charge, or proposed increased charge”, and struck out “after the organization of the Commission” before “the burden of proof.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–376 added subsec. (b).
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1996 AmendmentPub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 402(b)(4), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 129, provided that: “The amendments made by paragraph (1) of this subsection [amending this section and section 208 of this title] shall apply with respect to any charge, classification, regulation, or practice filed on or after one year after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 8, 1996].”
+
+Forbearance Authority Not LimitedPub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 402(b)(3), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 129, provided that: “Nothing in this subsection [amending this section and section 208 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 214 of this title] shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission to waive, modify, or forbear from applying any of the requirements to which reference is made in paragraph (1) [amending this section and section 208 of this title] under any other provision of this Act [see Short Title of 1996 Amendment note set out under section 609 of this title] or other law.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-205.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 205"
+description: "Commission authorized to prescribe just and reasonable charges; penalties for violations"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "205"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 205"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s205"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "d25e8bb5766be0722226cbf8f495f5616e7bdf1babd19684366fadd46b9969f0"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "2f7c490c9e46d536e349008e48ba280d2072db71a58c3ddf2862aa1ec6a8946b"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 205 - Commission authorized to prescribe just and reasonable charges; penalties for violations
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Whenever, after full opportunity for hearing, upon a complaint or under an order for investigation and hearing made by the Commission on its own initiative, the Commission shall be of opinion that any charge, classification, regulation, or practice of any carrier or carriers is or will be in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the Commission is authorized and empowered to determine and prescribe what will be the just and reasonable charge or the maximum or minimum, or maximum and minimum, charge or charges to be thereafter observed, and what classification, regulation, or practice is or will be just, fair, and reasonable, to be thereafter followed, and to make an order that the carrier or carriers shall cease and desist from such violation to the extent that the Commission finds that the same does or will exist, and shall not thereafter publish, demand, or collect any charge other than the charge so prescribed, or in excess of the maximum or less than the minimum so prescribed, as the case may be, and shall adopt the classification and shall conform to and observe the regulation or practice so prescribed.
+
+(b) Any carrier, any officer, representative, or agent of a carrier, or any receiver, trustee, lessee, or agent of either of them, who knowingly fails or neglects to obey any order made under the provisions of this section shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $12,000 for each offense. Every distinct violation shall be a separate offense, and in case of continuing violation each day shall be deemed a separate offense.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 205, 48 Stat. 1072; Pub. L. 101–239, title III, § 3002(c), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2131.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1989—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–239 substituted “$12,000” for “$1,000”.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-206.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 206"
+description: "Carriers’ liability for damages"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "206"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 206"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s206"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "42b99116ac3ef86448a8d8766c7706bf6fcac2653a90d9ecaa30c11fcb4f1d6f"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "f60224822c889e08633fd27d1af931f09b1c02f26fe5c15d1dbf33109a45fd4d"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 206 - Carriers’ liability for damages
+
+## Text
+
+In case any common carrier shall do, or cause or permit to be done, any act, matter, or thing in this chapter prohibited or declared to be unlawful, or shall omit to do any act, matter, or thing in this chapter required to be done, such common carrier shall be liable to the person or persons injured thereby for the full amount of damages sustained in consequence of any such violation of the provisions of this chapter, together with a reasonable counsel or attorney’s fee, to be fixed by the court in every case of recovery, which attorney’s fee shall be taxed and collected as part of the costs in the case.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 206, 48 Stat. 1072.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-207.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 207"
+description: "Recovery of damages"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "207"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 207"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s207"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "ae4c804ec250b33ea4d5e5d52842367fa09643c05458fb1c13225aa4b1386380"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "553da2c4861dd4c8a4717b9ccb0ce3d197e05b1a131c329ff87f67faf455bd7f"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 207 - Recovery of damages
+
+## Text
+
+Any person claiming to be damaged by any common carrier subject to the provisions of this chapter may either make complaint to the Commission as hereinafter provided for, or may bring suit for the recovery of the damages for which such common carrier may be liable under the provisions of this chapter, in any district court of the United States of competent jurisdiction; but such person shall not have the right to pursue both such remedies.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 207, 48 Stat. 1073.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-208.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 208"
+description: "Complaints to Commission; investigations; duration of investigation; appeal of order concluding investigation"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "208"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 208"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s208"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "c143b67c6425fef4d37cc7dc292112d1c03d42393aeddfe8e869cb7288cf4ee8"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "4eeec9572aaaf0c9d81a179969bb089604ba703a4e279412ee0924c762ddc711"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 208 - Complaints to Commission; investigations; duration of investigation; appeal of order concluding investigation
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Any person, any body politic, or municipal organization, or State commission, complaining of anything done or omitted to be done by any common carrier subject to this chapter, in contravention of the provisions thereof, may apply to said Commission by petition which shall briefly state the facts, whereupon a statement of the complaint thus made shall be forwarded by the Commission to such common carrier, who shall be called upon to satisfy the complaint or to answer the same in writing within a reasonable time to be specified by the Commission. If such common carrier within the time specified shall make reparation for the injury alleged to have been caused, the common carrier shall be relieved of liability to the complainant only for the particular violation of law thus complained of. If such carrier or carriers shall not satisfy the complaint within the time specified or there shall appear to be any reasonable ground for investigating said complaint, it shall be the duty of the Commission to investigate the matters complained of in such manner and by such means as it shall deem proper. No complaint shall at any time be dismissed because of the absence of direct damage to the complaint.
+
+(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Commission shall, with respect to any investigation under this section of the lawfulness of a charge, classification, regulation, or practice, issue an order concluding such investigation within 5 months after the date on which the complaint was filed.
+
+(2) The Commission shall, with respect to any such investigation initiated prior to November 3, 1988, issue an order concluding the investigation not later than 12 months after November 3, 1988.
+
+(3) Any order concluding an investigation under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be a final order and may be appealed under section 402(a) of this title.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 208, 48 Stat. 1073; Pub. L. 100–594, § 8(c), Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 3023; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 402(b)(1)(B), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 129.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1996—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 104–104 substituted “such investigation within 5 months” for “such investigation within 12 months” and struck out before period at end “, or within 15 months after such date if the investigation raises questions of fact of such extraordinary complexity that the questions cannot be resolved within 12 months”. 1988—Pub. L. 100–594 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–104 applicable with respect to any charge, classification, regulation, or practice filed on or after one year after Feb. 8, 1996, see section 402(b)(4) of Pub. L. 104–104, set out as a note under section 204 of this title.
+
+Forbearance Authority Not LimitedNothing in amendment by Pub. L. 104–104 to be construed to limit authority of Commission to waive, modify, or forbear from applying certain requirements, see section 402(b)(3) of Pub. L. 104–104, set out as a note under section 204 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-209.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 209"
+description: "Orders for payment of money"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "209"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 209"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s209"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "b4025ec3d61be2aa1e75bf949ec95a91ae949b547272e26cf9c454278e5cf371"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "5e0aee56042b20b2a5a7136b5bcd96d03c0abcc4593e29ba0d99af0dabbf5d1d"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 209 - Orders for payment of money
+
+## Text
+
+If, after hearing on a complaint, the Commission shall determine that any party complainant is entitled to an award of damages under the provisions of this chapter, the Commission shall make an order directing the carrier to pay to the complainant the sum to which he is entitled on or before a day named.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 209, 48 Stat. 1073.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-210.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 210"
+description: "Franks and passes; free service to governmental agencies in connection with national defense"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "210"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 210"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s210"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "8decbe6dc1d460a972f4027cc1597d8d1b44b06e4a78ad15960193bc113ce920"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "12db8498eb44f7bce1f0f24d2890388a70d07967cb12fcf5801a9949c244cf3e"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 210 - Franks and passes; free service to governmental agencies in connection with national defense
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Nothing in this chapter or in any other provision of law shall be construed to prohibit common carriers from issuing or giving franks to, or exchanging franks with each other for the use of, their officers, agents, employees, and their families, or, subject to such rules as the Commission may prescribe, from issuing, giving, or exchanging franks and passes to or with other common carriers not subject to the provisions of this chapter, for the use of their officers, agents, employees, and their families. The term “employees”, as used in this section, shall include furloughed, pensioned, and superannuated employees.
+
+(b) Nothing in this chapter or in any other provision of law shall be construed to prohibit common carriers from rendering to any agency of the Government free service in connection with the preparation for the national defense: Provided, That such free service may be rendered only in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe therefor.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 210, 48 Stat. 1073; June 25, 1940, ch. 422, 54 Stat. 570.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1940—Act June 25, 1940, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-211.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 211"
+description: "Contracts of carriers; filing with Commission"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "211"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 211"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s211"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "58a4d65c4b5883803e7965a9eb856043c9547d1ad835f3ee34aa83970e7f30fa"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "069a55680f6571c460606205b26852a89326cbb84ac60fcdc14e617ec6c3567f"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 211 - Contracts of carriers; filing with Commission
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Every carrier subject to this chapter shall file with the Commission copies of all contracts, agreements, or arrangements with other carriers, or with common carriers not subject to the provisions of this chapter, in relation to any traffic affected by the provisions of this chapter to which it may be a party.
+
+(b) The Commission shall have authority to require the filing of any other contracts of any carrier, and shall also have authority to exempt any carrier from submitting copies of such minor contracts as the Commission may determine.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 211, 48 Stat. 1073.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-212.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 212"
+description: "Interlocking directorates; officials dealing in securities"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "212"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 212"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s212"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "a326bedf5d9c01d777244cc0b33edc911146dbd5114bdc83eeb74a24cf0ab0f7"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "e0d9698fc8cf4c060eb202935702143da2c4f0c848daeaf1371bcf67c9730bd6"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 212 - Interlocking directorates; officials dealing in securities
+
+## Text
+
+It shall be unlawful for any person to hold the position of officer or director of more than one carrier subject to this chapter, unless such holding shall have been authorized by order of the Commission, upon due showing in form and manner prescribed by the Commission, that neither public nor private interests will be adversely affected thereby: Provided, That the Commission may authorize persons to hold the position of officer or director in more than one such carrier, without regard to the requirements of this section, where it has found that one of the two or more carriers directly or indirectly owns more than 50 per centum of the stock of the other or others, or that 50 per centum or more of the stock of all such carriers is directly or indirectly owned by the same person. After this section takes effect it shall be unlawful for any officer or director of any carrier subject to this chapter to receive for his own benefit directly or indirectly, any money or thing of value in respect of negotiation, hypothecation, or sale of any securities issued or to be issued by such carrier, or to share in any of the proceeds thereof, or to participate in the making or paying of any dividends of such carriers from any funds properly included in capital account.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 212, 48 Stat. 1074; Aug. 2, 1956, ch. 874, § 1, 70 Stat. 931; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 304(a)(2), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4296.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1994—Pub. L. 103–414 substituted “It shall” for “After sixty days from June 19, 1934, it shall”. 1956—Act Aug. 2, 1956, inserted proviso that Commission may authorize persons to hold position of officer or director in more than one carrier, where carrier owns more than 50 percent of the stock of the other carriers, or that 50 percent or more of the stock of all such carriers is owned by the same person, struck out “such” before “carrier” in sentence after proviso, inserted “subject to this chapter” after that word, and substituted “carriers” for “carrier” toward end of said sentence.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-213.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 213"
+description: "Valuation of property of carrier"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "213"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 213"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s213"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "b86444f09f21ca26a41e58a5d10b096994d1d2e17abdc61a3688a0759bc38dd5"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "8f34e288118ddc5420ea04c882002b46dc59bc6edaf6fd648d0c96a142d4a05b"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 213 - Valuation of property of carrier
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Hearing The Commission may from time to time, as may be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter, and after opportunity for hearing, make a valuation of all or of any part of the property owned or used by any carrier subject to this chapter, as of such date as the Commission may fix.
+
+(b) Inventory The Commission may at any time require any such carrier to file with the Commission an inventory of all or of any part of the property owned or used by said carrier, which inventory shall show the units of said property classified in such detail, and in such manner, as the Commission shall direct, and shall show the estimated cost of reproduction new of said units, and their reproduction cost new less depreciation, as of such date as the Commission may direct; and such carrier shall file such inventory within such reasonable time as the Commission by order shall require.
+
+(c) Original cost The Commission may at any time require any such carrier to file with the Commission a statement showing the original cost at the time of dedication to the public use of all or of any part of the property owned or used by said carrier. For the showing of such original cost said property shall be classified, and the original cost shall be defined, in such manner as the Commission may prescribe; and if any part of such cost cannot be determined from accounting or other records, the portion of the property for which such cost cannot be determined shall be reported to the Commission; and, if the Commission shall so direct, the original cost thereof shall be estimated in such manner as the Commission may prescribe. If the carrier owning the property at the time such original cost is reported shall have paid more or less than the original cost to acquire the same, the amount of such cost of acquisition, and any facts which the Commission may require in connection therewith, shall be reported with such original cost. The report made by a carrier under this subsection shall show the source or sources from which the original cost reported was obtained, and such other information as to the manner in which the report was prepared, as the Commission shall require.
+
+(d) Easement, license or franchise Nothing shall be included in the original cost reported for the property of any carrier under subsection (c) of this section on account of any easement, license, or franchise granted by the United States or by any State or political subdivision thereof, beyond the reasonable necessary expense lawfully incurred in obtaining such easement, license, or franchise from the public authority aforesaid, which expense shall be reported separately from all other costs in such detail as the Commission may require; and nothing shall be included in any valuation of the property of any carrier made by the Commission on account of any such easement, license, or franchise, beyond such reasonable necessary expense lawfully incurred as aforesaid.
+
+(e) Improvements; changes in condition The Commission shall keep itself informed of all new construction, extensions, improvements, retirements, or other changes in the condition, quantity, use, and classification of the property of common carriers, and of the cost of all additions and betterments thereto and of all changes in the investment therein, and may keep itself informed of current changes in costs and values of carrier properties.
+
+(f) Additional information; access to records and data For the purpose of enabling the Commission to make a valuation of any of the property of any such carrier, or to find the original cost of such property, or to find any other facts concerning the same which are required for use by the Commission, it shall be the duty of each such carrier to furnish to the Commission, within such reasonable time as the Commission may order, any information with respect thereto which the Commission may by order require, including copies of maps, contracts, reports of engineers, and other data, records, and papers, and to grant to all agents of the Commission free access to its property and its accounts, records, and memoranda whenever and wherever requested by any such duly authorized agent, and to cooperate with and aid the Commission in the work of making any such valuation or finding in such manner and to such extent as the Commission may require and direct, and all rules and regulations made by the Commission for the purpose of administering this section shall have the full force and effect of law. Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, with the reasons therefor, the records and data of the Commission shall be open to the inspection and examination of the public. The Commission, in making any such valuation, shall be free to adopt any method of valuation which shall be lawful.
+
+(g) State commissions Nothing in this section shall impair or diminish the powers of any State commission.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 213, 48 Stat. 1074; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 304(a)(3), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4296.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1994—Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 103–414 redesignated subsec. (h) as (g) and struck out former subsec. (g) which read as follows: “Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter the Interstate Commerce Commission, if requested to do so by the Commission, shall complete, at the earliest practicable date, such valuations of properties of carriers subject to this chapter as are now in progress, and shall thereafter transfer to the Commission the records relating thereto.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-214.md

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 214"
+description: "Extension of lines or discontinuance of service; certificate of public convenience and necessity"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "214"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 214"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s214"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "7e9c19898c56cd22856d6e3f0f7842fa229fb354159a8de58432cf755e4994f0"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "5ca2508bbe45140396773d4b1e05c1d82fdfc11e07fb762e5036cb5a7f7f3c1a"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 214 - Extension of lines or discontinuance of service; certificate of public convenience and necessity
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Exceptions; temporary or emergency service or discontinuance of service; changes in plant, operation or equipment No carrier shall undertake the construction of a new line or of an extension of any line, or shall acquire or operate any line, or extension thereof, or shall engage in transmission over or by means of such additional or extended line, unless and until there shall first have been obtained from the Commission a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity require or will require the construction, or operation, or construction and operation, of such additional or extended line: Provided, That no such certificate shall be required under this section for the construction, acquisition, or operation of (1) a line within a single State unless such line constitutes part of an interstate line, (2) local, branch, or terminal lines not exceeding ten miles in length, or (3) any line acquired under section 221 of this title: Provided further, That the Commission may, upon appropriate request being made, authorize temporary or emergency service, or the supplementing of existing facilities, without regard to the provisions of this section. No carrier shall discontinue, reduce, or impair service to a community, or part of a community, unless and until there shall first have been obtained from the Commission a certificate that neither the present nor future public convenience and necessity will be adversely affected thereby; except that the Commission may, upon appropriate request being made, authorize temporary or emergency discontinuance, reduction, or impairment of service, or partial discontinuance, reduction, or impairment of service, without regard to the provisions of this section. As used in this section the term “line” means any channel of communication established by the use of appropriate equipment, other than a channel of communication established by the interconnection of two or more existing channels: Provided, however, That nothing in this section shall be construed to require a certificate or other authorization from the Commission for any installation, replacement, or other changes in plant, operation, or equipment, other than new construction, which will not impair the adequacy or quality of service provided.
+
+(b) Notification of Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and State Governor Upon receipt of an application for any such certificate, the Commission shall cause notice thereof to be given to, and shall cause a copy of such application to be filed with, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State (with respect to such applications involving service to foreign points), and the Governor of each State in which such line is proposed to be constructed, extended, acquired, or operated, or in which such discontinuance, reduction, or impairment of service is proposed, with the right to those notified to be heard; and the Commission may require such published notice as it shall determine.
+
+(c) Approval or disapproval; injunction The Commission shall have power to issue such certificate as applied for, or to refuse to issue it, or to issue it for a portion or portions of a line, or extension thereof, or discontinuance, reduction, or impairment of service, described in the application, or for the partial exercise only of such right or privilege, and may attach to the issuance of the certificate such terms and conditions as in its judgment the public convenience and necessity may require. After issuance of such certificate, and not before, the carrier may, without securing approval other than such certificate, comply with the terms and conditions contained in or attached to the issuance of such certificate and proceed with the construction, extension, acquisition, operation, or discontinuance, reduction, or impairment of service covered thereby. Any construction, extension, acquisition, operation, discontinuance, reduction, or impairment of service contrary to the provisions of this section may be enjoined by any court of competent jurisdiction at the suit of the United States, the Commission, the State commission, any State affected, or any party in interest.
+
+(d) Order of Commission; hearing; penalty The Commission may, after full opportunity for hearing, in a proceeding upon complaint or upon its own initiative without complaint, authorize or require by order any carrier, party to such proceeding, to provide itself with adequate facilities for the expeditious and efficient performance of its service as a common carrier and to extend its line or to establish a public office; but no such authorization or order shall be made unless the Commission finds, as to such provision of facilities, as to such establishment of public offices, or as to such extension, that it is reasonably required in the interest of public convenience and necessity, or as to such extension or facilities that the expense involved therein will not impair the ability of the carrier to perform its duty to the public. Any carrier which refuses or neglects to comply with any order of the Commission made in pursuance of this subsection shall forfeit to the United States $1,200 for each day during which such refusal or neglect continues.
+
+(e) Provision of universal service (1) Eligible telecommunications carriers A common carrier designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier under paragraph (2), (3), or (6) shall be eligible to receive universal service support in accordance with section 254 of this title and shall, throughout the service area for which the designation is received—
+
+(A) offer the services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms under section 254(c) of this title, either using its own facilities or a combination of its own facilities and resale of another carrier’s services (including the services offered by another eligible telecommunications carrier); and
+
+(B) advertise the availability of such services and the charges therefor using media of general distribution.
+
+(2) Designation of eligible telecommunications carriers A State commission shall upon its own motion or upon request designate a common carrier that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) as an eligible telecommunications carrier for a service area designated by the State commission. Upon request and consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity, the State commission may, in the case of an area served by a rural telephone company, and shall, in the case of all other areas, designate more than one common carrier as an eligible telecommunications carrier for a service area designated by the State commission, so long as each additional requesting carrier meets the requirements of paragraph (1). Before designating an additional eligible telecommunications carrier for an area served by a rural telephone company, the State commission shall find that the designation is in the public interest.
+
+(3) Designation of eligible telecommunications carriers for unserved areas If no common carrier will provide the services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms under section 254(c) of this title to an unserved community or any portion thereof that requests such service, the Commission, with respect to interstate services or an area served by a common carrier to which paragraph (6) applies, or a State commission, with respect to intrastate services, shall determine which common carrier or carriers are best able to provide such service to the requesting unserved community or portion thereof and shall order such carrier or carriers to provide such service for that unserved community or portion thereof. Any carrier or carriers ordered to provide such service under this paragraph shall meet the requirements of paragraph (1) and shall be designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier for that community or portion thereof.
+
+(4) Relinquishment of universal service A State commission (or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6)) shall permit an eligible telecommunications carrier to relinquish its designation as such a carrier in any area served by more than one eligible telecommunications carrier. An eligible telecommunications carrier that seeks to relinquish its eligible telecommunications carrier designation for an area served by more than one eligible telecommunications carrier shall give advance notice to the State commission (or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6)) of such relinquishment. Prior to permitting a telecommunications carrier designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier to cease providing universal service in an area served by more than one eligible telecommunications carrier, the State commission (or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6)) shall require the remaining eligible telecommunications carrier or carriers to ensure that all customers served by the relinquishing carrier will continue to be served, and shall require sufficient notice to permit the purchase or construction of adequate facilities by any remaining eligible telecommunications carrier. The State commission (or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6)) shall establish a time, not to exceed one year after the State commission (or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6)) approves such relinquishment under this paragraph, within which such purchase or construction shall be completed.
+
+(5) “Service area” defined The term “service area” means a geographic area established by a State commission (or the Commission under paragraph (6)) for the purpose of determining universal service obligations and support mechanisms. In the case of an area served by a rural telephone company, “service area” means such company’s “study area” unless and until the Commission and the States, after taking into account recommendations of a Federal-State Joint Board instituted under section 410(c) of this title, establish a different definition of service area for such company.
+
+(6) Common carriers not subject to State commission jurisdiction In the case of a common carrier providing telephone exchange service and exchange access that is not subject to the jurisdiction of a State commission, the Commission shall upon request designate such a common carrier that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) as an eligible telecommunications carrier for a service area designated by the Commission consistent with applicable Federal and State law. Upon request and consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity, the Commission may, with respect to an area served by a rural telephone company, and shall, in the case of all other areas, designate more than one common carrier as an eligible telecommunications carrier for a service area designated under this paragraph, so long as each additional requesting carrier meets the requirements of paragraph (1). Before designating an additional eligible telecommunications carrier for an area served by a rural telephone company, the Commission shall find that the designation is in the public interest.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 214, 48 Stat. 1075; Mar. 6, 1943, ch. 10, §§ 2–5, 57 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 93–506, § 1, Nov. 30, 1974, 88 Stat. 1577; Pub. L. 101–239, title III, § 3002(d), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2131; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 304(a)(4), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4296; Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 102(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 80; Pub. L. 105–125, § 1, Dec. 1, 1997, 111 Stat. 2540.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1997—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 105–125, § 1(1), substituted “(2), (3), or (6)” for “(2) or (3)”. Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 105–125, § 1(2), substituted “interstate services or an area served by a common carrier to which paragraph (6) applies” for “interstate services”. Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 105–125, § 1(3), inserted “(or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6))” after “State commission” wherever appearing. Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 105–125, § 1(4), inserted “(or the Commission under paragraph (6))” after “State commission”. Subsec. (e)(6). Pub. L. 105–125, § 1(5), added par. (6). 1996—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–104 added subsec. (e). 1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–414 substituted “section 221” for “section 221 or 222”. 1989—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–239 substituted “$1,200” for “$100”. 1974—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–506 substituted “the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State (with respect to such applications involving service to foreign points),” for “the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy,”. 1943—Subsec. (a). Act Mar. 6, 1943, § 2, among other changes inserted all after “no carrier shall discontinue”, etc. Subsec. (b). Act Mar. 6, 1943, § 3, among other changes provided notice should be filed with Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy. Subsec. (c). Act Mar. 6, 1943, § 4, extended provisions to include discontinuance, reduction, or impairment of service. Subsec. (d). Act Mar. 6, 1943, § 5, amended first sentence.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Extension of Lines; ARMIS ReportsPub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 402(b)(2), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 129, provided that: “The Commission shall permit any common carrier— “(A) to be exempt from the requirements of section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934 [47 U.S.C. 214] for the extension of any line; and “(B) to file cost allocation manuals and ARMIS reports annually, to the extent such carrier is required to file such manuals or reports.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-215.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 215"
+description: "Examination of transactions relating to furnishing of services, equipment, etc.; reports to Congress"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "215"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 215"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s215"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "997ed8f441601795cf701115b1f2b4c8d03d00cb283e7d69a54911b4b048fcf7"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "36e779609d85b3c3129a3f3e3f986996e78378248dc00655a3cd1594ed6df100"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 215 - Examination of transactions relating to furnishing of services, equipment, etc.; reports to Congress
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Access to records and documents The Commission shall examine into transactions entered into by any common carrier which relate to the furnishing of equipment, supplies, research, services, finances, credit, or personnel to such carrier and/or which may affect the charges made or to be made and/or the services rendered or to be rendered by such carrier, in wire or radio communication subject to this chapter, and shall report to the Congress whether any such transactions have affected or are likely to affect adversely the ability of the carrier to render adequate service to the public, or may result in any undue or unreasonable increase in charges or in the maintenance of undue or unreasonable charges for such service; and in order to fully examine into such transactions the Commission shall have access to and the right of inspection and examination of all accounts, records, and memoranda, including all documents, papers, and correspondence now or hereafter existing, of persons furnishing such equipment, supplies, research, services, finances, credit, or personnel. The Commission shall include in its report its recommendations for necessary legislation in connection with such transactions, and shall report specifically whether in its opinion legislation should be enacted (1) authorizing the Commission to declare any such transactions void or to permit such transactions to be carried out subject to such modification of their terms and conditions as the Commission shall deem desirable in the public interest; and/or (2) subjecting such transactions to the approval of the Commission where the person furnishing or seeking to furnish the equipment, supplies, research, services, finances, credit, or personnel is a person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such carrier; and/or (3) authorizing the Commission to require that all or any transactions of carriers involving the furnishing of equipment, supplies, research, services, finances, credit, or personnel to such carrier be upon competitive bids on such terms and conditions and subject to such regulations as it shall prescribe as necessary in the public interest.
+
+(b) Exclusive dealing contracts The Commission shall examine all contracts of common carriers subject to this chapter which prevent the other party thereto from dealing with another common carrier subject to this chapter, and shall report its findings to Congress, together with its recommendations as to whether additional legislation on this subject is desirable.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 215, 48 Stat. 1076; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, § 402(i)(2), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1089.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments2018—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 115–141 redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text of subsec. (b) read as follows: “The Commission shall investigate the methods by which and the extent to which wire telephone companies are furnishing wire telegraph service and wire telegraph companies are furnishing wire telephone service, and shall report its findings to Congress, together with its recommendations as to whether additional legislation on this subject is desirable.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-216.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 216"
+description: "Receivers and trustees; application of chapter"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "216"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 216"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s216"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "9d7dd8f9b2b16a53c1b8df31e3bbeae3dcc9974640b9353d256233491337aab3"
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+text_hash: "09f0d92924916426f237f56dc4d766e27064256b26aa7c40009ff15098106e47"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 216 - Receivers and trustees; application of chapter
+
+## Text
+
+The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all receivers and operating trustees of carriers subject to this chapter to the same extent that it applies to carriers.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 216, 48 Stat. 1077.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-217.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 217"
+description: "Agents’ acts and omissions; liability of carrier"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "217"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 217"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s217"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "4c8a4f043622c6255000be4a511bf185e66fb4d711a98eccf4ca8a4332cc8424"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "bba09a5731773c18f4dce6f7b1e09b25cb45a614c738a0060ddbc5a34bcdaa22"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 217 - Agents’ acts and omissions; liability of carrier
+
+## Text
+
+In construing and enforcing the provisions of this chapter, the act, omission, or failure of any officer, agent, or other person acting for or employed by any common carrier or user, acting within the scope of his employment, shall in every case be also deemed to be the act, omission, or failure of such carrier or user as well as that of the person.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 217, 48 Stat. 1077.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-218.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 218"
+description: "Management of business; inquiries by Commission"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "218"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 218"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s218"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "5c7cb0dc0b2b265cffa8d989ef5db03e9e1968a231658ad9685894f588eb99fd"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "f85e34c730edd9b2a1ee633786b185147822924790ccc72182c529e8b1de27f5"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 218 - Management of business; inquiries by Commission
+
+## Text
+
+The Commission may inquire into the management of the business of all carriers subject to this chapter, and shall keep itself informed as to the manner and method in which the same is conducted and as to technical developments and improvements in wire and radio communication and radio transmission of energy to the end that the benefits of new inventions and developments may be made available to the people of the United States. The Commission may obtain from such carriers and from persons directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such carriers full and complete information necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties and carry out the objects for which it was created.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 218, 48 Stat. 1077.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-219.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 219"
+description: "Reports by carriers; contents and requirements generally"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "219"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 219"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s219"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "b5d00e94cad618a6c7c79e17808effd6964001b77dc81dc158af542963ec96ea"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "209d3648022fda3e7a5a76ed932fa80479868517a14f39a346df2a4f0ac287de"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 219 - Reports by carriers; contents and requirements generally
+
+## Text
+
+(a) The Commission is authorized to require annual reports from all carriers subject to this chapter, and from persons directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, any such carrier, to prescribe the manner in which such reports shall be made, and to require from such persons specific answers to all questions upon which the Commission may need information. Except as otherwise required by the Commission, such annual reports shall show in detail the amount of capital stock issued, the amount and privileges of each class of stock, the amounts paid therefor, and the manner of payment for the same; the dividends paid and the surplus fund, if any; the number of stockholders (and the names of the thirty largest holders of each class of stock and the amount held by each); the funded and floating debts and the interest paid thereon; the cost and value of the carrier’s property, franchises, and equipment; the number of employees and the salaries paid each class; the names of all officers and directors, and the amount of salary, bonus, and all other compensation paid to each; the amounts expended for improvements each year, how expended, and the character of such improvements; the earnings and receipts from each branch of business and from all sources; the operating and other expenses; the balances of profit and loss; and a complete exhibit of the financial operations of the carrier each year, including an annual balance sheet. Such reports shall also contain such information in relation to charges or regulations concerning charges, or agreements, arrangements, or contracts affecting the same, as the Commission may require.
+
+(b) Such reports shall be for such twelve months’ period as the Commission shall designate and shall be filed with the Commission at its office in Washington within three months after the close of the year for which the report is made, unless additional time is granted in any case by the Commission; and if any person subject to the provisions of this section shall fail to make and file said annual reports within the time above specified, or within the time extended by the Commission, for making and filing the same, or shall fail to make specific answer to any question authorized by the provisions of this section within thirty days from the time it is lawfully required so to do, such person shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $1,200 for each and every day it shall continue to be in default with respect thereto. The Commission may by general or special orders require any such carriers to file monthly reports of earnings and expenses and to file periodical and/or special reports concerning any matters with respect to which the Commission is authorized or required by law to act. If any such carrier shall fail to make and file any such periodical or special report within the time fixed by the Commission, it shall be subject to the forfeitures above provided.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 219, 48 Stat. 1077; Aug. 2, 1956, ch. 874, § 2, 70 Stat. 931; Pub. L. 87–444, §§ 1, 2, Apr. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 63; Pub. L. 101–239, title III, § 3002(e), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2131.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1989—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–239 substituted “$1,200” for “$100”. 1962—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–444, § 1, struck out “under oath” after “require annual report”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 87–444, § 2, struck out provisions that the periodical or special reports be under oath whenever the Commission so required. 1956—Subsec. (a). Act Aug. 2, 1956, substituted “Except as otherwise required by the Commission, such” for “Such” at beginning of second sentence.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-220.md

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 220"
+description: "Accounts, records, and memoranda"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "220"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 220"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s220"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "c3b4ea19c35f932e384bd97f8567015765cd116ac9b4f430df2cde87ae2427bb"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "a92e1b6ccca9d92e49e7d3ec85c7ab6f1ac4724637f891a19345b130c7252582"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 220 - Accounts, records, and memoranda
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Forms (1) The Commission may, in its discretion, prescribe the forms of any and all accounts, records, and memoranda to be kept by carriers subject to this chapter, including the accounts, records, and memoranda of the movement of traffic, as well as of the receipts and expenditures of moneys.
+
+(2) The Commission shall, by rule, prescribe a uniform system of accounts for use by telephone companies. Such uniform system shall require that each common carrier shall maintain a system of accounting methods, procedures, and techniques (including accounts and supporting records and memoranda) which shall ensure a proper allocation of all costs to and among telecommunications services, facilities, and products (and to and among classes of such services, facilities, and products) which are developed, manufactured, or offered by such common carrier.
+
+(b) Depreciation charges The Commission may prescribe, for such carriers as it determines to be appropriate, the classes of property for which depreciation charges may be properly included under operating expenses, and the percentages of depreciation which shall be charged with respect to each of such classes of property, classifying the carriers as it may deem proper for this purpose. The Commission may, when it deems necessary, modify the classes and percentages so prescribed. Such carriers shall not, after the Commission has prescribed the classes of property for which depreciation charges may be included, charge to operating expenses any depreciation charges on classes of property other than those prescribed by the Commission, or, after the Commission has prescribed percentages of depreciation, charge with respect to any class of property a percentage of depreciation other than that prescribed therefor by the Commission. No such carrier shall in any case include in any form under its operating or other expenses any depreciation or other charge or expenditure included elsewhere as a depreciation charge or otherwise under its operating or other expenses.
+
+(c) Access to information; burden of proof; use of independent auditors The Commission shall at all times have access to and the right of inspection and examination of all accounts, records, and memoranda, including all documents, papers, and correspondence now or hereafter existing, and kept or required to be kept by such carriers, and the provisions of this section respecting the preservation and destruction of books, papers, and documents shall apply thereto. The burden of proof to justify every accounting entry questioned by the Commission shall be on the person making, authorizing, or requiring such entry and the Commission may suspend a charge or credit pending submission of proof by such person. Any provision of law prohibiting the disclosure of the contents of messages or communications shall not be deemed to prohibit the disclosure of any matter in accordance with the provisions of this section. The Commission may obtain the services of any person licensed to provide public accounting services under the law of any State to assist with, or conduct, audits under this section. While so employed or engaged in conducting an audit for the Commission under this section, any such person shall have the powers granted the Commission under this subsection and shall be subject to subsection (f) in the same manner as if that person were an employee of the Commission.
+
+(d) Penalty for failure to comply In case of failure or refusal on the part of any such carrier to keep such accounts, records, and memoranda on the books and in the manner prescribed by the Commission, or to submit such accounts, records, memoranda, documents, papers, and correspondence as are kept to the inspection of the Commission or any of its authorized agents, such carrier shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $6,000 for each day of the continuance of each such offense.
+
+(e) False entry; destruction; penalty Any person who shall willfully make any false entry in the accounts of any book of accounts or in any record or memoranda kept by any such carrier, or who shall willfully destroy, mutilate, alter, or by any other means or device falsify any such account, record, or memoranda, or who shall willfully neglect or fail to make full, true, and correct entries in such accounts, records, or memoranda of all facts and transactions appertaining to the business of the carrier, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject, upon conviction, to a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 or imprisonment for a term of not less than one year nor more than three years, or both such fine and imprisonment: Provided, That the Commission may in its discretion issue orders specifying such operating, accounting, or financial papers, records, books, blanks, or documents which may, after a reasonable time, be destroyed, and prescribing the length of time such books, papers, or documents shall be preserved.
+
+(f) Confidentiality of information No member, officer, or employee of the Commission shall divulge any fact or information which may come to his knowledge during the course of examination of books or other accounts, as hereinbefore provided, except insofar as he may be directed by the Commission or by a court.
+
+(g) Use of other forms; alterations in prescribed forms After the Commission has prescribed the forms and manner of keeping of accounts, records, and memoranda to be kept by any person as herein provided, it shall be unlawful for such person to keep any other accounts, records, or memoranda than those so prescribed or such as may be approved by the Commission or to keep the accounts in any other manner than that prescribed or approved by the Commission. Notice of alterations by the Commission in the required manner or form of keeping accounts shall be given to such persons by the Commission at least six months before the same are to take effect.
+
+(h) Exemption; regulation by State commission The Commission may classify carriers subject to this chapter and prescribe different requirements under this section for different classes of carriers, and may, if it deems such action consistent with the public interest, except the carriers of any particular class or classes in any State from any of the requirements under this section in cases where such carriers are subject to State commission regulation with respect to matters to which this section relates.
+
+(i) Consultation with State commissions The Commission, before prescribing any requirements as to accounts, records, or memoranda, shall notify each State commission having jurisdiction with respect to any carrier involved, and shall give reasonable opportunity to each such commission to present its views, and shall receive and consider such views and recommendations.
+
+(j) Report to Congress on need for further legislation The Commission shall investigate and report to Congress as to the need for legislation to define further or harmonize the powers of the Commission and of State commissions with respect to matters to which this section relates.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 220, 48 Stat. 1078; Pub. L. 101–239, title III, § 3002(f), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2131; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, §§ 303(a)(7), (8), 304(a)(5), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4294, 4296; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(d), (e), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 130.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (h), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–104, § 403(d), substituted “may prescribe, for such carriers as it determines to be appropriate,” for “shall prescribe for such carriers”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–104, § 403(e), inserted at end “The Commission may obtain the services of any person licensed to provide public accounting services under the law of any State to assist with, or conduct, audits under this section. While so employed or engaged in conducting an audit for the Commission under this section, any such person shall have the powers granted the Commission under this subsection and shall be subject to subsection (f) in the same manner as if that person were an employee of the Commission.” 1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(7), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–414, § 304(a)(5), struck out “, as soon as practicable,” after “The Commission shall”. Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(8), substituted “classes” for “clasess” after “prescribed the” in third sentence. 1989—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–239 substituted “$6,000” for “$500”.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-221.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 221"
+description: "Consolidations and mergers of telephone companies"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "221"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 221"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s221"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "e79e4c786534572bc3cc27a78e9ee747a94864df2fecc8c524adacbf82156441"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "ae29ffc661194609c573b6d05a23e515382b279bcc5762512ee3ea7d5217e5b7"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 221 - Consolidations and mergers of telephone companies
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Repealed. Pub. L. 104–104, title VI, § 601(b)(2), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 143
+
+(b) State jurisdiction over services Subject to the provisions of sections 225 and 301 of this title, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply, or to give the Commission jurisdiction, with respect to charges, classifications, practices, services, facilities, or regulations for or in connection with wire, mobile, or point-to-point radio telephone exchange service, or any combination thereof, even though a portion of such exchange service constitutes interstate or foreign communication, in any case where such matters are subject to regulation by a State commission or by local governmental authority.
+
+(c) Determination of property used in interstate toll service For the purpose of administering this chapter as to carriers engaged in wire telephone communication, the Commission may classify the property of any such carrier used for wire telephone communication, and determine what property of said carrier shall be considered as used in interstate or foreign telephone toll service. Such classification shall be made after hearing, upon notice to the carrier, the State commission (or the Governor, if the State has no State commission) of any State in which the property of said carrier is located, and such other persons as the Commission may prescribe.
+
+(d) Valuation of property In making a valuation of the property of any wire telephone carrier the Commission, after making the classification authorized in this section, may in its discretion value only that part of the property of such carrier determined to be used in interstate or foreign telephone toll service.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 221, 48 Stat. 1080; Apr. 27, 1954, ch. 175, § 4, 68 Stat. 64; Aug. 2, 1956, ch. 874, § 3, 70 Stat. 932; Pub. L. 101–336, title IV, § 401(b)(2), July 26, 1990, 104 Stat. 369; Pub. L. 104–104, title VI, § 601(b)(2), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 143.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–104 struck out subsec. (a) relating to notification of State Governor and State commission, public hearing, and certification. 1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–336 substituted “sections 225 and 301” for “section 301”. 1956—Subsec. (a). Act Aug. 2, 1956, inserted provisions relating to submission of comments by parties and required a public hearing upon request, in lieu of former provisions requiring hearing upon application. 1954—Subsec. (b). Act Apr. 27, 1954, included mobile or point-to-point radio telephone exchange service within exclusions provided for in such subsection, where it is subject to regulation by a State commission or by local governmental authority, and made it clear that the Commission retains its licensing authority over the radio stations that might be involved in such service.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-222.md

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 222"
+description: "Privacy of customer information"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "222"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 222"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s222"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "212c50553557fba85549fcdf980660889006ce1e91af8542b3b3458ec74eb148"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "d794b8e6729e1518000184e95f28311e95cdb0d20af51461a8c5993d4f1869ed"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 222 - Privacy of customer information
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In general Every telecommunications carrier has a duty to protect the confidentiality of proprietary information of, and relating to, other telecommunication carriers, equipment manufacturers, and customers, including telecommunication carriers reselling telecommunications services provided by a telecommunications carrier.
+
+(b) Confidentiality of carrier information A telecommunications carrier that receives or obtains proprietary information from another carrier for purposes of providing any telecommunications service shall use such information only for such purpose, and shall not use such information for its own marketing efforts.
+
+(c) Confidentiality of customer proprietary network information (1) Privacy requirements for telecommunications carriers Except as required by law or with the approval of the customer, a telecommunications carrier that receives or obtains customer proprietary network information by virtue of its provision of a telecommunications service shall only use, disclose, or permit access to individually identifiable customer proprietary network information in its provision of (A) the telecommunications service from which such information is derived, or (B) services necessary to, or used in, the provision of such telecommunications service, including the publishing of directories.
+
+(2) Disclosure on request by customers A telecommunications carrier shall disclose customer proprietary network information, upon affirmative written request by the customer, to any person designated by the customer.
+
+(3) Aggregate customer information A telecommunications carrier that receives or obtains customer proprietary network information by virtue of its provision of a telecommunications service may use, disclose, or permit access to aggregate customer information other than for the purposes described in paragraph (1). A local exchange carrier may use, disclose, or permit access to aggregate customer information other than for purposes described in paragraph (1) only if it provides such aggregate information to other carriers or persons on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms and conditions upon reasonable request therefor.
+
+(d) Exceptions Nothing in this section prohibits a telecommunications carrier from using, disclosing, or permitting access to customer proprietary network information obtained from its customers, either directly or indirectly through its agents—
+
+(1) to initiate, render, bill, and collect for telecommunications services;
+
+(2) to protect the rights or property of the carrier, or to protect users of those services and other carriers from fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful use of, or subscription to, such services;
+
+(3) to provide any inbound telemarketing, referral, or administrative services to the customer for the duration of the call, if such call was initiated by the customer and the customer approves of the use of such information to provide such service; and
+
+(4) to provide call location information concerning the user of a commercial mobile service (as such term is defined in section 332(d) of this title) or the user of an IP-enabled voice service (as such term is defined in section 615b of this title)—
+
+(A) to a public safety answering point, emergency medical service provider or emergency dispatch provider, public safety, fire service, or law enforcement official, or hospital emergency or trauma care facility, in order to respond to the user’s call for emergency services;
+
+(B) to inform the user’s legal guardian or members of the user’s immediate family of the user’s location in an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or serious physical harm; or
+
+(C) to providers of information or database management services solely for purposes of assisting in the delivery of emergency services in response to an emergency.
+
+(e) Subscriber list information Notwithstanding subsections (b), (c), and (d), a telecommunications carrier that provides telephone exchange service shall provide subscriber list information gathered in its capacity as a provider of such service on a timely and unbundled basis, under nondiscriminatory and reasonable rates, terms, and conditions, to any person upon request for the purpose of publishing directories in any format.
+
+(f) Authority to use location information For purposes of subsection (c)(1), without the express prior authorization of the customer, a customer shall not be considered to have approved the use or disclosure of or access to—
+
+(1) call location information concerning the user of a commercial mobile service (as such term is defined in section 332(d) of this title) or the user of an IP-enabled voice service (as such term is defined in section 615b of this title), other than in accordance with subsection (d)(4); or
+
+(2) automatic crash notification information to any person other than for use in the operation of an automatic crash notification system.
+
+(g) Subscriber listed and unlisted information for emergency services Notwithstanding subsections (b), (c), and (d), a telecommunications carrier that provides telephone exchange service or a provider of IP-enabled voice service (as such term is defined in section 615b of this title) shall provide information described in subsection (i)(3)(A) 11 So in original. Probably should be subsection “(h)(3)(A)”. (including information pertaining to subscribers whose information is unlisted or unpublished) that is in its possession or control (including information pertaining to subscribers of other carriers) on a timely and unbundled basis, under nondiscriminatory and reasonable rates, terms, and conditions to providers of emergency services, and providers of emergency support services, solely for purposes of delivering or assisting in the delivery of emergency services.
+
+(h) Definitions As used in this section:
+
+(1) Customer proprietary network information The term “customer proprietary network information” means—
+
+(A) information that relates to the quantity, technical configuration, type, destination, location, and amount of use of a telecommunications service subscribed to by any customer of a telecommunications carrier, and that is made available to the carrier by the customer solely by virtue of the carrier-customer relationship; and
+
+(B) information contained in the bills pertaining to telephone exchange service or telephone toll service received by a customer of a carrier;
+
+except that such term does not include subscriber list information.
+
+(2) Aggregate information The term “aggregate customer information” means collective data that relates to a group or category of services or customers, from which individual customer identities and characteristics have been removed.
+
+(3) Subscriber list information The term “subscriber list information” means any information—
+
+(A) identifying the listed names of subscribers of a carrier and such subscribers’ telephone numbers, addresses, or primary advertising classifications (as such classifications are assigned at the time of the establishment of such service), or any combination of such listed names, numbers, addresses, or classifications; and
+
+(B) that the carrier or an affiliate has published, caused to be published, or accepted for publication in any directory format.
+
+(4) Public safety answering point The term “public safety answering point” means a facility that has been designated to receive emergency calls and route them to emergency service personnel.
+
+(5) Emergency services The term “emergency services” means 9–1–1 emergency services and emergency notification services.
+
+(6) Emergency notification services The term “emergency notification services” means services that notify the public of an emergency.
+
+(7) Emergency support services The term “emergency support services” means information or data base management services used in support of emergency services.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 222, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title VII, § 702, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 148; amended Pub. L. 106–81, § 5, Oct. 26, 1999, 113 Stat. 1288; Pub. L. 110–283, title III, § 301, July 23, 2008, 122 Stat. 2625.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Prior ProvisionsA prior section 222, act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 222, as added Mar. 6, 1943, ch. 10, § 1, 57 Stat. 5; amended July 12, 1960, Pub. L. 86–624, § 36, 74 Stat. 421; Nov. 30, 1974, Pub. L. 93–506, § 2, 88 Stat. 1577; Dec. 24, 1980, Pub. L. 96–590, 94 Stat. 3414; Dec. 29, 1981, Pub. L. 97–130, § 2, 95 Stat. 1687, related to competition among record carriers, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 304(a)(6), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4297.
+
+Amendments2008—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 110–283, § 301(1), inserted “or the user of an IP-enabled voice service (as such term is defined in section 615b of this title)” after “section 332(d) of this title)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–283, § 301(2), struck out “wireless” before “location” in heading. Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 110–283, § 301(1), inserted “or the user of an IP-enabled voice service (as such term is defined in section 615b of this title)” after “section 332(d) of this title)”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 110–283, § 301(3), inserted “or a provider of IP-enabled voice service (as such term is defined in section 615b of this title)” after “telephone exchange service”. 1999—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 106–81, § 5(1), added par. (4). Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 106–81, § 5(2), added subsecs. (f) and (g). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (h). Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 106–81, § 5(2)–(4), redesignated subsec. (f) as (h), inserted “location,” after “destination,” in par. (1)(A), and added pars. (4) to (7).

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-223a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 223a"
+description: "Notice and removal of nonconsensual intimate visual depictions"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "223a"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 223a"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s223a"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "b960f9d9ebbab0772e403f02c83650a84f1d38128e5581c8d2e6ec4f050fb0ca"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "1c3a9a5099daaa22d56ae8c55c5ee67d4910b6b6d84a7636de3eca2c8c558acd"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 223a - Notice and removal of nonconsensual intimate visual depictions
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In general (1) Notice and removal process (A) Establishment Not later than 1 year after May 19, 2025, a covered platform shall establish a process whereby an identifiable individual (or an authorized person acting on behalf of such individual) may—
+
+(i) notify the covered platform of an intimate visual depiction published on the covered platform that—
+
+(I) includes a depiction of the identifiable individual; and
+
+(II) was published without the consent of the identifiable individual; and
+
+(ii) submit a request for the covered platform to remove such intimate visual depiction.
+
+(B) Requirements A notification and request for removal of an intimate visual depiction submitted under the process established under subparagraph (A) shall include, in writing—
+
+(i) a physical or electronic signature of the identifiable individual (or an authorized person acting on behalf of such individual);
+
+(ii) an identification of, and information reasonably sufficient for the covered platform to locate, the intimate visual depiction of the identifiable individual;
+
+(iii) a brief statement that the identifiable individual has a good faith belief that any intimate visual depiction identified under clause (ii) is not consensual, including any relevant information for the covered platform to determine the intimate visual depiction was published without the consent of the identifiable individual; and
+
+(iv) information sufficient to enable the covered platform to contact the identifiable individual (or an authorized person acting on behalf of such individual).
+
+(2) Notice of process A covered platform shall provide on the platform a clear and conspicuous notice, which may be provided through a clear and conspicuous link to another web page or disclosure, of the notice and removal process established under paragraph (1)(A) that—
+
+(A) is easy to read and in plain language; and
+
+(B) provides information regarding the responsibilities of the covered platform under this section, including a description of how an individual can submit a notification and request for removal.
+
+(3) Removal of nonconsensual intimate visual depictions Upon receiving a valid removal request from an identifiable individual (or an authorized person acting on behalf of such individual) using the process described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), a covered platform shall, as soon as possible, but not later than 48 hours after receiving such request—
+
+(A) remove the intimate visual depiction; and
+
+(B) make reasonable efforts to identify and remove any known identical copies of such depiction.
+
+(4) Limitation on liability A covered platform shall not be liable for any claim based on the covered platform’s good faith disabling of access to, or removal of, material claimed to be a nonconsensual intimate visual depiction based on facts or circumstances from which the unlawful publishing of an intimate visual depiction is apparent, regardless of whether the intimate visual depiction is ultimately determined to be unlawful or not.
+
+(b) Enforcement by the Commission (1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices A failure to reasonably comply with the notice and takedown obligations under subsection (a) shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or a deceptive act or practice under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
+
+(2) Powers of the Commission (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the Commission shall enforce this section in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this section.
+
+(B) Privileges and immunities Any person who violates this section shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
+
+(C) Authority preserved Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of the Federal Trade Commission under any other provision of law.
+
+(D) Scope of jurisdiction Notwithstanding sections 4, 5(a)(2), or 6 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 44, 45(a)(2), 46), or any jurisdictional limitation of the Commission, the Commission shall also enforce this section in the same manner provided in subparagraph (A), with respect to organizations that are not organized to carry on business for their own profit or that of their members.
+
+(Pub. L. 119–12, § 3, May 19, 2025, 139 Stat. 59.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe Federal Trade Commission Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(A), (B), is act Sept. 26, 1914, ch. 311, 38 Stat. 717, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 41 et seq.) of chapter 2 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 58 of Title 15 and Tables. This Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(C), is Pub. L. 119—12, May 19, 2025, 139 Stat. 55, which enacted this section, amended section 223 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 223 and 609 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2025 Amendment note set out under section 609 of this title.
+
+Codification Section was enacted as part of the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act, also known as the TAKE IT DOWN Act, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Definitions Pub. L. 119–12, § 4, May 19, 2025, 139 Stat. 61, provided that: “In this Act [see Short Title of 2025 Amendment note set out under section 609 of this title]: “(1) Commission.—The term ‘Commission’ means the Federal Trade Commission. “(2) Consent; digital forgery; identifiable individual; intimate visual depiction.—The terms ‘consent’, ‘digital forgery’, ‘identifiable individual’, ‘intimate visual depiction’, and ‘minor’ have the meaning given such terms in section 223(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 223[(h)]), as added by section 2. “(3) Covered platform.—“(A) In general.—The term ‘covered platform’ means a website, online service, online application, or mobile application—“(i) that serves the public; and “(ii)(I) that primarily provides a forum for user-generated content, including messages, videos, images, games, and audio files; or “(II) for which it is in the regular course of trade or business of the website, online service, online application, or mobile application to publish, curate, host, or make available content of nonconsensual intimate visual depictions. “(B) Exclusions.—The term ‘covered platform’ shall not include the following:“(i) A provider of broadband internet access service (as described in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation). “(ii) Electronic mail. “(iii) Except as provided in subparagraph (A)(ii)(II), an online service, application, or website—     “(I) that consists primarily of content that is not user generated but is preselected by the provider of such online service, application, or website; and      “(II) for which any chat, comment, or interactive functionality is incidental to, directly related to, or dependent on the provision of the content described in subclause (I).”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-224.md

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 224"
+description: "Pole attachments"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "224"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 224"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s224"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "3c394d56f32f593d360ed8766d891a8e75fed77a0e627159c1cc87a3534cf8ab"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "5c441a831bee99f230701e91648e73d7c5e3db7a81befe6919bc10ae47ac299d"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 224 - Pole attachments
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Definitions As used in this section:
+
+(1) The term “utility” means any person who is a local exchange carrier or an electric, gas, water, steam, or other public utility, and who owns or controls poles, ducts, conduits, or rights-of-way used, in whole or in part, for any wire communications. Such term does not include any railroad, any person who is cooperatively organized, or any person owned by the Federal Government or any State.
+
+(2) The term “Federal Government” means the Government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
+
+(3) The term “State” means any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof.
+
+(4) The term “pole attachment” means any attachment by a cable television system or provider of telecommunications service to a pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way owned or controlled by a utility.
+
+(5) For purposes of this section, the term “telecommunications carrier” (as defined in section 153 of this title) does not include any incumbent local exchange carrier as defined in section 251(h) of this title.
+
+(b) Authority of Commission to regulate rates, terms, and conditions; enforcement powers; promulgation of regulations (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, the Commission shall regulate the rates, terms, and conditions for pole attachments to provide that such rates, terms, and conditions are just and reasonable, and shall adopt procedures necessary and appropriate to hear and resolve complaints concerning such rates, terms, and conditions. For purposes of enforcing any determinations resulting from complaint procedures established pursuant to this subsection, the Commission shall take such action as it deems appropriate and necessary, including issuing cease and desist orders, as authorized by section 312(b) of this title.
+
+(2) The Commission shall prescribe by rule regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.
+
+(c) State regulatory authority over rates, terms, and conditions; preemption; certification; circumstances constituting State regulation (1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to, or to give the Commission jurisdiction with respect to rates, terms, and conditions, or access to poles, ducts, conduits, and rights-of-way as provided in subsection (f), for pole attachments in any case where such matters are regulated by a State.
+
+(2) Each State which regulates the rates, terms, and conditions for pole attachments shall certify to the Commission that—
+
+(A) it regulates such rates, terms, and conditions; and
+
+(B) in so regulating such rates, terms, and conditions, the State has the authority to consider and does consider the interests of the subscribers of the services offered via such attachments, as well as the interests of the consumers of the utility services.
+
+(3) For purposes of this subsection, a State shall not be considered to regulate the rates, terms, and conditions for pole attachments—
+
+(A) unless the State has issued and made effective rules and regulations implementing the State’s regulatory authority over pole attachments; and
+
+(B) with respect to any individual matter, unless the State takes final action on a complaint regarding such matter—
+
+(i) within 180 days after the complaint is filed with the State, or
+
+(ii) within the applicable period prescribed for such final action in such rules and regulations of the State, if the prescribed period does not extend beyond 360 days after the filing of such complaint.
+
+(d) Determination of just and reasonable rates; “usable space” defined (1) For purposes of subsection (b) of this section, a rate is just and reasonable if it assures a utility the recovery of not less than the additional costs of providing pole attachments, nor more than an amount determined by multiplying the percentage of the total usable space, or the percentage of the total duct or conduit capacity, which is occupied by the pole attachment by the sum of the operating expenses and actual capital costs of the utility attributable to the entire pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way.
+
+(2) As used in this subsection, the term “usable space” means the space above the minimum grade level which can be used for the attachment of wires, cables, and associated equipment.
+
+(3) This subsection shall apply to the rate for any pole attachment used by a cable television system solely to provide cable service. Until the effective date of the regulations required under subsection (e), this subsection shall also apply to the rate for any pole attachment used by a cable system or any telecommunications carrier (to the extent such carrier is not a party to a pole attachment agreement) to provide any telecommunications service.
+
+(e) Regulations governing charges; apportionment of costs of providing space (1) The Commission shall, no later than 2 years after February 8, 1996, prescribe regulations in accordance with this subsection to govern the charges for pole attachments used by telecommunications carriers to provide telecommunications services, when the parties fail to resolve a dispute over such charges. Such regulations shall ensure that a utility charges just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory rates for pole attachments.
+
+(2) A utility shall apportion the cost of providing space on a pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way other than the usable space among entities so that such apportionment equals two-thirds of the costs of providing space other than the usable space that would be allocated to such entity under an equal apportionment of such costs among all attaching entities.
+
+(3) A utility shall apportion the cost of providing usable space among all entities according to the percentage of usable space required for each entity.
+
+(4) The regulations required under paragraph (1) shall become effective 5 years after February 8, 1996. Any increase in the rates for pole attachments that result from the adoption of the regulations required by this subsection shall be phased in equal annual increments over a period of 5 years beginning on the effective date of such regulations.
+
+(f) Nondiscriminatory access (1) A utility shall provide a cable television system or any telecommunications carrier with nondiscriminatory access to any pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way owned or controlled by it.
+
+(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a utility providing electric service may deny a cable television system or any telecommunications carrier access to its poles, ducts, conduits, or rights-of-way, on a non-discriminatory 11 So in original. Probably should be “nondiscriminatory”. basis where there is insufficient capacity and for reasons of safety, reliability and generally applicable engineering purposes.
+
+(g) Imputation to costs of pole attachment rate A utility that engages in the provision of telecommunications services or cable services shall impute to its costs of providing such services (and charge any affiliate, subsidiary, or associate company engaged in the provision of such services) an equal amount to the pole attachment rate for which such company would be liable under this section.
+
+(h) Modification or alteration of pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way Whenever the owner of a pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way intends to modify or alter such pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way, the owner shall provide written notification of such action to any entity that has obtained an attachment to such conduit or right-of-way so that such entity may have a reasonable opportunity to add to or modify its existing attachment. Any entity that adds to or modifies its existing attachment after receiving such notification shall bear a proportionate share of the costs incurred by the owner in making such pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way accessible.
+
+(i) Costs of rearranging or replacing attachment An entity that obtains an attachment to a pole, conduit, or right-of-way shall not be required to bear any of the costs of rearranging or replacing its attachment, if such rearrangement or replacement is required as a result of an additional attachment or the modification of an existing attachment sought by any other entity (including the owner of such pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way).
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 224, as added Pub. L. 95–234, § 6, Feb. 21, 1978, 92 Stat. 35; amended Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 106, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1091; Pub. L. 98–549, § 4, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2801; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 304(a)(7), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4297; Pub. L. 104–104, title VII, § 703, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 149.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–104, § 703(1), inserted first sentence and struck out former first sentence which read as follows: “The term ‘utility’ means any person whose rates or charges are regulated by the Federal Government or a State and who owns or controls poles, ducts, conduits, or rights-of-way used, in whole or in part, for wire communication.” Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 104–104, § 703(2), inserted “or provider of telecommunications service” after “system”. Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 104–104, § 703(3), added par. (5). Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–104, § 703(4), inserted “, or access to poles, ducts, conduits, and rights-of-way as provided in subsection (f),” after “conditions”. Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 104–104, § 703(5), substituted “the services offered via such attachments” for “cable television services”. Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 104–104, § 703(6), added par. (3). Subsecs. (e) to (i). Pub. L. 104–104, § 703(7), added subsecs. (e) to (i). 1994—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 103–414 substituted “The Commission” for “Within 180 days from February 21, 1978, the Commission”. 1984—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 98–549 added par. (3). 1982—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–259 struck out subsec. (e) which provided that, upon expiration of 5-year period that began on Feb. 21, 1978, provisions of subsec. (d) of this section would cease to have any effect.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–549 effective 60 days after Oct. 30, 1984, except where otherwise expressly provided, see section 9(a) of Pub. L. 98–549, set out as a note under section 521 of this title.
+
+Effective DateSection effective on thirtieth day after Feb. 21, 1978, see section 7 of Pub. L. 95–234, set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note under section 152 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-225.md

@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 225"
+description: "Telecommunications services for hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "225"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 225"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s225"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "bed7389ef374f67618cfc7f41a42e5d2e60599d80a6e699869c5d33248edbf2b"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "6ed2a1a8fdab39494a4bd54a399e3410a0024c90a523ef307f4eda76f8833064"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 225 - Telecommunications services for hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Definitions As used in this section—
+
+(1) Common carrier or carrier The term “common carrier” or “carrier” includes any common carrier engaged in interstate communication by wire or radio as defined in section 153 of this title and any common carrier engaged in intrastate communication by wire or radio, notwithstanding sections 152(b) and 221(b) of this title.
+
+(2) TDD The term “TDD” means a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, which is a machine that employs graphic communication in the transmission of coded signals through a wire or radio communication system.
+
+(3) Telecommunications relay services The term “telecommunications relay services” means telephone transmission services that provide the ability for an individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or who has a speech disability to engage in communication by wire or radio with one or more individuals, in a manner that is functionally equivalent to the ability of a hearing individual who does not have a speech disability to communicate using voice communication services by wire or radio.
+
+(b) Availability of telecommunications relay services (1) In general In order to carry out the purposes established under section 151 of this title, to make available to all individuals in the United States a rapid, efficient nationwide communication service, and to increase the utility of the telephone system of the Nation, the Commission shall ensure that interstate and intrastate telecommunications relay services are available, to the extent possible and in the most efficient manner, to hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals in the United States.
+
+(2) Use of general authority and remedies For the purposes of administering and enforcing the provisions of this section and the regulations prescribed thereunder, the Commission shall have the same authority, power, and functions with respect to common carriers engaged in intrastate communication as the Commission has in administering and enforcing the provisions of this subchapter with respect to any common carrier engaged in interstate communication. Any violation of this section by any common carrier engaged in intrastate communication shall be subject to the same remedies, penalties, and procedures as are applicable to a violation of this chapter by a common carrier engaged in interstate communication.
+
+(c) Provision of services Each common carrier providing telephone voice transmission services shall, not later than 3 years after July 26, 1990, provide in compliance with the regulations prescribed under this section, throughout the area in which it offers service, telecommunications relay services, individually, through designees, through a competitively selected vendor, or in concert with other carriers. A common carrier shall be considered to be in compliance with such regulations—
+
+(1) with respect to intrastate telecommunications relay services in any State that does not have a certified program under subsection (f) and with respect to interstate telecommunications relay services, if such common carrier (or other entity through which the carrier is providing such relay services) is in compliance with the Commission’s regulations under subsection (d); or
+
+(2) with respect to intrastate telecommunications relay services in any State that has a certified program under subsection (f) for such State, if such common carrier (or other entity through which the carrier is providing such relay services) is in compliance with the program certified under subsection (f) for such State.
+
+(d) Regulations (1) In general The Commission shall, not later than 1 year after July 26, 1990, prescribe regulations to implement this section, including regulations that—
+
+(A) establish functional requirements, guidelines, and operations procedures for telecommunications relay services;
+
+(B) establish minimum standards that shall be met in carrying out subsection (c);
+
+(C) require that telecommunications relay services operate every day for 24 hours per day;
+
+(D) require that users of telecommunications relay services pay rates no greater than the rates paid for functionally equivalent voice communication services with respect to such factors as the duration of the call, the time of day, and the distance from point of origination to point of termination;
+
+(E) prohibit relay operators from failing to fulfill the obligations of common carriers by refusing calls or limiting the length of calls that use telecommunications relay services;
+
+(F) prohibit relay operators from disclosing the content of any relayed conversation and from keeping records of the content of any such conversation beyond the duration of the call; and
+
+(G) prohibit relay operators from intentionally altering a relayed conversation.
+
+(2) Technology The Commission shall ensure that regulations prescribed to implement this section encourage, consistent with section 157(a) of this title, the use of existing technology and do not discourage or impair the development of improved technology.
+
+(3) Jurisdictional separation of costs (A) In general Consistent with the provisions of section 410 of this title, the Commission shall prescribe regulations governing the jurisdictional separation of costs for the services provided pursuant to this section.
+
+(B) Recovering costs Such regulations shall generally provide that costs caused by interstate telecommunications relay services shall be recovered from all subscribers for every interstate service and costs caused by intrastate telecommunications relay services shall be recovered from the intrastate jurisdiction. In a State that has a certified program under subsection (f), a State commission shall permit a common carrier to recover the costs incurred in providing intrastate telecommunications relay services by a method consistent with the requirements of this section.
+
+(e) Enforcement (1) In general Subject to subsections (f) and (g), the Commission shall enforce this section.
+
+(2) Complaint The Commission shall resolve, by final order, a complaint alleging a violation of this section within 180 days after the date such complaint is filed.
+
+(f) Certification (1) State documentation Any State desiring to establish a State program under this section shall submit documentation to the Commission that describes the program of such State for implementing intrastate telecommunications relay services and the procedures and remedies available for enforcing any requirements imposed by the State program.
+
+(2) Requirements for certification After review of such documentation, the Commission shall certify the State program if the Commission determines that—
+
+(A) the program makes available to hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals, either directly, through designees, through a competitively selected vendor, or through regulation of intrastate common carriers, intrastate telecommunications relay services in such State in a manner that meets or exceeds the requirements of regulations prescribed by the Commission under subsection (d); and
+
+(B) the program makes available adequate procedures and remedies for enforcing the requirements of the State program.
+
+(3) Method of funding Except as provided in subsection (d), the Commission shall not refuse to certify a State program based solely on the method such State will implement for funding intrastate telecommunication relay services.
+
+(4) Suspension or revocation of certification The Commission may suspend or revoke such certification if, after notice and opportunity for hearing, the Commission determines that such certification is no longer warranted. In a State whose program has been suspended or revoked, the Commission shall take such steps as may be necessary, consistent with this section, to ensure continuity of telecommunications relay services.
+
+(g) Complaint (1) Referral of complaint If a complaint to the Commission alleges a violation of this section with respect to intrastate telecommunications relay services within a State and certification of the program of such State under subsection (f) is in effect, the Commission shall refer such complaint to such State.
+
+(2) Jurisdiction of Commission After referring a complaint to a State under paragraph (1), the Commission shall exercise jurisdiction over such complaint only if—
+
+(A) final action under such State program has not been taken on such complaint by such State—
+
+(i) within 180 days after the complaint is filed with such State; or
+
+(ii) within a shorter period as prescribed by the regulations of such State; or
+
+(B) the Commission determines that such State program is no longer qualified for certification under subsection (f).
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 225, as added Pub. L. 101–336, title IV, § 401(a), July 26, 1990, 104 Stat. 366; amended Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(d)(1), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 61; Pub. L. 111–260, title I, § 103(a), Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2755.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments2010—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–260 amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘telecommunications relay services’ means telephone transmission services that provide the ability for an individual who has a hearing impairment or speech impairment to engage in communication by wire or radio with a hearing individual in a manner that is functionally equivalent to the ability of an individual who does not have a hearing impairment or speech impairment to communicate using voice communication services by wire or radio. Such term includes services that enable two-way communication between an individual who uses a TDD or other nonvoice terminal device and an individual who does not use such a device.” 1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–104 substituted “section 153” for “section 153(h)”.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-226.md

@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 226"
+description: "Telephone operator services"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "226"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 226"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s226"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "e7c9132eb100614015734d836e368b9990deab048a95e3d64d3e9d93757fa8a8"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "dc791f9c49d061a71bc9d3c859f792411fbcb263d6fe355c9cbfaba4ef52801a"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 226 - Telephone operator services
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Definitions As used in this section—
+
+(1) The term “access code” means a sequence of numbers that, when dialed, connect the caller to the provider of operator services associated with that sequence.
+
+(2) The term “aggregator” means any person that, in the ordinary course of its operations, makes telephones available to the public or to transient users of its premises, for interstate telephone calls using a provider of operator services.
+
+(3) The term “call splashing” means the transfer of a telephone call from one provider of operator services to another such provider in such a manner that the subsequent provider is unable or unwilling to determine the location of the origination of the call and, because of such inability or unwillingness, is prevented from billing the call on the basis of such location.
+
+(4) The term “consumer” means a person initiating any interstate telephone call using operator services.
+
+(5) The term “equal access” has the meaning given that term in Appendix B of the Modification of Final Judgment entered August 24, 1982, in United States v. Western Electric, Civil Action No. 82–0192 (United States District Court, District of Columbia), as amended by the Court in its orders issued prior to October 17, 1990.
+
+(6) The term “equal access code” means an access code that allows the public to obtain an equal access connection to the carrier associated with that code.
+
+(7) The term “operator services” means any interstate telecommunications service initiated from an aggregator location that includes, as a component, any automatic or live assistance to a consumer to arrange for billing or completion, or both, of an interstate telephone call through a method other than—
+
+(A) automatic completion with billing to the telephone from which the call originated; or
+
+(B) completion through an access code used by the consumer, with billing to an account previously established with the carrier by the consumer.
+
+(8) The term “presubscribed provider of operator services” means the interstate provider of operator services to which the consumer is connected when the consumer places a call using a provider of operator services without dialing an access code.
+
+(9) The term “provider of operator services” means any common carrier that provides operator services or any other person determined by the Commission to be providing operator services.
+
+(b) Requirements for providers of operator services (1) In general Beginning not later than 90 days after October 17, 1990, each provider of operator services shall, at a minimum—
+
+(A) identify itself, audibly and distinctly, to the consumer at the beginning of each telephone call and before the consumer incurs any charge for the call;
+
+(B) permit the consumer to terminate the telephone call at no charge before the call is connected;
+
+(C) disclose immediately to the consumer, upon request and at no charge to the consumer—
+
+(i) a quote of its rates or charges for the call;
+
+(ii) the methods by which such rates or charges will be collected; and
+
+(iii) the methods by which complaints concerning such rates, charges, or collection practices will be resolved;
+
+(D) ensure, by contract or tariff, that each aggregator for which such provider is the presubscribed provider of operator services is in compliance with the requirements of subsection (c) and, if applicable, subsection (e)(1);
+
+(E) withhold payment (on a location-by-location basis) of any compensation, including commissions, to aggregators if such provider reasonably believes that the aggregator (i) is blocking access by means of “950” or “800” numbers to interstate common carriers in violation of subsection (c)(1)(B) or (ii) is blocking access to equal access codes in violation of rules the Commission may prescribe under subsection (e)(1);
+
+(F) not bill for unanswered telephone calls in areas where equal access is available;
+
+(G) not knowingly bill for unanswered telephone calls where equal access is not available;
+
+(H) not engage in call splashing, unless the consumer requests to be transferred to another provider of operator services, the consumer is informed prior to incurring any charges that the rates for the call may not reflect the rates from the actual originating location of the call, and the consumer then consents to be transferred; and
+
+(I) except as provided in subparagraph (H), not bill for a call that does not reflect the location of the origination of the call.
+
+(2) Additional requirements for first 3 years In addition to meeting the requirements of paragraph (1), during the 3-year period beginning on the date that is 90 days after October 17, 1990, each presubscribed provider of operator services shall identify itself audibly and distinctly to the consumer, not only as required in paragraph (1)(A), but also for a second time before connecting the call and before the consumer incurs any charge.
+
+(c) Requirements for aggregators (1) In general Each aggregator, beginning not later than 90 days after October 17, 1990, shall—
+
+(A) post on or near the telephone instrument, in plain view of consumers—
+
+(i) the name, address, and toll-free telephone number of the provider of operator services;
+
+(ii) a written disclosure that the rates for all operator-assisted calls are available on request, and that consumers have a right to obtain access to the interstate common carrier of their choice and may contact their preferred interstate common carriers for information on accessing that carrier’s service using that telephone; and
+
+(iii) the name and address of the enforcement division of the Common Carrier Bureau of the Commission, to which the consumer may direct complaints regarding operator services;
+
+(B) ensure that each of its telephones presubscribed to a provider of operator services allows the consumer to use “800” and “950” access code numbers to obtain access to the provider of operator services desired by the consumer; and
+
+(C) ensure that no charge by the aggregator to the consumer for using an “800” or “950” access code number, or any other access code number, is greater than the amount the aggregator charges for calls placed using the presubscribed provider of operator services.
+
+(2) Effect of State law or regulation The requirements of paragraph (1)(A) shall not apply to an aggregator in any case in which State law or State regulation requires the aggregator to take actions that are substantially the same as those required in paragraph (1)(A).
+
+(d) General rulemaking required (1) Rulemaking proceeding The Commission shall conduct a rulemaking proceeding pursuant to this subchapter to prescribe regulations to—
+
+(A) protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices relating to their use of operator services to place interstate telephone calls; and
+
+(B) ensure that consumers have the opportunity to make informed choices in making such calls.
+
+(2) Contents of regulations The regulations prescribed under this section shall—
+
+(A) contain provisions to implement each of the requirements of this section, other than the requirements established by the rulemaking under subsection (e) on access and compensation; and
+
+(B) contain such other provisions as the Commission determines necessary to carry out this section and the purposes and policies of this section.
+
+(3) Additional requirements to be implemented by regulations The regulations prescribed under this section shall, at a minimum—
+
+(A) establish minimum standards for providers of operator services and aggregators to use in the routing and handling of emergency telephone calls; and
+
+(B) establish a policy for requiring providers of operator services to make public information about recent changes in operator services and choices available to consumers in that market.
+
+(e) Separate rulemaking on access and compensation (1) Access The Commission,11 So in original. The comma probably should not appear. shall require—
+
+(A) that each aggregator ensure within a reasonable time that each of its telephones presubscribed to a provider of operator services allows the consumer to obtain access to the provider of operator services desired by the consumer through the use of an equal access code; or
+
+(B) that all providers of operator services, within a reasonable time, make available to their customers a “950” or “800” access code number for use in making operator services calls from anywhere in the United States; or
+
+(C) that the requirements described under both subparagraphs (A) and (B) apply.
+
+(2) Compensation The Commission shall consider the need to prescribe compensation (other than advance payment by consumers) for owners of competitive public pay telephones for calls routed to providers of operator services that are other than the presubscribed provider of operator services for such telephones. Within 9 months after October 17, 1990, the Commission shall reach a final decision on whether to prescribe such compensation.
+
+(f) Technological capability of equipment Any equipment and software manufactured or imported more than 18 months after October 17, 1990, and installed by any aggregator shall be technologically capable of providing consumers with access to interstate providers of operator services through the use of equal access codes.
+
+(g) Fraud In any proceeding to carry out the provisions of this section, the Commission shall require such actions or measures as are necessary to ensure that aggregators are not exposed to undue risk of fraud.
+
+(h) Determinations of rate compliance (1) Filing of informational tariff (A) In general Each provider of operator services shall file, within 90 days after October 17, 1990, and shall maintain, update regularly, and keep open for public inspection, an informational tariff specifying rates, terms, and conditions, and including commissions, surcharges, any fees which are collected from consumers, and reasonable estimates of the amount of traffic priced at each rate, with respect to calls for which operator services are provided. Any changes in such rates, terms, or conditions shall be filed no later than the first day on which the changed rates, terms, or conditions are in effect.
+
+(B) Waiver authority The Commission may, after 4 years following October 17, 1990, waive the requirements of this paragraph only if—
+
+(i) the findings and conclusions of the Commission in the final report issued under paragraph (3)(B)(iii) state that the regulatory objectives specified in subsection (d)(1)(A) and (B) have been achieved; and
+
+(ii) the Commission determines that such waiver will not adversely affect the continued achievement of such regulatory objectives.
+
+(2) Review of informational tariffs If the rates and charges filed by any provider of operator services under paragraph (1) appear upon review by the Commission to be unjust or unreasonable, the Commission may require such provider of operator services to do either or both of the following:
+
+(A) demonstrate that its rates and charges are just and reasonable, and
+
+(B) announce that its rates are available on request at the beginning of each call.
+
+(3) Proceeding required (A) In general Within 60 days after October 17, 1990, the Commission shall initiate a proceeding to determine whether the regulatory objectives specified in subsection (d)(1)(A) and (B) are being achieved. The proceeding shall—
+
+(i) monitor operator service rates;
+
+(ii) determine the extent to which offerings made by providers of operator services are improvements, in terms of service quality, price, innovation, and other factors, over those available before the entry of new providers of operator services into the market;
+
+(iii) report on (in the aggregate and by individual provider) operator service rates, incidence of service complaints, and service offerings;
+
+(iv) consider the effect that commissions and surcharges, billing and validation costs, and other costs of doing business have on the overall rates charged to consumers; and
+
+(v) monitor compliance with the provisions of this section, including the periodic placement of telephone calls from aggregator locations.
+
+(B) Reports (i) The Commission shall, during the pendency of such proceeding and not later than 5 months after its commencement, provide the Congress with an interim report on the Commission’s activities and progress to date.
+
+(ii) Not later than 11 months after the commencement of such proceeding, the Commission shall report to the Congress on its interim findings as a result of the proceeding.
+
+(iii) Not later than 23 months after the commencement of such proceeding, the Commission shall submit a final report to the Congress on its findings and conclusions.
+
+(4) Implementing regulations (A) In general Unless the Commission makes the determination described in subparagraph (B), the Commission shall, within 180 days after submission of the report required under paragraph (3)(B)(iii), complete a rulemaking proceeding pursuant to this subchapter to establish regulations for implementing the requirements of this subchapter (and paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection) that rates and charges for operator services be just and reasonable. Such regulations shall include limitations on the amount of commissions or any other compensation given to aggregators by providers of operator service.
+
+(B) Limitation The requirement of subparagraph (A) shall not apply if, on the basis of the proceeding under paragraph (3)(A), the Commission makes (and includes in the report required by paragraph (3)(B)(iii)) a factual determination that market forces are securing rates and charges that are just and reasonable, as evidenced by rate levels, costs, complaints, service quality, and other relevant factors.
+
+(i) Statutory construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter the obligations, powers, or duties of common carriers or the Commission under the other sections of this chapter.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 226, as added Pub. L. 101–435, § 3, Oct. 17, 1990, 104 Stat. 987; amended Pub. L. 101–555, § 4, Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2760; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 207, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3543; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, §§ 303(a)(10), 304(a)(8), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4294, 4297.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (i), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1994—Subsec. (d)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(10), redesignated pars. (3) and (4) as (2) and (3), respectively, and struck out heading and text of former par. (2). Text read as follows: “The Commission shall initiate the proceeding required under paragraph (1) within 60 days after October 17, 1990, and shall prescribe regulations pursuant to the proceeding not later than 210 days after October 17, 1990. Such regulations shall take effect not later than 45 days after the date the regulations are prescribed.” Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 103–414, § 304(a)(8), struck out “within 9 months after October 17, 1990,” after “The Commission,” in introductory provisions. 1992—Subsec. (d)(4)(A). Pub. L. 102–538 inserted “and aggregators” after “operator services”. 1990—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 101–555, § 4(a), substituted “90 days” for “30 days”. Subsec. (b)(1)(J). Pub. L. 101–555, § 4(b), struck out subpar. (J) which read as follows: “not bill an inter­exchange telephone call to a billing card number which— “(i) is issued by another provider of operator services, and “(ii) permits the identification of the other provider, unless the call is billed at a rate not greater than the other provider’s rate for the call, the consumer requests a special service that is not available under tariff from the other provider, or the consumer expressly consents to a rate greater than the other provider’s rate.” Subsecs. (b)(2), (c)(1), (h)(1)(A). Pub. L. 101–555, § 4(a), substituted “90 days” for “30 days”.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Congressional FindingsPub. L. 101–435, § 2, Oct. 17, 1990, 104 Stat. 986, provided that: “The Congress finds that— “(1) the divestiture of AT&T and decisions allowing open entry for competitors in the telephone marketplace produced a variety of new services and many new providers of existing telephone services; “(2) the growth of competition in the telecommunications market makes it essential to ensure that safeguards are in place to assure fairness for consumers and service providers alike; “(3) a variety of providers of operator services now compete to win contracts to provide operator services to hotels, hospitals, airports, and other aggregators of telephone business from consumers; “(4) the mere existence of a variety of service providers in the operator services marketplace is significant in making that market competitive only when consumers are able to make informed choices from among those service providers; “(5) however, often consumers have no choices in selecting a provider of operator services, and often attempts by consumers to reach their preferred long distance carrier by using a telephone billing card, credit card, or prearranged access code number are blocked; “(6) a number of State regulatory authorities have taken action to protect consumers using intrastate operator services; “(7) from January 1988 through February 1990, the Federal Communications Commission received over 4,000 complaints from consumers about operator services; “(8) those consumers have complained that they are denied access to the inter­exchange carrier of their choice, that they are deceived about the identity of the company providing operator services for their calls and the rates being charged, that they lack information on what they can do to complain about unfair treatment by an operator service provider, and that they are, accordingly, being deprived of the free choice essential to the operation of a competitive market; “(9) the Commission has testified that its actions have been insufficient to correct the problems in the operator services industry to date; and “(10) a combination of industry self-regulation and government regulation is required to ensure that competitive operator services are provided in a fair and reasonable manner.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-227a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 227a"
+description: "Consumer education materials on how to avoid scams that rely upon misleading or inaccurate caller identification information"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "227a"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 227a"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s227a"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "2fc4521897bdfa5ec596309e965c8df131eec540fbd3efdcfcaee5eacae6f483"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "d999064eb621516a9879c635830a0f4e1612e1ac94b5060a377d71b0bed7ab26"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 227a - Consumer education materials on how to avoid scams that rely upon misleading or inaccurate caller identification information
+
+## Text
+
+(1) Development of materials Not later than 1 year after March 23, 2018, the Commission, in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission, shall develop consumer education materials that provide information about—
+
+(A) ways for consumers to identify scams and other fraudulent activity that rely upon the use of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information; and
+
+(B) existing technologies, if any, that a consumer can use to protect against such scams and other fraudulent activity.
+
+(2) Contents In developing the consumer education materials under paragraph (1), the Commission shall—
+
+(A) identify existing technologies, if any, that can help consumers guard themselves against scams and other fraudulent activity that rely upon the use of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information, including—
+
+(i) descriptions of how a consumer can use the technologies to protect against such scams and other fraudulent activity; and
+
+(ii) details on how consumers can access and use the technologies; and
+
+(B) provide other information that may help consumers identify and avoid scams and other fraudulent activity that rely upon the use of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information.
+
+(3) Updates The Commission shall ensure that the consumer education materials required under paragraph (1) are updated on a regular basis.
+
+(4) Website The Commission shall include the consumer education materials developed under paragraph (1) on its website.
+
+(Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title V, § 503(b), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1092.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Codification Section was enacted as part of the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act of 2018, also known as the RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018, and as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Definitions For definition of “Commission” as used in this section, see section 2 of div. P of Pub. L. 115–141, set out as a note under section 155a of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-227b-1.md

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 227b–1"
+description: "Access to number resources"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "227b–1"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 227b–1"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s227b–1"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "c2fc5dafec71416c95ac1c700def470deaf22f3059688d73f5684c1d7b251a6f"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "e0380698c97cc1ffc2b44adb0b1a2eabd67fb0b2de62a2683d2580d7514ae79f"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 227b–1 - Access to number resources
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In general (1) Examination of FCC policies Not later than 180 days after December 30, 2019, the Commission shall commence a proceeding to determine how Commission policies regarding access to number resources, including number resources for toll-free and non-toll-free telephone numbers, could be modified, including by establishing registration and compliance obligations, and requirements that providers of voice service given access to number resources take sufficient steps to know the identity of the customers of such providers, to help reduce access to numbers by potential perpetrators of violations of section 227(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(b)).
+
+(2) Regulations If the Commission determines under paragraph (1) that modifying the policies described in that paragraph could help achieve the goal described in that paragraph, the Commission shall prescribe regulations to implement those policy modifications.
+
+(b) Authority Any person who knowingly, through an employee, agent, officer, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, by or through any means or device whatsoever, is a party to obtaining number resources, including number resources for toll-free and non-toll-free telephone numbers, from a common carrier regulated under title II of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 201 et seq.), in violation of a regulation prescribed under subsection (a), shall, notwithstanding section 503(b)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 503(b)(5)), be subject to a forfeiture penalty under section 503(b) of that Act (47 U.S.C. 503(b)). A forfeiture penalty under this subsection shall be in addition to any other penalty provided for by law.
+
+(Pub. L. 116–105, § 6, Dec. 30, 2019, 133 Stat. 3282.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (b), is act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064. Title II of the Act is classified generally to this subchapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Codification Section was enacted as part of the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, also known as the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Definition For definition of “Commission” as used in this section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 116–105, set out as a note under section 227 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-227b-2.md

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 227b–2"
+description: "Provision of evidence of certain robocall violations to Attorney General"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "227b–2"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 227b–2"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s227b–2"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "b4cf8be19f1b1d664ebb1161ecb6973389f25a22ffe8fb5232fb1da69c97ef4b"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "0ff85ebf85849f702af19cb4e48d3eda3e63a976ffa042a2ed584b7282bc8028"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 227b–2 - Provision of evidence of certain robocall violations to Attorney General
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In general If the Chief of the Enforcement Bureau of the Commission obtains evidence that suggests a willful, knowing, and repeated robocall violation with an intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value, the Chief of the Enforcement Bureau shall provide such evidence to the Attorney General.
+
+(b) Report to Congress Not later than 1 year after December 30, 2019, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall publish on its website and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that—
+
+(1) states the number of instances during the preceding year in which the Chief of the Enforcement Bureau provided the evidence described in subsection (a) to the Attorney General; and
+
+(2) contains a general summary of the types of robocall violations to which such evidence relates.
+
+(c) Rules of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the ability of the Commission or the Chief of the Enforcement Bureau under other law—
+
+(1) to refer a matter to the Attorney General; or
+
+(2) to pursue or continue pursuit of an enforcement action in a matter with respect to which the Chief of the Enforcement Bureau provided the evidence described in subsection (a) to the Attorney General.
+
+(d) Robocall violation defined In this section, the term “robocall violation” means a violation of subsection (b) or (e) of section 227 of this title.
+
+(Pub. L. 116–105, § 11, Dec. 30, 2019, 133 Stat. 3285.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Codification Section was enacted as part of the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, also known as the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Definition For definition of “Commission” as used in this section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 116–105, set out as a note under section 227 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-227b.md

@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 227b"
+description: "Call authentication"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "227b"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 227b"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s227b"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "353dae6a0d952b8b1d86fd717a44faedb89bff92d1f42ffba3144da8e2e05fc6"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "1478690cbace07bdf7f3ec11c65af6301f83ff1750ce407437976291094a39af"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 227b - Call authentication
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Definitions In this section:
+
+(1) STIR/SHAKEN authentication framework The term “STIR/SHAKEN authentication framework” means the secure telephone identity revisited and signature-based handling of asserted information using tokens standards proposed by the information and communications technology industry.
+
+(2) Voice service The term “voice service”—
+
+(A) means any service that is interconnected with the public switched telephone network and that furnishes voice communications to an end user using resources from the North American Numbering Plan or any successor to the North American Numbering Plan adopted by the Commission under section 251(e)(1) of this title; and
+
+(B) includes—
+
+(i) transmissions from a telephone facsimile machine, computer, or other device to a telephone facsimile machine; and
+
+(ii) without limitation, any service that enables real-time, two-way voice communications, including any service that requires internet protocol-compatible customer premises equipment (commonly known as “CPE”) and permits out-bound calling, whether or not the service is one-way or two-way voice over internet protocol.
+
+(b) Authentication frameworks (1) In general Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), and in accordance with paragraph (6), not later than 18 months after December 30, 2019, the Commission shall—
+
+(A) require a provider of voice service to implement the STIR/SHAKEN authentication framework in the internet protocol networks of the provider of voice service; and
+
+(B) require a provider of voice service to take reasonable measures to implement an effective call authentication framework in the non-internet protocol networks of the provider of voice service.
+
+(2) Implementation The Commission shall not take the action described in paragraph (1) with respect to a provider of voice service if the Commission determines, not later than 12 months after December 30, 2019, that such provider of voice service—
+
+(A) in internet protocol networks—
+
+(i) has adopted the STIR/SHAKEN authentication framework for calls on the internet protocol networks of the provider of voice service;
+
+(ii) has agreed voluntarily to participate with other providers of voice service in the STIR/SHAKEN authentication framework;
+
+(iii) has begun to implement the STIR/SHAKEN authentication framework; and
+
+(iv) will be capable of fully implementing the STIR/SHAKEN authentication framework not later than 18 months after December 30, 2019; and
+
+(B) in non-internet protocol networks—
+
+(i) has taken reasonable measures to implement an effective call authentication framework; and
+
+(ii) will be capable of fully implementing an effective call authentication framework not later than 18 months after December 30, 2019.
+
+(3) Implementation report Not later than 12 months after December 30, 2019, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the determination required under paragraph (2), which shall include—
+
+(A) an analysis of the extent to which providers of voice service have implemented the call authentication frameworks described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1), including whether the availability of necessary equipment and equipment upgrades has impacted such implementation; and
+
+(B) an assessment of the efficacy of the call authentication frameworks described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) in addressing all aspects of call authentication.
+
+(4) Review and revision or replacement Not later than 3 years after December 30, 2019, and every 3 years thereafter, the Commission, after public notice and an opportunity for comment, shall—
+
+(A) assess the efficacy of the technologies used for call authentication frameworks implemented under this section;
+
+(B) based on the assessment under subparagraph (A), revise or replace the call authentication frameworks under this section if the Commission determines it is in the public interest to do so; and
+
+(C) submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the findings of the assessment under subparagraph (A) and on any actions to revise or replace the call authentication frameworks under subparagraph (B).
+
+(5) Extension of implementation deadline (A) Burdens and barriers to implementation Not later than 12 months after December 30, 2019, and as appropriate thereafter, the Commission—
+
+(i) shall assess any burdens or barriers to the implementation required by paragraph (1), including—
+
+(I) for providers of voice service to the extent the networks of such providers use time-division multiplexing;
+
+(II) for small providers of voice service and those in rural areas; and
+
+(III) the inability to purchase or upgrade equipment to support the call authentication frameworks under this section, or lack of availability of such equipment; and
+
+(ii) in connection with an assessment under clause (i), may, upon a public finding of undue hardship, delay required compliance with the 18-month time period described in paragraph (1), for a reasonable period of time, for a provider or class of providers of voice service, or type of voice calls, as necessary for that provider or class of providers or type of calls to participate in the implementation in order to address the identified burdens and barriers.
+
+(B) Delay of compliance required for certain non-internet protocol networks Subject to subparagraphs (C) through (F), for any provider or class of providers of voice service, or type of voice calls, only to the extent that such a provider or class of providers of voice service, or type of voice calls, materially relies on a non-internet protocol network for the provision of such service or calls, the Commission shall grant a delay of required compliance under subparagraph (A)(ii) until a call authentication protocol has been developed for calls delivered over non-internet protocol networks and is reasonably available.
+
+(C) Robocall mitigation program (i) Program required During the time of a delay of compliance granted under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Commission shall require, pursuant to the authority of the Commission, that any provider subject to such delay shall implement an appropriate robocall mitigation program to prevent unlawful robocalls from originating on the network of the provider.
+
+(ii) Additional requirements If the consortium registered under section 13(d) identifies a provider of voice service that is subject to a delay of compliance granted under subparagraph (A)(ii) as repeatedly originating large-scale unlawful robocall campaigns, the Commission shall require such provider to take action to ensure that such provider does not continue to originate such calls.
+
+(iii) Minimization of burden The Commission shall make reasonable efforts to minimize the burden of any robocall mitigation required pursuant to clause (ii), which may include prescribing certain specific robocall mitigation practices for providers of voice service that have repeatedly originated large-scale unlawful robocall campaigns.
+
+(D) Full participation The Commission shall take reasonable measures to address any issues in an assessment under subparagraph (A)(i) and enable as promptly as reasonable full participation of all classes of providers of voice service and types of voice calls to receive the highest level of trust. Such measures shall include, without limitation, as appropriate, limiting or terminating a delay of compliance granted to a provider under subparagraph (B) if the Commission determines in such assessment that the provider is not making reasonable efforts to develop the call authentication protocol described in such subparagraph.
+
+(E) Alternative methodologies The Commission shall identify, in consultation with small providers of voice service and those in rural areas, alternative effective methodologies to protect customers from unauthenticated calls during any delay of compliance granted under subparagraph (A)(ii).
+
+(F) Revision of delay of compliance Not less frequently than annually after the first delay of compliance is granted under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Commission—
+
+(i) shall consider revising or extending any delay of compliance granted under subparagraph (A)(ii);
+
+(ii) may revise such delay of compliance; and
+
+(iii) shall issue a public notice with regard to whether such delay of compliance remains necessary, including—
+
+(I) why such delay of compliance remains necessary; and
+
+(II) when the Commission expects to achieve the goal of full participation as described in subparagraph (D).
+
+(6) No additional cost to consumers or small business customers The Commission shall prohibit providers of voice service from adding any additional line item charges to consumer or small business customer subscribers for the effective call authentication technology required under paragraph (1).
+
+(7) Accurate identification Not later than 12 months after December 30, 2019, the Commission shall issue best practices that providers of voice service may use as part of the implementation of effective call authentication frameworks under paragraph (1) to take steps to ensure the calling party is accurately identified.
+
+(c) Safe harbor and other regulations (1) In general Consistent with the regulations prescribed under subsection (j) of section 227 of this title, as added by section 10, the Commission shall, not later than 1 year after December 30, 2019, promulgate rules—
+
+(A) establishing when a provider of voice service may block a voice call based, in whole or in part, on information provided by the call authentication frameworks under subsection (b), with no additional line item charge;
+
+(B) establishing a safe harbor for a provider of voice service from liability for unintended or inadvertent blocking of calls or for the unintended or inadvertent misidentification of the level of trust for individual calls based, in whole or in part, on information provided by the call authentication frameworks under subsection (b);
+
+(C) establishing a process to permit a calling party adversely affected by the information provided by the call authentication frameworks under subsection (b) to verify the authenticity of the calling party’s calls; and
+
+(D) ensuring that calls originating from a provider of voice service in an area where the provider is subject to a delay of compliance with the time period described in subsection (b)(1) are not unreasonably blocked because the calls are not able to be authenticated.
+
+(2) Considerations In establishing the safe harbor under paragraph (1), consistent with the regulations prescribed under subsection (j) of section 227 of this title, as added by section 10, the Commission shall consider limiting the liability of a provider of voice service based on the extent to which the provider of voice service—
+
+(A) blocks or identifies calls based, in whole or in part, on the information provided by the call authentication frameworks under subsection (b);
+
+(B) implemented procedures based, in whole or in part, on the information provided by the call authentication frameworks under subsection (b); and
+
+(C) used reasonable care, including making all reasonable efforts to avoid blocking emergency public safety calls.
+
+(d) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall preclude the Commission from initiating a rulemaking pursuant to its existing statutory authority.
+
+(Pub. L. 116–105, § 4, Dec. 30, 2019, 133 Stat. 3276.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextSection 13, referred to in subsec. (b)(5)(C)(ii), is section 13 of Pub. L. 116–105, which is set out as a note under section 227 of this title. Section 10, referred to in subsec. (c), means section 10 of Pub. L. 116–105.
+
+Codification Section was enacted as part of the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, also known as the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Definition For definition of “Commission” as used in this section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 116–105, set out as a note under section 227 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-228.md

@@ -0,0 +1,237 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 228"
+description: "Regulation of carrier offering of pay-per-call services"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "228"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 228"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s228"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "17560a174f08dd1149cce18ebd2d5cc577555c2ea111ff7f94f184125bd8ded5"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "84d74ef320a7936c709937ebcde35fcfb1ce322d979fbc8c768ff70118037404"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 228 - Regulation of carrier offering of pay-per-call services
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Purpose It is the purpose of this section—
+
+(1) to put into effect a system of national regulation and review that will oversee interstate pay-per-call services; and
+
+(2) to recognize the Commission’s authority to prescribe regulations and enforcement procedures and conduct oversight to afford reasonable protection to consumers of pay-per-call services and to assure that violations of Federal law do not occur.
+
+(b) General authority for regulations The Commission by regulation shall, within 270 days after October 28, 1992, establish a system for oversight and regulation of pay-per-call services in order to provide for the protection of consumers in accordance with this chapter and other applicable Federal statutes and regulations. The Commission’s final rules shall—
+
+(1) include measures that provide a consumer of pay-per-call services with adequate and clear descriptions of the rights of the caller;
+
+(2) define the obligations of common carriers with respect to the provision of pay-per-call services;
+
+(3) include requirements on such carriers to protect against abusive practices by providers of pay-per-call services;
+
+(4) identify procedures by which common carriers and providers of pay-per-call services may take affirmative steps to protect against nonpayment of legitimate charges; and
+
+(5) require that any service described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (i)(1) be offered only through the use of certain telephone number prefixes and area codes.
+
+(c) Common carrier obligations Within 270 days after October 28, 1992, the Commission shall, by regulation, establish the following requirements for common carriers:
+
+(1) Contractual obligations to comply Any common carrier assigning to a provider of pay-per-call services a telephone number with a prefix or area code designated by the Commission in accordance with subsection (b)(5) shall require by contract or tariff that such provider comply with the provisions of titles II and III of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act [15 U.S.C. 5711 et seq.; 5721 et seq.] and the regulations prescribed by the Federal Trade Commission pursuant to those titles.
+
+(2) Information availability A common carrier that by tariff or contract assigns a telephone number with a prefix or area code designated by the Commission in accordance with subsection (b)(5) to a provider of a pay-per-call service shall make readily available on request to Federal and State agencies and other interested persons—
+
+(A) a list of the telephone numbers for each of the pay-per-call services it carries;
+
+(B) a short description of each such service;
+
+(C) a statement of the total cost or the cost per minute and any other fees for each such service;
+
+(D) a statement of the pay-per-call service’s name, business address, and business telephone; and
+
+(E) such other information as the Commission considers necessary for the enforcement of this section and other applicable Federal statutes and regulations.
+
+(3) Compliance procedures A common carrier that by contract or tariff assigns a telephone number with a prefix or area code designated by the Commission in accordance with subsection (b)(5) to a provider of pay-per-call services shall terminate, in accordance with procedures specified in such regulations, the offering of a pay-per-call service of a provider if the carrier knows or reasonably should know that such service is not provided in compliance with title II or III of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act [15 U.S.C. 5711 et seq.; 5721 et seq.] or the regulations prescribed by the Federal Trade Commission pursuant to such titles.
+
+(4) Subscriber disconnection prohibited A common carrier shall not disconnect or interrupt a subscriber’s local exchange telephone service or long distance telephone service because of nonpayment of charges for any pay-per-call service.
+
+(5) Blocking and presubscription A common carrier that provides local exchange service shall—
+
+(A) offer telephone subscribers (where technically feasible) the option of blocking access from their telephone number to all, or to certain specific, prefixes or area codes used by pay-per-call services, which option—
+
+(i) shall be offered at no charge (I) to all subscribers for a period of 60 days after the issuance of the regulations under subsection (b), and (II) to any subscriber who subscribes to a new telephone number until 60 days after the time the new telephone number is effective; and
+
+(ii) shall otherwise be offered at a reasonable fee; and
+
+(B) offer telephone subscribers (where the Commission determines it is technically and economically feasible), in combination with the blocking option described under subparagraph (A), the option of presubscribing to or blocking only specific pay-per-call services for a reasonable one-time charge.
+
+The regulations prescribed under subparagraph (A)(i) of this paragraph may permit the costs of such blocking to be recovered by contract or tariff, but such costs may not be recovered from local or long-distance ratepayers. Nothing in this subsection precludes a common carrier from filing its rates and regulations regarding blocking and presubscription in its interstate tariffs.
+
+(6) Verification of charitable status A common carrier that assigns by contract or tariff a telephone number with a prefix or area code designated by the Commission in accordance with subsection (b)(5) to a provider of pay-per-call services that the carrier knows or reasonably should know is engaged in soliciting charitable contributions shall obtain from such provider proof of the tax exempt status of any person or organization for which contributions are solicited.
+
+(7) Billing for 800 calls A common carrier shall prohibit by tariff or contract the use of any 800 telephone number, or other telephone number advertised or widely understood to be toll free, in a manner that would result in—
+
+(A) the calling party being assessed, by virtue of completing the call, a charge for the call;
+
+(B) the calling party being connected to a pay-per-call service;
+
+(C) the calling party being charged for information conveyed during the call unless—
+
+(i) the calling party has a written agreement (including an agreement transmitted through electronic medium) that meets the requirements of paragraph (8); or
+
+(ii) the calling party is charged for the information in accordance with paragraph (9);
+
+(D) the calling party being called back collect for the provision of audio information services or simultaneous voice conversation services; or
+
+(E) the calling party being assessed, by virtue of being asked to connect or otherwise transfer to a pay-per-call service, a charge for the call.
+
+(8) Subscription agreements for billing for information provided via toll-free calls (A) In general For purposes of paragraph (7)(C)(i), a written subscription does not meet the requirements of this paragraph unless the agreement specifies the material terms and conditions under which the information is offered and includes—
+
+(i) the rate at which charges are assessed for the information;
+
+(ii) the information provider’s name;
+
+(iii) the information provider’s business address;
+
+(iv) the information provider’s regular business telephone number;
+
+(v) the information provider’s agreement to notify the subscriber at least one billing cycle in advance of all future changes in the rates charged for the information; and
+
+(vi) the subscriber’s choice of payment method, which may be by direct remit, debit, prepaid account, phone bill, or credit or calling card.
+
+(B) Billing arrangements If a subscriber elects, pursuant to subparagraph (A)(vi), to pay by means of a phone bill—
+
+(i) the agreement shall clearly explain that the subscriber will be assessed for calls made to the information service from the subscriber’s phone line;
+
+(ii) the phone bill shall include, in prominent type, the following disclaimer:“Common carriers may not disconnect local or long distance telephone service for failure to pay disputed charges for information services.”; and
+
+(iii) the phone bill shall clearly list the 800 number dialed.
+
+(C) Use of PINs to prevent unauthorized use A written agreement does not meet the requirements of this paragraph unless it—
+
+(i) includes a unique personal identification number or other subscriber-specific identifier and requires a subscriber to use this number or identifier to obtain access to the information provided and includes instructions on its use; and
+
+(ii) assures that any charges for services accessed by use of the subscriber’s personal identification number or subscriber-specific identifier be assessed to subscriber’s source of payment elected pursuant to subparagraph (A)(vi).
+
+(D) Exceptions Notwithstanding paragraph (7)(C), a written agreement that meets the requirements of this paragraph is not required—
+
+(i) for calls utilizing telecommunications devices for the deaf;
+
+(ii) for directory services provided by a common carrier or its affiliate or by a local exchange carrier or its affiliate; or
+
+(iii) for any purchase of goods or of services that are not information services.
+
+(E) Termination of service On receipt by a common carrier of a complaint by any person that an information provider is in violation of the provisions of this section, a carrier shall—
+
+(i) promptly investigate the complaint; and
+
+(ii) if the carrier reasonably determines that the complaint is valid, it may terminate the provision of service to an information provider unless the provider supplies evidence of a written agreement that meets the requirements of this section.
+
+(F) Treatment of remedies The remedies provided in this paragraph are in addition to any other remedies that are available under subchapter V of this chapter.
+
+(9) Charges by credit, prepaid, debit, charge, or calling card in absence of agreement For purposes of paragraph (7)(C)(ii), a calling party is not charged in accordance with this paragraph unless the calling party is charged by means of a credit, prepaid, debit, charge, or calling card and the information service provider includes in response to each call an introductory disclosure message that—
+
+(A) clearly states that there is a charge for the call;
+
+(B) clearly states the service’s total cost per minute and any other fees for the service or for any service to which the caller may be transferred;
+
+(C) explains that the charges must be billed on either a credit, prepaid, debit, charge, or calling card;
+
+(D) asks the caller for the card number;
+
+(E) clearly states that charges for the call begin at the end of the introductory message; and
+
+(F) clearly states that the caller can hang up at or before the end of the introductory message without incurring any charge whatsoever.
+
+(10) Bypass of introductory disclosure message The requirements of paragraph (9) shall not apply to calls from repeat callers using a bypass mechanism to avoid listening to the introductory message: Provided, That information providers shall disable such a bypass mechanism after the institution of any price increase and for a period of time determined to be sufficient by the Federal Trade Commission to give callers adequate and sufficient notice of a price increase.
+
+(11) “Calling card” defined As used in this subsection, the term “calling card” means an identifying number or code unique to the individual, that is issued to the individual by a common carrier and enables the individual to be charged by means of a phone bill for charges incurred independent of where the call originates.
+
+(d) Billing and collection practices The regulations required by this section shall require that any common carrier that by tariff or contract assigns a telephone number with a prefix or area code designated by the Commission in accordance with subsection (b)(5) to a provider of a pay-per-call service and that offers billing and collection services to such provider—
+
+(1) ensure that a subscriber is not billed—
+
+(A) for pay-per-call services that such carrier knows or reasonably should know was provided in violation of the regulations issued pursuant to title II of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act [15 U.S.C. 5711 et seq.]; or
+
+(B) under such other circumstances as the Commission determines necessary in order to protect subscribers from abusive practices;
+
+(2) establish a local or a toll-free telephone number to answer questions and provide information on subscribers’ rights and obligations with regard to their use of pay-per-call services and to provide to callers the name and mailing address of any provider of pay-per-call services offered by the common carrier;
+
+(3) within 60 days after the issuance of final regulations pursuant to subsection (b), provide, either directly or through contract with any local exchange carrier that provides billing or collection services to the common carrier, to all of such common carrier’s telephone subscribers, to all new subscribers, and to all subscribers requesting service at a new location, a disclosure statement that sets forth all rights and obligations of the subscriber and the carrier with respect to the use and payment for pay-per-call services, including the right of a subscriber not to be billed and the applicable blocking option; and
+
+(4) in any billing to telephone subscribers that includes charges for any pay-per-call service—
+
+(A) display any charges for pay-per-call services in a part of the subscriber’s bill that is identified as not being related to local and long distance telephone charges;
+
+(B) for each charge so displayed, specify, at a minimum, the type of service, the amount of the charge, and the date, time, and duration of the call; and
+
+(C) identify the toll-free number established pursuant to paragraph (2).
+
+(e) Liability (1) Common carriers not liable for transmission or billing No common carrier shall be liable for a criminal or civil sanction or penalty solely because the carrier provided transmission or billing and collection for a pay-per-call service unless the carrier knew or reasonably should have known that such service was provided in violation of a provision of, or regulation prescribed pursuant to, title II or III of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act [15 U.S.C. 5711 et seq.; 5721 et seq.] or any other Federal law. This paragraph shall not prevent the Commission from imposing a sanction or penalty on a common carrier for a violation by that carrier of a regulation prescribed under this section.
+
+(2) Civil liability No cause of action may be brought in any court or administrative agency against any common carrier or any of its affiliates on account of any act of the carrier or affiliate to terminate any pay-per-call service in order to comply with the regulations prescribed under this section, title II or III of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act [15 U.S.C. 5711 et seq.; 5721 et seq.], or any other Federal law unless the complainant demonstrates that the carrier or affiliate did not act in good faith.
+
+(f) Special provisions (1) Consumer refund requirements The regulations required by subsection (d) shall establish procedures, consistent with the provisions of titles II and III of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act [15 U.S.C. 5711 et seq.; 5721 et seq.], to ensure that carriers and other parties providing billing and collection services with respect to pay-per-call services provide appropriate refunds to subscribers who have been billed for pay-per-call services pursuant to programs that have been found to have violated this section or such regulations, any provision of, or regulations prescribed pursuant to, title II or III of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act, or any other Federal law.
+
+(2) Recovery of costs The regulations prescribed by the Commission under this section shall permit a common carrier to recover its cost of complying with such regulations from providers of pay-per-call services, but shall not permit such costs to be recovered from local or long distance ratepayers.
+
+(3) Recommendations on data pay-per-call The Commission, within one year after October 28, 1992, shall submit to the Congress the Commission’s recommendations with respect to the extension of regulations under this section to persons that provide, for a per-call charge, data services that are not pay-per-call services.
+
+(g) Effect on other law (1) No preemption of election law Nothing in this section shall relieve any provider of pay-per-call services, common carrier, local exchange carrier, or any other person from the obligation to comply with Federal, State, and local election statutes and regulations.
+
+(2) Consumer protection laws Nothing in this section shall relieve any provider of pay-per-call services, common carrier, local exchange carrier, or any other person from the obligation to comply with any Federal, State, or local statute or regulation relating to consumer protection or unfair trade.
+
+(3) Gambling laws Nothing in this section shall preclude any State from enforcing its statutes and regulations with regard to lotteries, wagering, betting, and other gambling activities.
+
+(4) State authority Nothing in this section shall preclude any State from enacting and enforcing additional and complementary oversight and regulatory systems or procedures, or both, so long as such systems and procedures govern intrastate services and do not significantly impede the enforcement of this section or other Federal statutes.
+
+(5) Enforcement of existing regulations Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Commission from enforcing regulations prescribed prior to October 28, 1992, in fulfilling the requirements of this section to the extent that such regulations are consistent with the provisions of this section.
+
+(h) Effect on dial-a-porn prohibitions Nothing in this section shall affect the provisions of section 223 of this title.
+
+(i) “Pay-per-call services” defined For purposes of this section—
+
+(1) The term “pay-per-call services” means any service—
+
+(A) in which any person provides or purports to provide—
+
+(i) audio information or audio entertainment produced or packaged by such person;
+
+(ii) access to simultaneous voice conversation services; or
+
+(iii) any service, including the provision of a product, the charges for which are assessed on the basis of the completion of the call;
+
+(B) for which the caller pays a per-call or per-time-interval charge that is greater than, or in addition to, the charge for transmission of the call; and
+
+(C) which is accessed through use of a 900 telephone number or other prefix or area code designated by the Commission in accordance with subsection (b)(5).
+
+(2) Such term does not include directory services provided by a common carrier or its affiliate or by a local exchange carrier or its affiliate, or any service for which users are assessed charges only after entering into a presubscription or comparable arrangement with the provider of such service.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 228, as added Pub. L. 102–556, title I, § 101, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4182; amended Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(a)(13), (14), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4294; Pub. L. 104–104, title VII, § 701(a)(1), (b)(2), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 145, 148.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables. The Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act, referred to in subsecs. (c)(1), (3), (d)(1)(A), (e), and (f)(1), is Pub. L. 102–556, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4181. Titles II and III of the Act are classified generally to subchapters I (§ 5711 et seq.) and II (§ 5721 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 83 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 5701(a) of Title 15 and Tables.
+
+Amendments1996—Subsec. (c)(7)(C). Pub. L. 104–104, § 701(a)(1)(A), added subpar. (C) and struck out former subpar. (C) which read as follows: “the calling party being charged for information conveyed during the call unless the calling party has a preexisting agreement to be charged for the information or discloses a credit or charge card number during the call; or”. Subsec. (c)(7)(E). Pub. L. 104–104, § 701(a)(1)(B), added subpar. (E). Subsec. (c)(8) to (11). Pub. L. 104–104, § 701(a)(1)(C), added pars. (8) to (11). Subsec. (i)(2). Pub. L. 104–104, § 701(b)(2), struck out “or any service the charge for which is tariffed,” after “local exchange carrier or its affiliate,”. 1994—Subsec. (c)(2) to (7). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(13), redesignated par. (2), relating to compliance procedures, as (3) and pars. (3) to (6) as (4) to (7), respectively. Subsec. (c)(7)(D). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(14), which directed substitution of “conversation” for “conservation” in par. (6)(D), was executed by making the substitution in par. (7)(D) to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the redesignation of par. (6) as (7) by Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(13). See above.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1996 AmendmentPub. L. 104–104, title VII, § 701(a)(3), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 147, provided that: “The amendments made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 8, 1996].”
+
+RegulationsPub. L. 104–104, title VII, § 701(a)(2), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 147, provided that: “The Federal Communications Commission shall revise its regulations to comply with the amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 8, 1996].”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-229.md

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 229"
+description: "Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act compliance"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "229"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 229"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s229"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "ed724815f048ef64c41aa0dfdf55c63a125749d89a83fd2d665d2948a3e89f67"
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+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 229 - Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act compliance
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In general The Commission shall prescribe such rules as are necessary to implement the requirements of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act [47 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.].
+
+(b) Systems security and integrity The rules prescribed pursuant to subsection (a) shall include rules to implement section 105 of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act [47 U.S.C. 1004] that require common carriers—
+
+(1) to establish appropriate policies and procedures for the supervision and control of its officers and employees—
+
+(A) to require appropriate authorization to activate interception of communications or access to call-identifying information; and
+
+(B) to prevent any such interception or access without such authorization;
+
+(2) to maintain secure and accurate records of any interception or access with or without such authorization; and
+
+(3) to submit to the Commission the policies and procedures adopted to comply with the requirements established under paragraphs (1) and (2).
+
+(c) Commission review of compliance The Commission shall review the policies and procedures submitted under subsection (b)(3) and shall order a common carrier to modify any such policy or procedure that the Commission determines does not comply with Commission regulations. The Commission shall conduct such investigations as may be necessary to insure compliance by common carriers with the requirements of the regulations prescribed under this section.
+
+(d) Penalties For purposes of this chapter, a violation by an officer or employee of any policy or procedure adopted by a common carrier pursuant to subsection (b), or of a rule prescribed by the Commission pursuant to subsection (a), shall be considered to be a violation by the carrier of a rule prescribed by the Commission pursuant to this chapter.
+
+(e) Cost recovery for Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act compliance (1) Petitions authorized A common carrier may petition the Commission to adjust charges, practices, classifications, and regulations to recover costs expended for making modifications to equipment, facilities, or services pursuant to the requirements of section 103 of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act [47 U.S.C. 1002].
+
+(2) Commission authority The Commission may grant, with or without modification, a petition under paragraph (1) if the Commission determines that such costs are reasonable and that permitting recovery is consistent with the public interest. The Commission may, consistent with maintaining just and reasonable charges, practices, classifications, and regulations in connection with the provision of interstate or foreign communication by wire or radio by a common carrier, allow carriers to adjust such charges, practices, classifications, and regulations in order to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
+
+(3) Joint board The Commission shall convene a Federal-State joint board to recommend appropriate changes to part 36 of the Commission’s rules with respect to recovery of costs pursuant to charges, practices, classifications, and regulations under the jurisdiction of the Commission.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 229, as added Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 301, Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4292.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (e), is title I of Pub. L. 103–414, Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4279, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 1001 et seq.) of chapter 9 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of this title and Tables. This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (d) and (e)(2), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-230.md

@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 230"
+description: "Protection for private blocking and screening of offensive material"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "230"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 230"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s230"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "2efb315b176b9331d01fa29dfc0ce77c59f849700543ad45e35473559da11027"
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+text_hash: "f014d69c46c0530a1ef22da6998ffb46f3bbd701d289ea847896e32715066ffd"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 230 - Protection for private blocking and screening of offensive material
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Findings The Congress finds the following:
+
+(1) The rapidly developing array of Internet and other interactive computer services available to individual Americans represent an extraordinary advance in the availability of educational and informational resources to our citizens.
+
+(2) These services offer users a great degree of control over the information that they receive, as well as the potential for even greater control in the future as technology develops.
+
+(3) The Internet and other interactive computer services offer a forum for a true diversity of political discourse, unique opportunities for cultural development, and myriad avenues for intellectual activity.
+
+(4) The Internet and other interactive computer services have flourished, to the benefit of all Americans, with a minimum of government regulation.
+
+(5) Increasingly Americans are relying on interactive media for a variety of political, educational, cultural, and entertainment services.
+
+(b) Policy It is the policy of the United States—
+
+(1) to promote the continued development of the Internet and other interactive computer services and other interactive media;
+
+(2) to preserve the vibrant and competitive free market that presently exists for the Internet and other interactive computer services, unfettered by Federal or State regulation;
+
+(3) to encourage the development of technologies which maximize user control over what information is received by individuals, families, and schools who use the Internet and other interactive computer services;
+
+(4) to remove disincentives for the development and utilization of blocking and filtering technologies that empower parents to restrict their children’s access to objectionable or inappropriate online material; and
+
+(5) to ensure vigorous enforcement of Federal criminal laws to deter and punish trafficking in obscenity, stalking, and harassment by means of computer.
+
+(c) Protection for “Good Samaritan” blocking and screening of offensive material (1) Treatment of publisher or speaker No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.
+
+(2) Civil liability No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be held liable on account of—
+
+(A) any action voluntarily taken in good faith to restrict access to or availability of material that the provider or user considers to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected; or
+
+(B) any action taken to enable or make available to information content providers or others the technical means to restrict access to material described in paragraph (1).11 So in original. Probably should be “subparagraph (A).”
+
+(d) Obligations of interactive computer service A provider of interactive computer service shall, at the time of entering an agreement with a customer for the provision of interactive computer service and in a manner deemed appropriate by the provider, notify such customer that parental control protections (such as computer hardware, software, or filtering services) are commercially available that may assist the customer in limiting access to material that is harmful to minors. Such notice shall identify, or provide the customer with access to information identifying, current providers of such protections.
+
+(e) Effect on other laws (1) No effect on criminal law Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair the enforcement of section 223 or 231 of this title, chapter 71 (relating to obscenity) or 110 (relating to sexual exploitation of children) of title 18, or any other Federal criminal statute.
+
+(2) No effect on intellectual property law Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or expand any law pertaining to intellectual property.
+
+(3) State law Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any State from enforcing any State law that is consistent with this section. No cause of action may be brought and no liability may be imposed under any State or local law that is inconsistent with this section.
+
+(4) No effect on communications privacy law Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the application of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 or any of the amendments made by such Act, or any similar State law.
+
+(5) No effect on sex trafficking law Nothing in this section (other than subsection (c)(2)(A)) shall be construed to impair or limit—
+
+(A) any claim in a civil action brought under section 1595 of title 18, if the conduct underlying the claim constitutes a violation of section 1591 of that title;
+
+(B) any charge in a criminal prosecution brought under State law if the conduct underlying the charge would constitute a violation of section 1591 of title 18; or
+
+(C) any charge in a criminal prosecution brought under State law if the conduct underlying the charge would constitute a violation of section 2421A of title 18, and promotion or facilitation of prostitution is illegal in the jurisdiction where the defendant’s promotion or facilitation of prostitution was targeted.
+
+(f) Definitions As used in this section:
+
+(1) Internet The term “Internet” means the international computer network of both Federal and non-Federal interoperable packet switched data networks.
+
+(2) Interactive computer service The term “interactive computer service” means any information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server, including specifically a service or system that provides access to the Internet and such systems operated or services offered by libraries or educational institutions.
+
+(3) Information content provider The term “information content provider” means any person or entity that is responsible, in whole or in part, for the creation or development of information provided through the Internet or any other interactive computer service.
+
+(4) Access software provider The term “access software provider” means a provider of software (including client or server software), or enabling tools that do any one or more of the following:
+
+(A) filter, screen, allow, or disallow content;
+
+(B) pick, choose, analyze, or digest content; or
+
+(C) transmit, receive, display, forward, cache, search, subset, organize, reorganize, or translate content.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 230, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title V, § 509, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 137; amended Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title XIV, § 1404(a), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–739; Pub. L. 115–164, § 4(a), Apr. 11, 2018, 132 Stat. 1254.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, referred to in subsec. (e)(4), is Pub. L. 99–508, Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1848. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1986 Amendment note set out under section 2510 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and Tables.
+
+Codification Section 509 of Pub. L. 104–104, which directed amendment of title II of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) by adding section 230 at end, was executed by adding the section at end of part I of title II of the Act to reflect the probable intent of Congress and amendments by sections 101(a), (b), and 151(a) of Pub. L. 104–104 designating §§ 201 to 229 as part I and adding parts II (§ 251 et seq.) and III (§ 271 et seq.) to title II of the Act.
+
+Amendments2018—Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 115–164 added par. (5). 1998—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–277, § 1404(a)(3), added subsec. (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e). Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 105–277, § 1404(a)(1), inserted “or 231” after “section 223”. Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 105–277, § 1404(a)(2), redesignated subsecs. (d) and (e) as (e) and (f), respectively.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2018 AmendmentPub. L. 115–164, § 4(b), Apr. 11, 2018, 132 Stat. 1254, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 11, 2018], and the amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply regardless of whether the conduct alleged occurred, or is alleged to have occurred, before, on, or after such date of enactment.”
+
+Effective Date of 1998 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–277 effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, see section 1406 of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as a note under section 223 of this title.
+
+SavingsPub. L. 115–164, § 7, Apr. 11, 2018, 132 Stat. 1255, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 2018 Amendment note set out under section 1 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure] or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to limit or preempt any civil action or criminal prosecution under Federal law or State law (including State statutory law and State common law) filed before or after the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 11, 2018] that was not limited or preempted by section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230), as such section was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.”
+
+Sense of CongressPub. L. 115–164, § 2, Apr. 11, 2018, 132 Stat. 1253, provided that: “It is the sense of Congress that— “(1) section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230; commonly known as the ‘Communications Decency Act of 1996’) was never intended to provide legal protection to websites that unlawfully promote and facilitate prostitution and websites that facilitate traffickers in advertising the sale of unlawful sex acts with sex trafficking victims; “(2) websites that promote and facilitate prostitution have been reckless in allowing the sale of sex trafficking victims and have done nothing to prevent the trafficking of children and victims of force, fraud, and coercion; and “(3) clarification of such section is warranted to ensure that such section does not provide such protection to such websites.”
+
+Executive Documents
+
+Executive Order No. 13925 Ex. Ord. No. 13925, May 28, 2020, 85 F.R. 34079, which related to moderation of content posted on social media platforms, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14029, § 1, May 14, 2021, 86 F.R. 27025.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-231.md

@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 231"
+description: "Restriction of access by minors to materials commercially distributed by means of World Wide Web that are harmful to minors"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "231"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 231"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s231"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
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+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 231 - Restriction of access by minors to materials commercially distributed by means of World Wide Web that are harmful to minors
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Requirement to restrict access (1) Prohibited conduct Whoever knowingly and with knowledge of the character of the material, in interstate or foreign commerce by means of the World Wide Web, makes any communication for commercial purposes that is available to any minor and that includes any material that is harmful to minors shall be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.
+
+(2) Intentional violations In addition to the penalties under paragraph (1), whoever intentionally violates such paragraph shall be subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 for each violation. For purposes of this paragraph, each day of violation shall constitute a separate violation.
+
+(3) Civil penalty In addition to the penalties under paragraphs (1) and (2), whoever violates paragraph (1) shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000 for each violation. For purposes of this paragraph, each day of violation shall constitute a separate violation.
+
+(b) Inapplicability of carriers and other service providers For purposes of subsection (a), a person shall not be considered to make any communication for commercial purposes to the extent that such person is—
+
+(1) a telecommunications carrier engaged in the provision of a telecommunications service;
+
+(2) a person engaged in the business of providing an Internet access service;
+
+(3) a person engaged in the business of providing an Internet information location tool; or
+
+(4) similarly engaged in the transmission, storage, retrieval, hosting, formatting, or translation (or any combination thereof) of a communication made by another person, without selection or alteration of the content of the communication, except that such person’s deletion of a particular communication or material made by another person in a manner consistent with subsection (c) or section 230 of this title shall not constitute such selection or alteration of the content of the communication.
+
+(c) Affirmative defense (1) Defense It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the defendant, in good faith, has restricted access by minors to material that is harmful to minors—
+
+(A) by requiring use of a credit card, debit account, adult access code, or adult personal identification number;
+
+(B) by accepting a digital certificate that verifies age; or
+
+(C) by any other reasonable measures that are feasible under available technology.
+
+(2) Protection for use of defenses No cause of action may be brought in any court or administrative agency against any person on account of any activity that is not in violation of any law punishable by criminal or civil penalty, and that the person has taken in good faith to implement a defense authorized under this subsection or otherwise to restrict or prevent the transmission of, or access to, a communication specified in this section.
+
+(d) Privacy protection requirements (1) Disclosure of information limited A person making a communication described in subsection (a)—
+
+(A) shall not disclose any information collected for the purposes of restricting access to such communications to individuals 17 years of age or older without the prior written or electronic consent of—
+
+(i) the individual concerned, if the individual is an adult; or
+
+(ii) the individual’s parent or guardian, if the individual is under 17 years of age; and
+
+(B) shall take such actions as are necessary to prevent unauthorized access to such information by a person other than the person making such communication and the recipient of such communication.
+
+(2) Exceptions A person making a communication described in subsection (a) may disclose such information if the disclosure is—
+
+(A) necessary to make the communication or conduct a legitimate business activity related to making the communication; or
+
+(B) made pursuant to a court order authorizing such disclosure.
+
+(e) Definitions For purposes of this subsection,11 So in original. Probably should be “section,”. the following definitions shall apply:
+
+(1) By means of the World Wide Web The term “by means of the World Wide Web” means by placement of material in a computer server-based file archive so that it is publicly accessible, over the Internet, using hypertext transfer protocol or any successor protocol.
+
+(2) Commercial purposes; engaged in the business (A) Commercial purposes A person shall be considered to make a communication for commercial purposes only if such person is engaged in the business of making such communications.
+
+(B) Engaged in the business The term “engaged in the business” means that the person who makes a communication, or offers to make a communication, by means of the World Wide Web, that includes any material that is harmful to minors, devotes time, attention, or labor to such activities, as a regular course of such person’s trade or business, with the objective of earning a profit as a result of such activities (although it is not necessary that the person make a profit or that the making or offering to make such communications be the person’s sole or principal business or source of income). A person may be considered to be engaged in the business of making, by means of the World Wide Web, communications for commercial purposes that include material that is harmful to minors, only if the person knowingly causes the material that is harmful to minors to be posted on the World Wide Web or knowingly solicits such material to be posted on the World Wide Web.
+
+(3) Internet The term “Internet” means the combination of computer facilities and electromagnetic transmission media, and related equipment and software, comprising the interconnected worldwide network of computer networks that employ the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol or any successor protocol to transmit information.
+
+(4) Internet access service The term “Internet access service” means a service that enables users to access content, information, electronic mail, or other services offered over the Internet, and may also include access to proprietary content, information, and other services as part of a package of services offered to consumers. Such term does not include telecommunications services.
+
+(5) Internet information location tool The term “Internet information location tool” means a service that refers or links users to an online location on the World Wide Web. Such term includes directories, indices, references, pointers, and hypertext links.
+
+(6) Material that is harmful to minors The term “material that is harmful to minors” means any communication, picture, image, graphic image file, article, recording, writing, or other matter of any kind that is obscene or that—
+
+(A) the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find, taking the material as a whole and with respect to minors, is designed to appeal to, or is designed to pander to, the prurient interest;
+
+(B) depicts, describes, or represents, in a manner patently offensive with respect to minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, an actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual act, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals or post-pubescent female breast; and
+
+(C) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.
+
+(7) Minor The term “minor” means any person under 17 years of age.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 231, as added Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title XIV, § 1403, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–736.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective DateSection effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, see section 1406 of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as a note under section 223 of this title.
+
+Congressional FindingsPub. L. 105–277, div. C, title XIV, § 1402, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–736, provided that: “The Congress finds that— “(1) while custody, care, and nurture of the child resides first with the parent, the widespread availability of the Internet presents opportunities for minors to access materials through the World Wide Web in a manner that can frustrate parental supervision or control; “(2) the protection of the physical and psychological well-being of minors by shielding them from materials that are harmful to them is a compelling governmental interest; “(3) to date, while the industry has developed innovative ways to help parents and educators restrict material that is harmful to minors through parental control protections and self-regulation, such efforts have not provided a national solution to the problem of minors accessing harmful material on the World Wide Web; “(4) a prohibition on the distribution of material harmful to minors, combined with legitimate defenses, is currently the most effective and least restrictive means by which to satisfy the compelling government interest; and “(5) notwithstanding the existence of protections that limit the distribution over the World Wide Web of material that is harmful to minors, parents, educators, and industry must continue efforts to find ways to protect children from being exposed to harmful material found on the Internet.”
+
+Study by Commission on Online Child ProtectionPub. L. 105–277, div. C, title XIV, § 1405, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–739, as amended by Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title V, § 5001(b)–(f), Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–591, 1501A–592; Pub. L. 106–229, title IV, § 401, June 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 476, established a Commission to study methods to reduce access by minors to harmful material on the Internet and provided that the Commission would terminate 30 days after submitting a report to Congress or Nov. 30, 2000, whichever occured earlier.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-251.md

@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 251"
+description: "Interconnection"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "251"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 251"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s251"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "1f9afc58d5eb2bed5ff2b7ec668607c06436e551b41b899672aabcb4de1a743f"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "92a2fe41457f4f2b8e84133c1037aabc0441277b43730acff3ec185241697c1b"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 251 - Interconnection
+
+## Text
+
+(a) General duty of telecommunications carriers Each telecommunications carrier has the duty—
+
+(1) to interconnect directly or indirectly with the facilities and equipment of other telecommunications carriers; and
+
+(2) not to install network features, functions, or capabilities that do not comply with the guidelines and standards established pursuant to section 255 or 256 of this title.
+
+(b) Obligations of all local exchange carriers Each local exchange carrier has the following duties:
+
+(1) Resale The duty not to prohibit, and not to impose unreasonable or discriminatory conditions or limitations on, the resale of its telecommunications services.
+
+(2) Number portability The duty to provide, to the extent technically feasible, number portability in accordance with requirements prescribed by the Commission.
+
+(3) Dialing parity The duty to provide dialing parity to competing providers of telephone exchange service and telephone toll service, and the duty to permit all such providers to have nondiscriminatory access to telephone numbers, operator services, directory assistance, and directory listing, with no unreasonable dialing delays.
+
+(4) Access to rights-of-way The duty to afford access to the poles, ducts, conduits, and rights-of-way of such carrier to competing providers of telecommunications services on rates, terms, and conditions that are consistent with section 224 of this title.
+
+(5) Reciprocal compensation The duty to establish reciprocal compensation arrangements for the transport and termination of telecommunications.
+
+(c) Additional obligations of incumbent local exchange carriers In addition to the duties contained in subsection (b), each incumbent local exchange carrier has the following duties:
+
+(1) Duty to negotiate The duty to negotiate in good faith in accordance with section 252 of this title the particular terms and conditions of agreements to fulfill the duties described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (b) and this subsection. The requesting telecommunications carrier also has the duty to negotiate in good faith the terms and conditions of such agreements.
+
+(2) Interconnection The duty to provide, for the facilities and equipment of any requesting telecommunications carrier, interconnection with the local exchange carrier’s network—
+
+(A) for the transmission and routing of telephone exchange service and exchange access;
+
+(B) at any technically feasible point within the carrier’s network;
+
+(C) that is at least equal in quality to that provided by the local exchange carrier to itself or to any subsidiary, affiliate, or any other party to which the carrier provides interconnection; and
+
+(D) on rates, terms, and conditions that are just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement and the requirements of this section and section 252 of this title.
+
+(3) Unbundled access The duty to provide, to any requesting telecommunications carrier for the provision of a telecommunications service, nondiscriminatory access to network elements on an unbundled basis at any technically feasible point on rates, terms, and conditions that are just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement and the requirements of this section and section 252 of this title. An incumbent local exchange carrier shall provide such unbundled network elements in a manner that allows requesting carriers to combine such elements in order to provide such telecommunications service.
+
+(4) Resale The duty—
+
+(A) to offer for resale at wholesale rates any telecommunications service that the carrier provides at retail to subscribers who are not telecommunications carriers; and
+
+(B) not to prohibit, and not to impose unreasonable or discriminatory conditions or limitations on, the resale of such telecommunications service, except that a State commission may, consistent with regulations prescribed by the Commission under this section, prohibit a reseller that obtains at wholesale rates a telecommunications service that is available at retail only to a category of subscribers from offering such service to a different category of subscribers.
+
+(5) Notice of changes The duty to provide reasonable public notice of changes in the information necessary for the transmission and routing of services using that local exchange carrier’s facilities or networks, as well as of any other changes that would affect the interoperability of those facilities and networks.
+
+(6) Collocation The duty to provide, on rates, terms, and conditions that are just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory, for physical collocation of equipment necessary for interconnection or access to unbundled network elements at the premises of the local exchange carrier, except that the carrier may provide for virtual collocation if the local exchange carrier demonstrates to the State commission that physical collocation is not practical for technical reasons or because of space limitations.
+
+(d) Implementation (1) In general Within 6 months after February 8, 1996, the Commission shall complete all actions necessary to establish regulations to implement the requirements of this section.
+
+(2) Access standards In determining what network elements should be made available for purposes of subsection (c)(3), the Commission shall consider, at a minimum, whether—
+
+(A) access to such network elements as are proprietary in nature is necessary; and
+
+(B) the failure to provide access to such network elements would impair the ability of the telecommunications carrier seeking access to provide the services that it seeks to offer.
+
+(3) Preservation of State access regulations In prescribing and enforcing regulations to implement the requirements of this section, the Commission shall not preclude the enforcement of any regulation, order, or policy of a State commission that—
+
+(A) establishes access and interconnection obligations of local exchange carriers;
+
+(B) is consistent with the requirements of this section; and
+
+(C) does not substantially prevent implementation of the requirements of this section and the purposes of this part.
+
+(e) Numbering administration (1) Commission authority and jurisdiction The Commission shall create or designate one or more impartial entities to administer telecommunications numbering and to make such numbers available on an equitable basis. The Commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction over those portions of the North American Numbering Plan that pertain to the United States. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the Commission from delegating to State commissions or other entities all or any portion of such jurisdiction.
+
+(2) Costs The cost of establishing telecommunications numbering administration arrangements and number portability shall be borne by all telecommunications carriers on a competitively neutral basis as determined by the Commission.
+
+(3) Universal emergency telephone number The Commission and any agency or entity to which the Commission has delegated authority under this subsection shall designate 9–1–1 as the universal emergency telephone number within the United States for reporting an emergency to appropriate authorities and requesting assistance. The designation shall apply to both wireline and wireless telephone service. In making the designation, the Commission (and any such agency or entity) shall provide appropriate transition periods for areas in which 9–1–1 is not in use as an emergency telephone number on October 26, 1999.
+
+(4) Universal telephone number for national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system 9–8–8 is designated as the universal telephone number within the United States for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline maintained by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use under section 520E–3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c) and through the Veterans Crisis Line maintained by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 1720F(h) of title 38.
+
+(f) Exemptions, suspensions, and modifications (1) Exemption for certain rural telephone companies (A) Exemption Subsection (c) of this section shall not apply to a rural telephone company until (i) such company has received a bona fide request for interconnection, services, or network elements, and (ii) the State commission determines (under subparagraph (B)) that such request is not unduly economically burdensome, is technically feasible, and is consistent with section 254 of this title (other than subsections (b)(7) and (c)(1)(D) thereof).
+
+(B) State termination of exemption and implementation schedule The party making a bona fide request of a rural telephone company for interconnection, services, or network elements shall submit a notice of its request to the State commission. The State commission shall conduct an inquiry for the purpose of determining whether to terminate the exemption under subparagraph (A). Within 120 days after the State commission receives notice of the request, the State commission shall terminate the exemption if the request is not unduly economically burdensome, is technically feasible, and is consistent with section 254 of this title (other than subsections (b)(7) and (c)(1)(D) thereof). Upon termination of the exemption, a State commission shall establish an implementation schedule for compliance with the request that is consistent in time and manner with Commission regulations.
+
+(C) Limitation on exemption The exemption provided by this paragraph shall not apply with respect to a request under subsection (c) from a cable operator providing video programming, and seeking to provide any telecommunications service, in the area in which the rural telephone company provides video programming. The limitation contained in this subparagraph shall not apply to a rural telephone company that is providing video programming on February 8, 1996.
+
+(2) Suspensions and modifications for rural carriers A local exchange carrier with fewer than 2 percent of the Nation’s subscriber lines installed in the aggregate nationwide may petition a State commission for a suspension or modification of the application of a requirement or requirements of subsection (b) or (c) to telephone exchange service facilities specified in such petition. The State commission shall grant such petition to the extent that, and for such duration as, the State commission determines that such suspension or modification—
+
+(A) is necessary—
+
+(i) to avoid a significant adverse economic impact on users of telecommunications services generally;
+
+(ii) to avoid imposing a requirement that is unduly economically burdensome; or
+
+(iii) to avoid imposing a requirement that is technically infeasible; and
+
+(B) is consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity.
+
+The State commission shall act upon any petition filed under this paragraph within 180 days after receiving such petition. Pending such action, the State commission may suspend enforcement of the requirement or requirements to which the petition applies with respect to the petitioning carrier or carriers.
+
+(g) Continued enforcement of exchange access and interconnection requirements On and after February 8, 1996, each local exchange carrier, to the extent that it provides wireline services, shall provide exchange access, information access, and exchange services for such access to interexchange carriers and information service providers in accordance with the same equal access and nondiscriminatory interconnection restrictions and obligations (including receipt of compensation) that apply to such carrier on the date immediately preceding February 8, 1996, under any court order, consent decree, or regulation, order, or policy of the Commission, until such restrictions and obligations are explicitly superseded by regulations prescribed by the Commission after February 8, 1996. During the period beginning on February 8, 1996, and until such restrictions and obligations are so superseded, such restrictions and obligations shall be enforceable in the same manner as regulations of the Commission.
+
+(h) “Incumbent local exchange carrier” defined (1) Definition For purposes of this section, the term “incumbent local exchange carrier” means, with respect to an area, the local exchange carrier that—
+
+(A) on February 8, 1996, provided telephone exchange service in such area; and
+
+(B) (i) on February 8, 1996, was deemed to be a member of the exchange carrier association pursuant to section 69.601(b) of the Commission’s regulations (47 C.F.R. 69.601(b)); or
+
+(ii) is a person or entity that, on or after February 8, 1996, became a successor or assign of a member described in clause (i).
+
+(2) Treatment of comparable carriers as incumbents The Commission may, by rule, provide for the treatment of a local exchange carrier (or class or category thereof) as an incumbent local exchange carrier for purposes of this section if—
+
+(A) such carrier occupies a position in the market for telephone exchange service within an area that is comparable to the position occupied by a carrier described in paragraph (1);
+
+(B) such carrier has substantially replaced an incumbent local exchange carrier described in paragraph (1); and
+
+(C) such treatment is consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity and the purposes of this section.
+
+(i) Savings provision Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect the Commission’s authority under section 201 of this title.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 251, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 61; amended Pub. L. 106–81, § 3(a), Oct. 26, 1999, 113 Stat. 1287; Pub. L. 116–172, § 3(a), Oct. 17, 2020, 134 Stat. 832.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2020—Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 116–172 added par. (4). 1999—Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 106–81 added par. (3).
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2020 AmendmentPub. L. 116–172, § 3(b), Oct. 17, 2020, 134 Stat. 833, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 2020].”
+
+FindingsPub. L. 116–172, § 2, Oct. 17, 2020, 134 Stat. 832, provided that: “Congress finds the following: “(1) According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, on average, there are 129 suicides per day in the United States. “(2) To prevent future suicides, it is critical to transition the cumbersome, existing 10-digit National Suicide Hotline to a universal, easy-to-remember, 3-digit phone number and connect people in crisis with life-saving resources. “(3) It is essential that people in the United States have access to a 3-digit national suicide hotline across all geographic locations. “(4) The designated suicide hotline number will need to be both familiar and recognizable to all people in the United States.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-251a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 251a"
+description: "State authority over fees"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "251a"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 251a"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s251a"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "6e13d7504137bc23f54014b158e0ef9acc89efc7975b342d629026d0acc54521"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "223c432dde795d34ab6d982a48a0767277b70032686f105102d98ad3672c287b"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 251a - State authority over fees
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Authority (1) In general Nothing in this Act, any amendment made by this Act, the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), or any Commission regulation or order may prevent the imposition and collection of a fee or charge applicable to a commercial mobile service or an IP-enabled voice service specifically designated by a State, a political subdivision of a State, an Indian Tribe, or village or regional corporation serving a region established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) for 9–8–8 related services, if the fee or charge is held in a sequestered account to be obligated or expended only in support of 9–8–8 services, or enhancements of such services, as specified in the provision of State or local law adopting the fee or charge.
+
+(2) Use of 9–8–8 funds A fee or charge collected under this subsection shall only be imposed, collected, and used to pay expenses that a State, a political subdivision of a State, an Indian Tribe, or village or regional corporation serving a region established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is expected to incur that are reasonably attributed to—
+
+(A) ensuring the efficient and effective routing of calls made to the 9–8–8 national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline to an appropriate crisis center; and
+
+(B) personnel and the provision of acute mental health, crisis outreach and stabilization services by directly responding to the 9–8–8 national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
+
+(b) Fee Accountability Report To ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the collection and expenditure of a fee or charge for the support or implementation of 9–8–8 services, not later than 2 years after October 17, 2020, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that—
+
+(1) details the status in each State, political subdivision of a State, Indian Tribe, or village or regional corporation serving a region established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) of the collection and distribution of such fees or charges; and
+
+(2) includes findings on the amount of revenues obligated or expended by each State, political subdivision of a State, Indian Tribe, or village or regional corporation serving a region established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) for any purpose other than the purpose for which any such fees or charges are specified.
+
+(c) Definitions In this section:
+
+(1) Commercial mobile service The term “commercial mobile service” has the meaning given that term under section 332(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)).
+
+(2) Commission The term “Commission” means the Federal Communications Commission.
+
+(3) IP-enabled voice service The term “IP-enabled voice service” shall include—
+
+(A) an interconnected VoIP service, as defined in section 9.3 of the 11 So in original. title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto; and
+
+(B) a one-way interconnected VoIP service.
+
+(4) State The term “State” has the meaning given that term in section 615b of this title.
+
+(Pub. L. 116–172, § 4, Oct. 17, 2020, 134 Stat. 833.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is Pub. L. 116–172, Oct. 17, 2020, 134 Stat. 832, known as the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2020 Amendment note under section 609 of this title and Tables. The Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables.
+
+CodificationSection was enacted as part of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-252.md

@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 252"
+description: "Procedures for negotiation, arbitration, and approval of agreements"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "252"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 252"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s252"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "007c85be918435277457792b291d5cb90fd4c6a657303e500d4fd100d82d666e"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "3515ba4abe3cc8e4c5cd5baf157753ba7e76aa8bed575a364463511fc7abfa26"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 252 - Procedures for negotiation, arbitration, and approval of agreements
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Agreements arrived at through negotiation (1) Voluntary negotiations Upon receiving a request for interconnection, services, or network elements pursuant to section 251 of this title, an incumbent local exchange carrier may negotiate and enter into a binding agreement with the requesting telecommunications carrier or carriers without regard to the standards set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 251 of this title. The agreement shall include a detailed schedule of itemized charges for interconnection and each service or network element included in the agreement. The agreement, including any interconnection agreement negotiated before February 8, 1996, shall be submitted to the State commission under subsection (e) of this section.
+
+(2) Mediation Any party negotiating an agreement under this section may, at any point in the negotiation, ask a State commission to participate in the negotiation and to mediate any differences arising in the course of the negotiation.
+
+(b) Agreements arrived at through compulsory arbitration (1) Arbitration During the period from the 135th to the 160th day (inclusive) after the date on which an incumbent local exchange carrier receives a request for negotiation under this section, the carrier or any other party to the negotiation may petition a State commission to arbitrate any open issues.
+
+(2) Duty of petitioner (A) A party that petitions a State commission under paragraph (1) shall, at the same time as it submits the petition, provide the State commission all relevant documentation concerning—
+
+(i) the unresolved issues;
+
+(ii) the position of each of the parties with respect to those issues; and
+
+(iii) any other issue discussed and resolved by the parties.
+
+(B) A party petitioning a State commission under paragraph (1) shall provide a copy of the petition and any documentation to the other party or parties not later than the day on which the State commission receives the petition.
+
+(3) Opportunity to respond A non-petitioning party to a negotiation under this section may respond to the other party’s petition and provide such additional information as it wishes within 25 days after the State commission receives the petition.
+
+(4) Action by State commission (A) The State commission shall limit its consideration of any petition under paragraph (1) (and any response thereto) to the issues set forth in the petition and in the response, if any, filed under paragraph (3).
+
+(B) The State commission may require the petitioning party and the responding party to provide such information as may be necessary for the State commission to reach a decision on the unresolved issues. If any party refuses or fails unreasonably to respond on a timely basis to any reasonable request from the State commission, then the State commission may proceed on the basis of the best information available to it from whatever source derived.
+
+(C) The State commission shall resolve each issue set forth in the petition and the response, if any, by imposing appropriate conditions as required to implement subsection (c) upon the parties to the agreement, and shall conclude the resolution of any unresolved issues not later than 9 months after the date on which the local exchange carrier received the request under this section.
+
+(5) Refusal to negotiate The refusal of any other party to the negotiation to participate further in the negotiations, to cooperate with the State commission in carrying out its function as an arbitrator, or to continue to negotiate in good faith in the presence, or with the assistance, of the State commission shall be considered a failure to negotiate in good faith.
+
+(c) Standards for arbitration In resolving by arbitration under subsection (b) any open issues and imposing conditions upon the parties to the agreement, a State commission shall—
+
+(1) ensure that such resolution and conditions meet the requirements of section 251 of this title, including the regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to section 251 of this title;
+
+(2) establish any rates for interconnection, services, or network elements according to subsection (d); and
+
+(3) provide a schedule for implementation of the terms and conditions by the parties to the agreement.
+
+(d) Pricing standards (1) Interconnection and network element charges Determinations by a State commission of the just and reasonable rate for the interconnection of facilities and equipment for purposes of subsection (c)(2) of section 251 of this title, and the just and reasonable rate for network elements for purposes of subsection (c)(3) of such section—
+
+(A) shall be—
+
+(i) based on the cost (determined without reference to a rate-of-return or other rate-based proceeding) of providing the interconnection or network element (whichever is applicable), and
+
+(ii) nondiscriminatory, and
+
+(B) may include a reasonable profit.
+
+(2) Charges for transport and termination of traffic (A) In general For the purposes of compliance by an incumbent local exchange carrier with section 251(b)(5) of this title, a State commission shall not consider the terms and conditions for reciprocal compensation to be just and reasonable unless—
+
+(i) such terms and conditions provide for the mutual and reciprocal recovery by each carrier of costs associated with the transport and termination on each carrier’s network facilities of calls that originate on the network facilities of the other carrier; and
+
+(ii) such terms and conditions determine such costs on the basis of a reasonable approximation of the additional costs of terminating such calls.
+
+(B) Rules of construction This paragraph shall not be construed—
+
+(i) to preclude arrangements that afford the mutual recovery of costs through the offsetting of reciprocal obligations, including arrangements that waive mutual recovery (such as bill-and-keep arrangements); or
+
+(ii) to authorize the Commission or any State commission to engage in any rate regulation proceeding to establish with particularity the additional costs of transporting or terminating calls, or to require carriers to maintain records with respect to the additional costs of such calls.
+
+(3) Wholesale prices for telecommunications services For the purposes of section 251(c)(4) of this title, a State commission shall determine wholesale rates on the basis of retail rates charged to subscribers for the telecommunications service requested, excluding the portion thereof attributable to any marketing, billing, collection, and other costs that will be avoided by the local exchange carrier.
+
+(e) Approval by State commission (1) Approval required Any interconnection agreement adopted by negotiation or arbitration shall be submitted for approval to the State commission. A State commission to which an agreement is submitted shall approve or reject the agreement, with written findings as to any deficiencies.
+
+(2) Grounds for rejection The State commission may only reject—
+
+(A) an agreement (or any portion thereof) adopted by negotiation under subsection (a) if it finds that—
+
+(i) the agreement (or portion thereof) discriminates against a telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement; or
+
+(ii) the implementation of such agreement or portion is not consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity; or
+
+(B) an agreement (or any portion thereof) adopted by arbitration under subsection (b) if it finds that the agreement does not meet the requirements of section 251 of this title, including the regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to section 251 of this title, or the standards set forth in subsection (d) of this section.
+
+(3) Preservation of authority Notwithstanding paragraph (2), but subject to section 253 of this title, nothing in this section shall prohibit a State commission from establishing or enforcing other requirements of State law in its review of an agreement, including requiring compliance with intrastate telecommunications service quality standards or requirements.
+
+(4) Schedule for decision If the State commission does not act to approve or reject the agreement within 90 days after submission by the parties of an agreement adopted by negotiation under subsection (a), or within 30 days after submission by the parties of an agreement adopted by arbitration under subsection (b), the agreement shall be deemed approved. No State court shall have jurisdiction to review the action of a State commission in approving or rejecting an agreement under this section.
+
+(5) Commission to act if State will not act If a State commission fails to act to carry out its responsibility under this section in any proceeding or other matter under this section, then the Commission shall issue an order preempting the State commission’s jurisdiction of that proceeding or matter within 90 days after being notified (or taking notice) of such failure, and shall assume the responsibility of the State commission under this section with respect to the proceeding or matter and act for the State commission.
+
+(6) Review of State commission actions In a case in which a State fails to act as described in paragraph (5), the proceeding by the Commission under such paragraph and any judicial review of the Commission’s actions shall be the exclusive remedies for a State commission’s failure to act. In any case in which a State commission makes a determination under this section, any party aggrieved by such determination may bring an action in an appropriate Federal district court to determine whether the agreement or statement meets the requirements of section 251 of this title and this section.
+
+(f) Statements of generally available terms (1) In general A Bell operating company may prepare and file with a State commission a statement of the terms and conditions that such company generally offers within that State to comply with the requirements of section 251 of this title and the regulations thereunder and the standards applicable under this section.
+
+(2) State commission review A State commission may not approve such statement unless such statement complies with subsection (d) of this section and section 251 of this title and the regulations thereunder. Except as provided in section 253 of this title, nothing in this section shall prohibit a State commission from establishing or enforcing other requirements of State law in its review of such statement, including requiring compliance with intrastate telecommunications service quality standards or requirements.
+
+(3) Schedule for review The State commission to which a statement is submitted shall, not later than 60 days after the date of such submission—
+
+(A) complete the review of such statement under paragraph (2) (including any reconsideration thereof), unless the submitting carrier agrees to an extension of the period for such review; or
+
+(B) permit such statement to take effect.
+
+(4) Authority to continue review Paragraph (3) shall not preclude the State commission from continuing to review a statement that has been permitted to take effect under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph or from approving or disapproving such statement under paragraph (2).
+
+(5) Duty to negotiate not affected The submission or approval of a statement under this subsection shall not relieve a Bell operating company of its duty to negotiate the terms and conditions of an agreement under section 251 of this title.
+
+(g) Consolidation of State proceedings Where not inconsistent with the requirements of this chapter, a State commission may, to the extent practical, consolidate proceedings under sections 214(e), 251(f), 253 of this title, and this section in order to reduce administrative burdens on telecommunications carriers, other parties to the proceedings, and the State commission in carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter.
+
+(h) Filing required A State commission shall make a copy of each agreement approved under subsection (e) and each statement approved under subsection (f) available for public inspection and copying within 10 days after the agreement or statement is approved. The State commission may charge a reasonable and nondiscriminatory fee to the parties to the agreement or to the party filing the statement to cover the costs of approving and filing such agreement or statement.
+
+(i) Availability to other telecommunications carriers A local exchange carrier shall make available any interconnection, service, or network element provided under an agreement approved under this section to which it is a party to any other requesting telecommunications carrier upon the same terms and conditions as those provided in the agreement.
+
+(j) “Incumbent local exchange carrier” defined For purposes of this section, the term “incumbent local exchange carrier” has the meaning provided in section 251(h) of this title.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 252, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 66.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (g), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-253.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 253"
+description: "Removal of barriers to entry"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "253"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 253"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s253"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "768009eff726d10ef92164eb086d4144c76d6ce8de147d922600e2cf6abdeb76"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "a2f12b0759c5d6af48f81e9604acb3a2e4a38709362340ec19f67c21cfecdb51"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 253 - Removal of barriers to entry
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In general No State or local statute or regulation, or other State or local legal requirement, may prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting the ability of any entity to provide any interstate or intrastate telecommunications service.
+
+(b) State regulatory authority Nothing in this section shall affect the ability of a State to impose, on a competitively neutral basis and consistent with section 254 of this title, requirements necessary to preserve and advance universal service, protect the public safety and welfare, ensure the continued quality of telecommunications services, and safeguard the rights of consumers.
+
+(c) State and local government authority Nothing in this section affects the authority of a State or local government to manage the public rights-of-way or to require fair and reasonable compensation from telecommunications providers, on a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory basis, for use of public rights-of-way on a nondiscriminatory basis, if the compensation required is publicly disclosed by such government.
+
+(d) Preemption If, after notice and an opportunity for public comment, the Commission determines that a State or local government has permitted or imposed any statute, regulation, or legal requirement that violates subsection (a) or (b), the Commission shall preempt the enforcement of such statute, regulation, or legal requirement to the extent necessary to correct such violation or inconsistency.
+
+(e) Commercial mobile service providers Nothing in this section shall affect the application of section 332(c)(3) of this title to commercial mobile service providers.
+
+(f) Rural markets It shall not be a violation of this section for a State to require a telecommunications carrier that seeks to provide telephone exchange service or exchange access in a service area served by a rural telephone company to meet the requirements in section 214(e)(1) of this title for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier for that area before being permitted to provide such service. This subsection shall not apply—
+
+(1) to a service area served by a rural telephone company that has obtained an exemption, suspension, or modification of section 251(c)(4) of this title that effectively prevents a competitor from meeting the requirements of section 214(e)(1) of this title; and
+
+(2) to a provider of commercial mobile services.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 253, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 70.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-255.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 255"
+description: "Access by persons with disabilities"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "255"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 255"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s255"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "f3194ae81352acd92789de823b0e2d04fb4bf3084bb3c5d3f77edeaf9cfb2aff"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "05a6f7dab91c5e46d01f278a3d1fb40ef5fceffc30028d692f6dd460c9533231"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 255 - Access by persons with disabilities
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Definitions As used in this section—
+
+(1) Disability The term “disability” has the meaning given to it by section 12102(2)(A) 11 See References in Text note below. of title 42.
+
+(2) Readily achievable The term “readily achievable” has the meaning given to it by section 12181(9) of title 42.
+
+(b) Manufacturing A manufacturer of telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment shall ensure that the equipment is designed, developed, and fabricated to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable.
+
+(c) Telecommunications services A provider of telecommunications service shall ensure that the service is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable.
+
+(d) Compatibility Whenever the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) are not readily achievable, such a manufacturer or provider shall ensure that the equipment or service is compatible with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, if readily achievable.
+
+(e) Guidelines Within 18 months after February 8, 1996, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board shall develop guidelines for accessibility of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment in conjunction with the Commission. The Board shall review and update the guidelines periodically.
+
+(f) No additional private rights authorized Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any private right of action to enforce any requirement of this section or any regulation thereunder. The Commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any complaint under this section.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 255, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 75.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextSection 12102 of title 42, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was amended generally by Pub. L. 110–325, § 4(a), Sept. 25, 2008, 122 Stat. 3555, and, as so amended, provisions formerly appearing in par. (2)(A) are now contained in par. (1)(A).

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-256.md

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 256"
+description: "Coordination for interconnectivity"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "256"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 256"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s256"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "e9730fd10eb67e6bde674eb8edc44c7253a5e12b60811536db1117a211439d9c"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "2693364d21ec3cbddfa1f8c899187ee2bffa92dd57d4ccad93e747082771250d"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 256 - Coordination for interconnectivity
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Purpose It is the purpose of this section—
+
+(1) to promote nondiscriminatory accessibility by the broadest number of users and vendors of communications products and services to public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service through—
+
+(A) coordinated public telecommunications network planning and design by telecommunications carriers and other providers of telecommunications service; and
+
+(B) public telecommunications network interconnectivity, and interconnectivity of devices with such networks used to provide telecommunications service; and
+
+(2) to ensure the ability of users and information providers to seamlessly and transparently transmit and receive information between and across telecommunications networks.
+
+(b) Commission functions In carrying out the purposes of this section, the Commission—
+
+(1) shall establish procedures for Commission oversight of coordinated network planning by telecommunications carriers and other providers of telecommunications service for the effective and efficient interconnection of public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service; and
+
+(2) may participate, in a manner consistent with its authority and practice prior to February 8, 1996, in the development by appropriate industry standards-setting organizations of public telecommunications network interconnectivity standards that promote access to—
+
+(A) public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service;
+
+(B) network capabilities and services by individuals with disabilities; and
+
+(C) information services by subscribers of rural telephone companies.
+
+(c) Commission’s authority Nothing in this section shall be construed as expanding or limiting any authority that the Commission may have under law in effect before February 8, 1996.
+
+(d) “Public telecommunications network interconnectivity” defined As used in this section, the term “public telecommunications network interconnectivity” means the ability of two or more public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service to communicate and exchange information without degeneration, and to interact in concert with one another.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 256, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 76.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-257.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 257"
+description: "Market entry barriers proceeding"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "257"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 257"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s257"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "3e66e19ada214066fe065d61dfb9a6d81403fec3779273f71a448ed87e705428"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "6a812de06340295472f16189efbdf49222d5e1cece11c5c7de1738f74f154284"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 257 - Market entry barriers proceeding
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Elimination of barriers Within 15 months after February 8, 1996, the Commission shall complete a proceeding for the purpose of identifying and eliminating, by regulations pursuant to its authority under this chapter (other than this section), market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and other small businesses in the provision and ownership of telecommunications services and information services, or in the provision of parts or services to providers of telecommunications services and information services.
+
+(b) National policy In carrying out subsection (a), the Commission shall seek to promote the policies and purposes of this chapter favoring diversity of media voices, vigorous economic competition, technological advancement, and promotion of the public interest, convenience, and necessity.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 257, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 77; amended Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, § 402(f), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1089.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments2018—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–141 struck out subsec. (c). Text read as follows: “Every 3 years following the completion of the proceeding required by subsection (a), the Commission shall review and report to Congress on— “(1) any regulations prescribed to eliminate barriers within its jurisdiction that are identified under subsection (a) and that can be prescribed consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity; and “(2) the statutory barriers identified under subsection (a) that the Commission recommends be eliminated, consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-258.md

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 258"
+description: "Illegal changes in subscriber carrier selections"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "258"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 258"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s258"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "2ed00c1a66fe701b22dc6d5e4af39d5d95fcc20ba2b23151647616ee04db8bf9"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "9bea80e086817aa3e28905a73f19d48db0d2c6f8d99566a7a5083a43fa858d64"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 258 - Illegal changes in subscriber carrier selections
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Prohibition No telecommunications carrier shall submit or execute a change in a subscriber’s selection of a provider of telephone exchange service or telephone toll service except in accordance with such verification procedures as the Commission shall prescribe. Nothing in this section shall preclude any State commission from enforcing such procedures with respect to intrastate services.
+
+(b) Liability for charges Any telecommunications carrier that violates the verification procedures described in subsection (a) and that collects charges for telephone exchange service or telephone toll service from a subscriber shall be liable to the carrier previously selected by the subscriber in an amount equal to all charges paid by such subscriber after such violation, in accordance with such procedures as the Commission may prescribe. The remedies provided by this subsection are in addition to any other remedies available by law.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 258, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 77.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-259.md

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 259"
+description: "Infrastructure sharing"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "259"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 259"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s259"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "3cd70b682f74056cbd8fe0f9b8ea95d3e68ee92bd0950b6dc07aebf1992ec9bf"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "d135ed3ee40289a530cf471f2bcdd98e493814e67146c0e18318237b06090d51"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 259 - Infrastructure sharing
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Regulations required The Commission shall prescribe, within one year after February 8, 1996, regulations that require incumbent local exchange carriers (as defined in section 251(h) of this title) to make available to any qualifying carrier such public switched network infrastructure, technology, information, and telecommunications facilities and functions as may be requested by such qualifying carrier for the purpose of enabling such qualifying carrier to provide telecommunications services, or to provide access to information services, in the service area in which such qualifying carrier has requested and obtained designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier under section 214(e) of this title.
+
+(b) Terms and conditions of regulations The regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to this section shall—
+
+(1) not require a local exchange carrier to which this section applies to take any action that is economically unreasonable or that is contrary to the public interest;
+
+(2) permit, but shall not require, the joint ownership or operation of public switched network infrastructure and services by or among such local exchange carrier and a qualifying carrier;
+
+(3) ensure that such local exchange carrier will not be treated by the Commission or any State as a common carrier for hire or as offering common carrier services with respect to any infrastructure, technology, information, facilities, or functions made available to a qualifying carrier in accordance with regulations issued pursuant to this section;
+
+(4) ensure that such local exchange carrier makes such infrastructure, technology, information, facilities, or functions available to a qualifying carrier on just and reasonable terms and conditions that permit such qualifying carrier to fully benefit from the economies of scale and scope of such local exchange carrier, as determined in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Commission in regulations issued pursuant to this section;
+
+(5) establish conditions that promote cooperation between local exchange carriers to which this section applies and qualifying carriers;
+
+(6) not require a local exchange carrier to which this section applies to engage in any infrastructure sharing agreement for any services or access which are to be provided or offered to consumers by the qualifying carrier in such local exchange carrier’s telephone exchange area; and
+
+(7) require that such local exchange carrier file with the Commission or State for public inspection, any tariffs, contracts, or other arrangements showing the rates, terms, and conditions under which such carrier is making available public switched network infrastructure and functions under this section.
+
+(c) Information concerning deployment of new services and equipment A local exchange carrier to which this section applies that has entered into an infrastructure sharing agreement under this section shall provide to each party to such agreement timely information on the planned deployment of telecommunications services and equipment, including any software or upgrades of software integral to the use or operation of such telecommunications equipment.
+
+(d) “Qualifying carrier” defined For purposes of this section, the term “qualifying carrier” means a telecommunications carrier that—
+
+(1) lacks economies of scale or scope, as determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to this section; and
+
+(2) offers telephone exchange service, exchange access, and any other service that is included in universal service, to all consumers without preference throughout the service area for which such carrier has been designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier under section 214(e) of this title.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 259, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 77.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-260.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 260"
+description: "Provision of telemessaging service"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "260"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 260"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s260"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "d3e116812f710c7b9569d8c52c4088b064ca88bbf736f7dac4f3ff609b1165b3"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "a1f6aa3fc91f35663c22218358ba6e74855ede410d9ca9b56e992a8b4957fbe0"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 260 - Provision of telemessaging service
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Nondiscrimination safeguards Any local exchange carrier subject to the requirements of section 251(c) of this title that provides telemessaging service—
+
+(1) shall not subsidize its telemessaging service directly or indirectly from its telephone exchange service or its exchange access; and
+
+(2) shall not prefer or discriminate in favor of its telemessaging service operations in its provision of telecommunications services.
+
+(b) Expedited consideration of complaints The Commission shall establish procedures for the receipt and review of complaints concerning violations of subsection (a) or the regulations thereunder that result in material financial harm to a provider of telemessaging service. Such procedures shall ensure that the Commission will make a final determination with respect to any such complaint within 120 days after receipt of the complaint. If the complaint contains an appropriate showing that the alleged violation occurred, the Commission shall, within 60 days after receipt of the complaint, order the local exchange carrier and any affiliates to cease engaging in such violation pending such final determination.
+
+(c) “Telemessaging service” defined As used in this section, the term “telemessaging service” means voice mail and voice storage and retrieval services, any live operator services used to record, transcribe, or relay messages (other than telecommunications relay services), and any ancillary services offered in combination with these services.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 260, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 79.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-261.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 261"
+description: "Effect on other requirements"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "261"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 261"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s261"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "2fbdf194ddca65d2e294a5800c82c357593d307bbc74c2d290882fd8256921d9"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "c7fb5200e03d04342bb1f28579f842f469a783625c04d88791f3efe488d0d3cd"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 261 - Effect on other requirements
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Commission regulations Nothing in this part shall be construed to prohibit the Commission from enforcing regulations prescribed prior to February 8, 1996, in fulfilling the requirements of this part, to the extent that such regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions of this part.
+
+(b) Existing State regulations Nothing in this part shall be construed to prohibit any State commission from enforcing regulations prescribed prior to February 8, 1996, or from prescribing regulations after February 8, 1996, in fulfilling the requirements of this part, if such regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions of this part.
+
+(c) Additional State requirements Nothing in this part precludes a State from imposing requirements on a telecommunications carrier for intrastate services that are necessary to further competition in the provision of telephone exchange service or exchange access, as long as the State’s requirements are not inconsistent with this part or the Commission’s regulations to implement this part.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 261, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 79.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-262.md

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 262"
+description: "Ensuring the integrity of voice communications"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "262"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 262"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s262"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "73af0a2304aa9b84814b4800c191c9ca5f61f48c3d43d59a0c9d8425f54a87f9"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "83ccd9cfa53de43098280e26ee70449ea192275aa2ec4e6a5cee8868332656ba"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 262 - Ensuring the integrity of voice communications
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Registration and compliance by intermediate providers An intermediate provider that offers or holds itself out as offering the capability to transmit covered voice communications from one destination to another and that charges any rate to any other entity (including an affiliated entity) for the transmission shall—
+
+(1) register with the Commission; and
+
+(2) comply with the service quality standards for such transmission to be established by the Commission under subsection (c)(1)(B).
+
+(b) Required use of registered intermediate providers A covered provider may not use an intermediate provider to transmit covered voice communications unless such intermediate provider is registered under subsection (a)(1).
+
+(c) Commission rules (1) In general (A) Registry Not later than 180 days after February 26, 2018, the Commission shall promulgate rules to establish a registry to record registrations under subsection (a)(1).
+
+(B) Service quality standards Not later than 1 year after February 26, 2018, the Commission shall promulgate rules to establish service quality standards for the transmission of covered voice communications by intermediate providers.
+
+(2) Requirements In promulgating the rules required by paragraph (1), the Commission shall—
+
+(A) ensure the integrity of the transmission of covered voice communications to all customers in the United States; and
+
+(B) prevent unjust or unreasonable discrimination among areas of the United States in the delivery of covered voice communications.
+
+(d) Public availability of registry The Commission shall make the registry established under subsection (c)(1)(A) publicly available on the website of the Commission.
+
+(e) Scope of application The requirements of this section shall apply regardless of the format by which any communication or service is provided, the protocol or format by which the transmission of such communication or service is achieved, or the regulatory classification of such communication or service.
+
+(f) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the regulatory classification of any communication or service.
+
+(g) Effect on other laws Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt or expand the authority of a State public utility commission or other relevant State agency to collect data, or investigate and enforce State law and regulations, regarding the completion of intrastate voice communications, regardless of the format by which any communication or service is provided, the protocol or format by which the transmission of such communication or service is achieved, or the regulatory classification of such communication or service.
+
+(h) Exception The requirement under subsection (a)(2) to comply with the service quality standards established under subsection (c)(1)(B) shall not apply to a covered provider that—
+
+(1) on or before the date that is 1 year after February 26, 2018, has certified as a Safe Harbor provider under section 64.2107(a) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation; and
+
+(2) continues to meet the requirements under such section 64.2107(a).
+
+(i) Definitions In this section:
+
+(1) Covered provider The term “covered provider” has the meaning given the term in section 64.2101 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto.
+
+(2) Covered voice communication The term “covered voice communication” means a voice communication (including any related signaling information) that is generated—
+
+(A) from the placement of a call from a connection using a North American Numbering Plan resource or a call placed to a connection using such a numbering resource; and
+
+(B) through any service provided by a covered provider.
+
+(3) Intermediate provider The term “intermediate provider” means any entity that—
+
+(A) enters into a business arrangement with a covered provider or other intermediate provider for the specific purpose of carrying, routing, or transmitting voice traffic that is generated from the placement of a call placed—
+
+(i) from an end user connection using a North American Numbering Plan resource; or
+
+(ii) to an end user connection using such a numbering resource; and
+
+(B) does not itself, either directly or in conjunction with an affiliate, serve as a covered provider in the context of originating or terminating a given call.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 262, as added Pub. L. 115–129, § 2, Feb. 26, 2018, 132 Stat. 329.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-271.md

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 271"
+description: "Bell operating company entry into interLATA services"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "271"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 271"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s271"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "edeacd185092e6a634cbc18252d76ee1e6a59f31d72046f552cf458f5c30a6a3"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "1c5309f6907f5a79c7120ae65d44e4e0370ade08df8673f4510b7c202d8d59ce"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 271 - Bell operating company entry into interLATA services
+
+## Text
+
+(a) General limitation Neither a Bell operating company, nor any affiliate of a Bell operating company, may provide interLATA services except as provided in this section.
+
+(b) InterLATA services to which this section applies (1) In-region services A Bell operating company, or any affiliate of that Bell operating company, may provide interLATA services originating in any of its in-region States (as defined in subsection (i)) if the Commission approves the application of such company for such State under subsection (d)(3).
+
+(2) Out-of-region services A Bell operating company, or any affiliate of that Bell operating company, may provide interLATA services originating outside its in-region States after February 8, 1996, subject to subsection (j).
+
+(3) Incidental interLATA services A Bell operating company, or any affiliate of a Bell operating company, may provide incidental interLATA services (as defined in subsection (g)) originating in any State after February 8, 1996.
+
+(4) Termination Nothing in this section prohibits a Bell operating company or any of its affiliates from providing termination for interLATA services, subject to subsection (j).
+
+(c) Requirements for providing certain in-region interLATA services (1) Agreement or statement A Bell operating company meets the requirements of this paragraph if it meets the requirements of subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B) of this paragraph for each State for which the authorization is sought.
+
+(A) Presence of a facilities-based competitor A Bell operating company meets the requirements of this subparagraph if it has entered into one or more binding agreements that have been approved under section 252 of this title specifying the terms and conditions under which the Bell operating company is providing access and interconnection to its network facilities for the network facilities of one or more unaffiliated competing providers of telephone exchange service (as defined in section 153(47)(A) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title, but excluding exchange access) to residential and business subscribers. For the purpose of this subparagraph, such telephone exchange service may be offered by such competing providers either exclusively over their own telephone exchange service facilities or predominantly over their own telephone exchange service facilities in combination with the resale of the telecommunications services of another carrier. For the purpose of this subparagraph, services provided pursuant to subpart K of part 22 of the Commission’s regulations (47 C.F.R. 22.901 et seq.) shall not be considered to be telephone exchange services.
+
+(B) Failure to request access A Bell operating company meets the requirements of this subparagraph if, after 10 months after February 8, 1996, no such provider has requested the access and interconnection described in subparagraph (A) before the date which is 3 months before the date the company makes its application under subsection (d)(1), and a statement of the terms and conditions that the company generally offers to provide such access and interconnection has been approved or permitted to take effect by the State commission under section 252(f) of this title. For purposes of this subparagraph, a Bell operating company shall be considered not to have received any request for access and interconnection if the State commission of such State certifies that the only provider or providers making such a request have (i) failed to negotiate in good faith as required by section 252 of this title, or (ii) violated the terms of an agreement approved under section 252 of this title by the provider’s failure to comply, within a reasonable period of time, with the implementation schedule contained in such agreement.
+
+(2) Specific interconnection requirements (A) Agreement required A Bell operating company meets the requirements of this paragraph if, within the State for which the authorization is sought—
+
+(i) (I) such company is providing access and interconnection pursuant to one or more agreements described in paragraph (1)(A), or
+
+(II) such company is generally offering access and interconnection pursuant to a statement described in paragraph (1)(B), and
+
+(ii) such access and interconnection meets the requirements of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
+
+(B) Competitive checklist Access or interconnection provided or generally offered by a Bell operating company to other telecommunications carriers meets the requirements of this subparagraph if such access and interconnection includes each of the following:
+
+(i) Interconnection in accordance with the requirements of sections 251(c)(2) and 252(d)(1) of this title.
+
+(ii) Nondiscriminatory access to network elements in accordance with the requirements of sections 251(c)(3) and 252(d)(1) of this title.
+
+(iii) Nondiscriminatory access to the poles, ducts, conduits, and rights-of-way owned or controlled by the Bell operating company at just and reasonable rates in accordance with the requirements of section 224 of this title.
+
+(iv) Local loop transmission from the central office to the customer’s premises, unbundled from local switching or other services.
+
+(v) Local transport from the trunk side of a wireline local exchange carrier switch unbundled from switching or other services.
+
+(vi) Local switching unbundled from transport, local loop transmission, or other services.
+
+(vii) Nondiscriminatory access to—
+
+(I) 911 and E911 services;
+
+(II) directory assistance services to allow the other carrier’s customers to obtain telephone numbers; and
+
+(III) operator call completion services.
+
+(viii) White pages directory listings for customers of the other carrier’s telephone exchange service.
+
+(ix) Until the date by which telecommunications numbering administration guidelines, plan, or rules are established, nondiscriminatory access to telephone numbers for assignment to the other carrier’s telephone exchange service customers. After that date, compliance with such guidelines, plan, or rules.
+
+(x) Nondiscriminatory access to databases and associated signaling necessary for call routing and completion.
+
+(xi) Until the date by which the Commission issues regulations pursuant to section 251 of this title to require number portability, interim telecommunications number portability through remote call forwarding, direct inward dialing trunks, or other comparable arrangements, with as little impairment of functioning, quality, reliability, and convenience as possible. After that date, full compliance with such regulations.
+
+(xii) Nondiscriminatory access to such services or information as are necessary to allow the requesting carrier to implement local dialing parity in accordance with the requirements of section 251(b)(3) of this title.
+
+(xiii) Reciprocal compensation arrangements in accordance with the requirements of section 252(d)(2) of this title.
+
+(xiv) Telecommunications services are available for resale in accordance with the requirements of sections 251(c)(4) and 252(d)(3) of this title.
+
+(d) Administrative provisions (1) Application to Commission On and after February 8, 1996, a Bell operating company or its affiliate may apply to the Commission for authorization to provide interLATA services originating in any in-region State. The application shall identify each State for which the authorization is sought.
+
+(2) Consultation (A) Consultation with the Attorney General The Commission shall notify the Attorney General promptly of any application under paragraph (1). Before making any determination under this subsection, the Commission shall consult with the Attorney General, and if the Attorney General submits any comments in writing, such comments shall be included in the record of the Commission’s decision. In consulting with and submitting comments to the Commission under this paragraph, the Attorney General shall provide to the Commission an evaluation of the application using any standard the Attorney General considers appropriate. The Commission shall give substantial weight to the Attorney General’s evaluation, but such evaluation shall not have any preclusive effect on any Commission decision under paragraph (3).
+
+(B) Consultation with State commissions Before making any determination under this subsection, the Commission shall consult with the State commission of any State that is the subject of the application in order to verify the compliance of the Bell operating company with the requirements of subsection (c).
+
+(3) Determination Not later than 90 days after receiving an application under paragraph (1), the Commission shall issue a written determination approving or denying the authorization requested in the application for each State. The Commission shall not approve the authorization requested in an application submitted under paragraph (1) unless it finds that—
+
+(A) the petitioning Bell operating company has met the requirements of subsection (c)(1) and—
+
+(i) with respect to access and interconnection provided pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(A), has fully implemented the competitive checklist in subsection (c)(2)(B); or
+
+(ii) with respect to access and interconnection generally offered pursuant to a statement under subsection (c)(1)(B), such statement offers all of the items included in the competitive checklist in subsection (c)(2)(B);
+
+(B) the requested authorization will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of section 272 of this title; and
+
+(C) the requested authorization is consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity.
+
+The Commission shall state the basis for its approval or denial of the application.
+
+(4) Limitation on Commission The Commission may not, by rule or otherwise, limit or extend the terms used in the competitive checklist set forth in subsection (c)(2)(B).
+
+(5) Publication Not later than 10 days after issuing a determination under paragraph (3), the Commission shall publish in the Federal Register a brief description of the determination.
+
+(6) Enforcement of conditions (A) Commission authority If at any time after the approval of an application under paragraph (3), the Commission determines that a Bell operating company has ceased to meet any of the conditions required for such approval, the Commission may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing—
+
+(i) issue an order to such company to correct the deficiency;
+
+(ii) impose a penalty on such company pursuant to subchapter V; or
+
+(iii) suspend or revoke such approval.
+
+(B) Receipt and review of complaints The Commission shall establish procedures for the review of complaints concerning failures by Bell operating companies to meet conditions required for approval under paragraph (3). Unless the parties otherwise agree, the Commission shall act on such complaint within 90 days.
+
+(e) Limitations (1) Joint marketing of local and long distance services Until a Bell operating company is authorized pursuant to subsection (d) to provide interLATA services in an in-region State, or until 36 months have passed since February 8, 1996, whichever is earlier, a telecommunications carrier that serves greater than 5 percent of the Nation’s presubscribed access lines may not jointly market in such State telephone exchange service obtained from such company pursuant to section 251(c)(4) of this title with interLATA services offered by that telecommunications carrier.
+
+(2) IntraLATA toll dialing parity (A) Provision required A Bell operating company granted authority to provide interLATA services under subsection (d) shall provide intraLATA toll dialing parity throughout that State coincident with its exercise of that authority.
+
+(B) Limitation Except for single-LATA States and States that have issued an order by December 19, 1995, requiring a Bell operating company to implement intraLATA toll dialing parity, a State may not require a Bell operating company to implement intraLATA toll dialing parity in that State before a Bell operating company has been granted authority under this section to provide interLATA services originating in that State or before 3 years after February 8, 1996, whichever is earlier. Nothing in this subparagraph precludes a State from issuing an order requiring intraLATA toll dialing parity in that State prior to either such date so long as such order does not take effect until after the earlier of either such dates.
+
+(f) Exception for previously authorized activities Neither subsection (a) nor section 273 of this title shall prohibit a Bell operating company or affiliate from engaging, at any time after February 8, 1996, in any activity to the extent authorized by, and subject to the terms and conditions contained in, an order entered by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia pursuant to section VII or VIII(C) of the AT&T Consent Decree if such order was entered on or before February 8, 1996, to the extent such order is not reversed or vacated on appeal. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit, or to impose terms or conditions on, an activity in which a Bell operating company is otherwise authorized to engage under any other provision of this section.
+
+(g) “Incidental interLATA services” defined For purposes of this section, the term “incidental interLATA services” means the interLATA provision by a Bell operating company or its affiliate—
+
+(1) (A) of audio programming, video programming, or other programming services to subscribers to such services of such company or affiliate;
+
+(B) of the capability for interaction by such subscribers to select or respond to such audio programming, video programming, or other programming services;
+
+(C) to distributors of audio programming or video programming that such company or affiliate owns or controls, or is licensed by the copyright owner of such programming (or by an assignee of such owner) to distribute; or
+
+(D) of alarm monitoring services;
+
+(2) of two-way interactive video services or Internet services over dedicated facilities to or for elementary and secondary schools as defined in section 254(h)(5) 1 of this title;
+
+(3) of commercial mobile services in accordance with section 332(c) of this title and with the regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to paragraph (8) of such section;
+
+(4) of a service that permits a customer that is located in one LATA to retrieve stored information from, or file information for storage in, information storage facilities of such company that are located in another LATA;
+
+(5) of signaling information used in connection with the provision of telephone exchange services or exchange access by a local exchange carrier; or
+
+(6) of network control signaling information to, and receipt of such signaling information from, common carriers offering interLATA services at any location within the area in which such Bell operating company provides telephone exchange services or exchange access.
+
+(h) Limitations The provisions of subsection (g) are intended to be narrowly construed. The interLATA services provided under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of subsection (g)(1) are limited to those interLATA transmissions incidental to the provision by a Bell operating company or its affiliate of video, audio, and other programming services that the company or its affiliate is engaged in providing to the public. The Commission shall ensure that the provision of services authorized under subsection (g) by a Bell operating company or its affiliate will not adversely affect telephone exchange service ratepayers or competition in any telecommunications market.
+
+(i) Additional definitions As used in this section—
+
+(1) In-region State The term “in-region State” means a State in which a Bell operating company or any of its affiliates was authorized to provide wireline telephone exchange service pursuant to the reorganization plan approved under the AT&T Consent Decree, as in effect on the day before February 8, 1996.
+
+(2) Audio programming services The term “audio programming services” means programming provided by, or generally considered to be comparable to programming provided by, a radio broadcast station.
+
+(3) Video programming services; other programming services The terms “video programming service” and “other programming services” have the same meanings as such terms have under section 522 of this title.
+
+(j) Certain service applications treated as in-region service applications For purposes of this section, a Bell operating company application to provide 800 service, private line service, or their equivalents that—
+
+(1) terminate in an in-region State of that Bell operating company, and
+
+(2) allow the called party to determine the interLATA carrier,
+
+shall be considered an in-region service subject to the requirements of subsection (b)(1).
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 271, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 151(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 86.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextSection 153 of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(A), was subsequently amended and no longer contains a par. (47)(A). However, the term “telephone exchange service” is defined elsewhere in that section. Section 254(h)(5) of this title, referred to in subsec. (g)(2), was redesignated section 254(h)(7) of this title by Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title XVII, § 1721(a)(1)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–343.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-272.md

@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 272"
+description: "Separate affiliate; safeguards"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "272"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 272"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s272"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "01c0a11c127606e0c6a648599304e6174641600c24ce8aa006845adfa2ec5e4a"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "039c189c7de2c1632443360a4d23041e27ddde3860f3d026c00ad633be396c9d"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 272 - Separate affiliate; safeguards
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Separate affiliate required for competitive activities (1) In general A Bell operating company (including any affiliate) which is a local exchange carrier that is subject to the requirements of section 251(c) of this title may not provide any service described in paragraph (2) unless it provides that service through one or more affiliates that—
+
+(A) are separate from any operating company entity that is subject to the requirements of section 251(c) of this title; and
+
+(B) meet the requirements of subsection (b).
+
+(2) Services for which a separate affiliate is required The services for which a separate affiliate is required by paragraph (1) are:
+
+(A) Manufacturing activities (as defined in section 273(h) of this title).
+
+(B) Origination of interLATA telecommunications services, other than—
+
+(i) incidental interLATA services described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) of section 271(g) of this title;
+
+(ii) out-of-region services described in section 271(b)(2) of this title; or
+
+(iii) previously authorized activities described in section 271(f) of this title.
+
+(C) InterLATA information services, other than electronic publishing (as defined in section 274(h) of this title) and alarm monitoring services (as defined in section 275(e) of this title).
+
+(b) Structural and transactional requirements The separate affiliate required by this section—
+
+(1) shall operate independently from the Bell operating company;
+
+(2) shall maintain books, records, and accounts in the manner prescribed by the Commission which shall be separate from the books, records, and accounts maintained by the Bell operating company of which it is an affiliate;
+
+(3) shall have separate officers, directors, and employees from the Bell operating company of which it is an affiliate;
+
+(4) may not obtain credit under any arrangement that would permit a creditor, upon default, to have recourse to the assets of the Bell operating company; and
+
+(5) shall conduct all transactions with the Bell operating company of which it is an affiliate on an arm’s length basis with any such transactions reduced to writing and available for public inspection.
+
+(c) Nondiscrimination safeguards In its dealings with its affiliate described in subsection (a), a Bell operating company—
+
+(1) may not discriminate between that company or affiliate and any other entity in the provision or procurement of goods, services, facilities, and information, or in the establishment of standards; and
+
+(2) shall account for all transactions with an affiliate described in subsection (a) in accordance with accounting principles designated or approved by the Commission.
+
+(d) Biennial audit (1) General requirement A company required to operate a separate affiliate under this section shall obtain and pay for a joint Federal/State audit every 2 years conducted by an independent auditor to determine whether such company has complied with this section and the regulations promulgated under this section, and particularly whether such company has complied with the separate accounting requirements under subsection (b).
+
+(2) Results submitted to Commission; State commissions The auditor described in paragraph (1) shall submit the results of the audit to the Commission and to the State commission of each State in which the company audited provides service, which shall make such results available for public inspection. Any party may submit comments on the final audit report.
+
+(3) Access to documents For purposes of conducting audits and reviews under this subsection—
+
+(A) the independent auditor, the Commission, and the State commission shall have access to the financial accounts and records of each company and of its affiliates necessary to verify transactions conducted with that company that are relevant to the specific activities permitted under this section and that are necessary for the regulation of rates;
+
+(B) the Commission and the State commission shall have access to the working papers and supporting materials of any auditor who performs an audit under this section; and
+
+(C) the State commission shall implement appropriate procedures to ensure the protection of any proprietary information submitted to it under this section.
+
+(e) Fulfillment of certain requests A Bell operating company and an affiliate that is subject to the requirements of section 251(c) of this title—
+
+(1) shall fulfill any requests from an unaffiliated entity for telephone exchange service and exchange access within a period no longer than the period in which it provides such telephone exchange service and exchange access to itself or to its affiliates;
+
+(2) shall not provide any facilities, services, or information concerning its provision of exchange access to the affiliate described in subsection (a) unless such facilities, services, or information are made available to other providers of interLATA services in that market on the same terms and conditions;
+
+(3) shall charge the affiliate described in subsection (a), or impute to itself (if using the access for its provision of its own services), an amount for access to its telephone exchange service and exchange access that is no less than the amount charged to any unaffiliated interexchange carriers for such service; and
+
+(4) may provide any interLATA or intraLATA facilities or services to its interLATA affiliate if such services or facilities are made available to all carriers at the same rates and on the same terms and conditions, and so long as the costs are appropriately allocated.
+
+(f) Sunset (1) Manufacturing and long distance The provisions of this section (other than subsection (e)) shall cease to apply with respect to the manufacturing activities or the interLATA telecommunications services of a Bell operating company 3 years after the date such Bell operating company or any Bell operating company affiliate is authorized to provide interLATA telecommunications services under section 271(d) of this title, unless the Commission extends such 3-year period by rule or order.
+
+(2) InterLATA information services The provisions of this section (other than subsection (e)) shall cease to apply with respect to the interLATA information services of a Bell operating company 4 years after February 8, 1996, unless the Commission extends such 4-year period by rule or order.
+
+(3) Preservation of existing authority Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other section of this chapter to prescribe safeguards consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity.
+
+(g) Joint marketing (1) Affiliate sales of telephone exchange services A Bell operating company affiliate required by this section may not market or sell telephone exchange services provided by the Bell operating company unless that company permits other entities offering the same or similar service to market and sell its telephone exchange services.
+
+(2) Bell operating company sales of affiliate services A Bell operating company may not market or sell interLATA service provided by an affiliate required by this section within any of its in-region States until such company is authorized to provide interLATA services in such State under section 271(d) of this title.
+
+(3) Rule of construction The joint marketing and sale of services permitted under this subsection shall not be considered to violate the nondiscrimination provisions of subsection (c).
+
+(h) Transition With respect to any activity in which a Bell operating company is engaged on February 8, 1996, such company shall have one year from February 8, 1996, to comply with the requirements of this section.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 272, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 151(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 92.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (f)(3), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-273.md

@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 273"
+description: "Manufacturing by Bell operating companies"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "273"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 273"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s273"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "21c55b41720c9bb9e506495c2f1b00c0c1de948307212ecacee52b58b1b9d99c"
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+text_hash: "1430b2ea11d87bc0590a58b482b6ce59ef264dd46969bbb650aa300beef7b6c1"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 273 - Manufacturing by Bell operating companies
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Authorization A Bell operating company may manufacture and provide telecommunications equipment, and manufacture customer premises equipment, if the Commission authorizes that Bell operating company or any Bell operating company affiliate to provide interLATA services under section 271(d) of this title, subject to the requirements of this section and the regulations prescribed thereunder, except that neither a Bell operating company nor any of its affiliates may engage in such manufacturing in conjunction with a Bell operating company not so affiliated or any of its affiliates.
+
+(b) Collaboration; research and royalty agreements (1) Collaboration Subsection (a) shall not prohibit a Bell operating company from engaging in close collaboration with any manufacturer of customer premises equipment or telecommunications equipment during the design and development of hardware, software, or combinations thereof related to such equipment.
+
+(2) Certain research arrangements; royalty agreements Subsection (a) shall not prohibit a Bell operating company from—
+
+(A) engaging in research activities related to manufacturing, and
+
+(B) entering into royalty agreements with manufacturers of telecommunications equipment.
+
+(c) Information requirements (1) Information on protocols and technical requirements Each Bell operating company shall, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commission, maintain and file with the Commission full and complete information with respect to the protocols and technical requirements for connection with and use of its telephone exchange service facilities. Each such company shall report promptly to the Commission any material changes or planned changes to such protocols and requirements, and the schedule for implementation of such changes or planned changes.
+
+(2) Disclosure of information A Bell operating company shall not disclose any information required to be filed under paragraph (1) unless that information has been filed promptly, as required by regulation by the Commission.
+
+(3) Access by competitors to information The Commission may prescribe such additional regulations under this subsection as may be necessary to ensure that manufacturers have access to the information with respect to the protocols and technical requirements for connection with and use of telephone exchange service facilities that a Bell operating company makes available to any manufacturing affiliate or any unaffiliated manufacturer.
+
+(4) Planning information Each Bell operating company shall provide, to interconnecting carriers providing telephone exchange service, timely information on the planned deployment of telecommunications equipment.
+
+(d) Manufacturing limitations for standard-setting organizations (1) Application to Bell Communications Research or manufacturers Bell Communications Research, Inc., or any successor entity or affiliate—
+
+(A) shall not be considered a Bell operating company or a successor or assign of a Bell operating company at such time as it is no longer an affiliate of any Bell operating company; and
+
+(B) notwithstanding paragraph (3), shall not engage in manufacturing telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment as long as it is an affiliate of more than 1 otherwise unaffiliated Bell operating company or successor or assign of any such company.
+
+Nothing in this subsection prohibits Bell Communications Research, Inc., or any successor entity, from engaging in any activity in which it is lawfully engaged on February 8, 1996. Nothing provided in this subsection shall render Bell Communications Research, Inc., or any successor entity, a common carrier under this subchapter. Nothing in this subsection restricts any manufacturer from engaging in any activity in which it is lawfully engaged on February 8, 1996.
+
+(2) Proprietary information Any entity which establishes standards for telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment, or generic network requirements for such equipment, or certifies telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment, shall be prohibited from releasing or otherwise using any proprietary information, designated as such by its owner, in its possession as a result of such activity, for any purpose other than purposes authorized in writing by the owner of such information, even after such entity ceases to be so engaged.
+
+(3) Manufacturing safeguards (A) Except as prohibited in paragraph (1), and subject to paragraph (6), any entity which certifies telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment manufactured by an unaffiliated entity shall only manufacture a particular class of telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment for which it is undertaking or has undertaken, during the previous 18 months, certification activity for such class of equipment through a separate affiliate.
+
+(B) Such separate affiliate shall—
+
+(i) maintain books, records, and accounts separate from those of the entity that certifies such equipment, consistent with generally acceptable accounting principles;
+
+(ii) not engage in any joint manufacturing activities with such entity; and
+
+(iii) have segregated facilities and separate employees with such entity.
+
+(C) Such entity that certifies such equipment shall—
+
+(i) not discriminate in favor of its manufacturing affiliate in the establishment of standards, generic requirements, or product certification;
+
+(ii) not disclose to the manufacturing affiliate any proprietary information that has been received at any time from an unaffiliated manufacturer, unless authorized in writing by the owner of the information; and
+
+(iii) not permit any employee engaged in product certification for telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment to engage jointly in sales or marketing of any such equipment with the affiliated manufacturer.
+
+(4) Standard-setting entities Any entity that is not an accredited standards development organization and that establishes industry-wide standards for telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment, or industry-wide generic network requirements for such equipment, or that certifies telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment manufactured by an unaffiliated entity, shall—
+
+(A) establish and publish any industry-wide standard for, industry-wide generic requirement for, or any substantial modification of an existing industry-wide standard or industry-wide generic requirement for, telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment only in compliance with the following procedure—
+
+(i) such entity shall issue a public notice of its consideration of a proposed industry-wide standard or industry-wide generic requirement;
+
+(ii) such entity shall issue a public invitation to interested industry parties to fund and participate in such efforts on a reasonable and nondiscriminatory basis, administered in such a manner as not to unreasonably exclude any interested industry party;
+
+(iii) such entity shall publish a text for comment by such parties as have agreed to participate in the process pursuant to clause (ii), provide such parties a full opportunity to submit comments, and respond to comments from such parties;
+
+(iv) such entity shall publish a final text of the industry-wide standard or industry-wide generic requirement, including the comments in their entirety, of any funding party which requests to have its comments so published; and
+
+(v) such entity shall attempt, prior to publishing a text for comment, to agree with the funding parties as a group on a mutually satisfactory dispute resolution process which such parties shall utilize as their sole recourse in the event of a dispute on technical issues as to which there is disagreement between any funding party and the entity conducting such activities, except that if no dispute resolution process is agreed to by all the parties, a funding party may utilize the dispute resolution procedures established pursuant to paragraph (5) of this subsection;
+
+(B) engage in product certification for telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment manufactured by unaffiliated entities only if—
+
+(i) such activity is performed pursuant to published criteria;
+
+(ii) such activity is performed pursuant to auditable criteria; and
+
+(iii) such activity is performed pursuant to available industry-accepted testing methods and standards, where applicable, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties funding and performing such activity;
+
+(C) not undertake any actions to monopolize or attempt to monopolize the market for such services; and
+
+(D) not preferentially treat its own telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment, or that of its affiliate, over that of any other entity in establishing and publishing industry-wide standards or industry-wide generic requirements for, and in certification of, telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment.
+
+(5) Alternate dispute resolution Within 90 days after February 8, 1996, the Commission shall prescribe a dispute resolution process to be utilized in the event that a dispute resolution process is not agreed upon by all the parties when establishing and publishing any industry-wide standard or industry-wide generic requirement for telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment, pursuant to paragraph (4)(A)(v). The Commission shall not establish itself as a party to the dispute resolution process. Such dispute resolution process shall permit any funding party to resolve a dispute with the entity conducting the activity that significantly affects such funding party’s interests, in an open, nondiscriminatory, and unbiased fashion, within 30 days after the filing of such dispute. Such disputes may be filed within 15 days after the date the funding party receives a response to its comments from the entity conducting the activity. The Commission shall establish penalties to be assessed for delays caused by referral of frivolous disputes to the dispute resolution process.
+
+(6) Sunset The requirements of paragraphs (3) and (4) shall terminate for the particular relevant activity when the Commission determines that there are alternative sources of industry-wide standards, industry-wide generic requirements, or product certification for a particular class of telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment available in the United States. Alternative sources shall be deemed to exist when such sources provide commercially viable alternatives that are providing such services to customers. The Commission shall act on any application for such a determination within 90 days after receipt of such application, and shall receive public comment on such application.
+
+(7) Administration and enforcement authority For the purposes of administering this subsection and the regulations prescribed thereunder, the Commission shall have the same remedial authority as the Commission has in administering and enforcing the provisions of this subchapter with respect to any common carrier subject to this chapter.
+
+(8) Definitions For purposes of this subsection:
+
+(A) The term “affiliate” shall have the same meaning as in section 153 of this title, except that, for purposes of paragraph (1)(B)—
+
+(i) an aggregate voting equity interest in Bell Communications Research, Inc., of at least 5 percent of its total voting equity, owned directly or indirectly by more than 1 otherwise unaffiliated Bell operating company, shall constitute an affiliate relationship; and
+
+(ii) a voting equity interest in Bell Communications Research, Inc., by any otherwise unaffiliated Bell operating company of less than 1 percent of Bell Communications Research’s total voting equity shall not be considered to be an equity interest under this paragraph.
+
+(B) The term “generic requirement” means a description of acceptable product attributes for use by local exchange carriers in establishing product specifications for the purchase of telecommunications equipment, customer premises equipment, and software integral thereto.
+
+(C) The term “industry-wide” means activities funded by or performed on behalf of local exchange carriers for use in providing wireline telephone exchange service whose combined total of deployed access lines in the United States constitutes at least 30 percent of all access lines deployed by telecommunications carriers in the United States as of February 8, 1996.
+
+(D) The term “certification” means any technical process whereby a party determines whether a product, for use by more than one local exchange carrier, conforms with the specified requirements pertaining to such product.
+
+(E) The term “accredited standards development organization” means an entity composed of industry members which has been accredited by an institution vested with the responsibility for standards accreditation by the industry.
+
+(e) Bell operating company equipment procurement and sales (1) Nondiscrimination standards for manufacturing In the procurement or awarding of supply contracts for telecommunications equipment, a Bell operating company, or any entity acting on its behalf, for the duration of the requirement for a separate subsidiary including manufacturing under this chapter—
+
+(A) shall consider such equipment, produced or supplied by unrelated persons; and
+
+(B) may not discriminate in favor of equipment produced or supplied by an affiliate or related person.
+
+(2) Procurement standards Each Bell operating company or any entity acting on its behalf shall make procurement decisions and award all supply contracts for equipment, services, and software on the basis of an objective assessment of price, quality, delivery, and other commercial factors.
+
+(3) Network planning and design A Bell operating company shall, to the extent consistent with the antitrust laws, engage in joint network planning and design with local exchange carriers operating in the same area of interest. No participant in such planning shall be allowed to delay the introduction of new technology or the deployment of facilities to provide telecommunications services, and agreement with such other carriers shall not be required as a prerequisite for such introduction or deployment.
+
+(4) Sales restrictions Neither a Bell operating company engaged in manufacturing nor a manufacturing affiliate of such a company shall restrict sales to any local exchange carrier of telecommunications equipment, including software integral to the operation of such equipment and related upgrades.
+
+(5) Protection of proprietary information A Bell operating company and any entity it owns or otherwise controls shall protect the proprietary information submitted for procurement decisions from release not specifically authorized by the owner of such information.
+
+(f) Administration and enforcement authority For the purposes of administering and enforcing the provisions of this section and the regulations prescribed thereunder, the Commission shall have the same authority, power, and functions with respect to any Bell operating company or any affiliate thereof as the Commission has in administering and enforcing the provisions of this subchapter with respect to any common carrier subject to this chapter.
+
+(g) Additional rules and regulations The Commission may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as the Commission determines are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, and otherwise to prevent discrimination and cross-subsidization in a Bell operating company’s dealings with its affiliate and with third parties.
+
+(h) “Manufacturing” defined As used in this section, the term “manufacturing” has the same meaning as such term has under the AT&T Consent Decree.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 273, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 151(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 95.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (d)(7), (e)(1), and (f), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-274.md

@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 274"
+description: "Electronic publishing by Bell operating companies"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "274"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 274"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s274"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "e2b81e06c89e3d9b99b3d5019c5419ec51cc862637d62afec33587bb695ce0c7"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "ad251a50a8e022c6114fc98683a435e3ef0280fae0931cf8f540a1b860b7ff67"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 274 - Electronic publishing by Bell operating companies
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Limitations No Bell operating company or any affiliate may engage in the provision of electronic publishing that is disseminated by means of such Bell operating company’s or any of its affiliates’ basic telephone service, except that nothing in this section shall prohibit a separated affiliate or electronic publishing joint venture operated in accordance with this section from engaging in the provision of electronic publishing.
+
+(b) Separated affiliate or electronic publishing joint venture requirements A separated affiliate or electronic publishing joint venture shall be operated independently from the Bell operating company. Such separated affiliate or joint venture and the Bell operating company with which it is affiliated shall—
+
+(1) maintain separate books, records, and accounts and prepare separate financial statements;
+
+(2) not incur debt in a manner that would permit a creditor of the separated affiliate or joint venture upon default to have recourse to the assets of the Bell operating company;
+
+(3) carry out transactions (A) in a manner consistent with such independence, (B) pursuant to written contracts or tariffs that are filed with the Commission and made publicly available, and (C) in a manner that is auditable in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards;
+
+(4) value any assets that are transferred directly or indirectly from the Bell operating company to a separated affiliate or joint venture, and record any transactions by which such assets are transferred, in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the Commission or a State commission to prevent improper cross subsidies;
+
+(5) between a separated affiliate and a Bell operating company—
+
+(A) have no officers, directors, and employees in common after the effective date of this section; and
+
+(B) own no property in common;
+
+(6) not use for the marketing of any product or service of the separated affiliate or joint venture, the name, trademarks, or service marks of an existing Bell operating company except for names, trademarks, or service marks that are owned by the entity that owns or controls the Bell operating company;
+
+(7) not permit the Bell operating company—
+
+(A) to perform hiring or training of personnel on behalf of a separated affiliate;
+
+(B) to perform the purchasing, installation, or maintenance of equipment on behalf of a separated affiliate, except for telephone service that it provides under tariff or contract subject to the provisions of this section; or
+
+(C) to perform research and development on behalf of a separated affiliate;
+
+(8) each have performed annually a compliance review—
+
+(A) that is conducted by an independent entity for the purpose of determining compliance during the preceding calendar year with any provision of this section; and
+
+(B) the results of which are maintained by the separated affiliate or joint venture and the Bell operating company for a period of 5 years subject to review by any lawful authority; and
+
+(9) within 90 days of receiving a review described in paragraph (8), file a report of any exceptions and corrective action with the Commission and allow any person to inspect and copy such report subject to reasonable safeguards to protect any proprietary information contained in such report from being used for purposes other than to enforce or pursue remedies under this section.
+
+(c) Joint marketing (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2)—
+
+(A) a Bell operating company shall not carry out any promotion, marketing, sales, or advertising for or in conjunction with a separated affiliate; and
+
+(B) a Bell operating company shall not carry out any promotion, marketing, sales, or advertising for or in conjunction with an affiliate that is related to the provision of electronic publishing.
+
+(2) Permissible joint activities (A) Joint telemarketing A Bell operating company may provide inbound telemarketing or referral services related to the provision of electronic publishing for a separated affiliate, electronic publishing joint venture, affiliate, or unaffiliated electronic publisher: Provided, That if such services are provided to a separated affiliate, electronic publishing joint venture, or affiliate, such services shall be made available to all electronic publishers on request, on nondiscriminatory terms.
+
+(B) Teaming arrangements A Bell operating company may engage in nondiscriminatory teaming or business arrangements to engage in electronic publishing with any separated affiliate or with any other electronic publisher if (i) the Bell operating company only provides facilities, services, and basic telephone service information as authorized by this section, and (ii) the Bell operating company does not own such teaming or business arrangement.
+
+(C) Electronic publishing joint ventures A Bell operating company or affiliate may participate on a nonexclusive basis in electronic publishing joint ventures with entities that are not a Bell operating company, affiliate, or separated affiliate to provide electronic publishing services, if the Bell operating company or affiliate has not more than a 50 percent direct or indirect equity interest (or the equivalent thereof) or the right to more than 50 percent of the gross revenues under a revenue sharing or royalty agreement in any electronic publishing joint venture. Officers and employees of a Bell operating company or affiliate participating in an electronic publishing joint venture may not have more than 50 percent of the voting control over the electronic publishing joint venture. In the case of joint ventures with small, local electronic publishers, the Commission for good cause shown may authorize the Bell operating company or affiliate to have a larger equity interest, revenue share, or voting control but not to exceed 80 percent. A Bell operating company participating in an electronic publishing joint venture may provide promotion, marketing, sales, or advertising personnel and services to such joint venture.
+
+(d) Bell operating company requirement A Bell operating company under common ownership or control with a separated affiliate or electronic publishing joint venture shall provide network access and interconnections for basic telephone service to electronic publishers at just and reasonable rates that are tariffed (so long as rates for such services are subject to regulation) and that are not higher on a per-unit basis than those charged for such services to any other electronic publisher or any separated affiliate engaged in electronic publishing.
+
+(e) Private right of action (1) Damages Any person claiming that any act or practice of any Bell operating company, affiliate, or separated affiliate constitutes a violation of this section may file a complaint with the Commission or bring suit as provided in section 207 of this title, and such Bell operating company, affiliate, or separated affiliate shall be liable as provided in section 206 of this title; except that damages may not be awarded for a violation that is discovered by a compliance review as required by subsection (b)(7) of this section and corrected within 90 days.
+
+(2) Cease and desist orders In addition to the provisions of paragraph (1), any person claiming that any act or practice of any Bell operating company, affiliate, or separated affiliate constitutes a violation of this section may make application to the Commission for an order to cease and desist such violation or may make application in any district court of the United States of competent jurisdiction for an order enjoining such acts or practices or for an order compelling compliance with such requirement.
+
+(f) Separated affiliate reporting requirement Any separated affiliate under this section shall file with the Commission annual reports in a form substantially equivalent to the Form 10–K required by regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
+
+(g) Effective dates (1) Transition Any electronic publishing service being offered to the public by a Bell operating company or affiliate on February 8, 1996, shall have one year from February 8, 1996, to comply with the requirements of this section.
+
+(2) Sunset The provisions of this section shall not apply to conduct occurring after 4 years after February 8, 1996.
+
+(h) “Electronic publishing” defined (1) In general The term “electronic publishing” means the dissemination, provision, publication, or sale to an unaffiliated entity or person, of any one or more of the following: news (including sports); entertainment (other than interactive games); business, financial, legal, consumer, or credit materials; editorials, columns, or features; advertising; photos or images; archival or research material; legal notices or public records; scientific, educational, instructional, technical, professional, trade, or other literary materials; or other like or similar information.
+
+(2) Exceptions The term “electronic publishing” shall not include the following services:
+
+(A) Information access, as that term is defined by the AT&T Consent Decree.
+
+(B) The transmission of information as a common carrier.
+
+(C) The transmission of information as part of a gateway to an information service that does not involve the generation or alteration of the content of information, including data transmission, address translation, protocol conversion, billing management, introductory information content, and navigational systems that enable users to access electronic publishing services, which do not affect the presentation of such electronic publishing services to users.
+
+(D) Voice storage and retrieval services, including voice messaging and electronic mail services.
+
+(E) Data processing or transaction processing services that do not involve the generation or alteration of the content of information.
+
+(F) Electronic billing or advertising of a Bell operating company’s regulated telecommunications services.
+
+(G) Language translation or data format conversion.
+
+(H) The provision of information necessary for the management, control, or operation of a telephone company telecommunications system.
+
+(I) The provision of directory assistance that provides names, addresses, and telephone numbers and does not include advertising.
+
+(J) Caller identification services.
+
+(K) Repair and provisioning databases and credit card and billing validation for telephone company operations.
+
+(L) 911–E and other emergency assistance databases.
+
+(M) Any other network service of a type that is like or similar to these network services and that does not involve the generation or alteration of the content of information.
+
+(N) Any upgrades to these network services that do not involve the generation or alteration of the content of information.
+
+(O) Video programming or full motion video entertainment on demand.
+
+(i) Additional definitions As used in this section—
+
+(1) The term “affiliate” means any entity that, directly or indirectly, owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, a Bell operating company. Such term shall not include a separated affiliate.
+
+(2) The term “basic telephone service” means any wireline telephone exchange service, or wireline telephone exchange service facility, provided by a Bell operating company in a telephone exchange area, except that such term does not include—
+
+(A) a competitive wireline telephone exchange service provided in a telephone exchange area where another entity provides a wireline telephone exchange service that was provided on January 1, 1984, or
+
+(B) a commercial mobile service.
+
+(3) The term “basic telephone service information” means network and customer information of a Bell operating company and other information acquired by a Bell operating company as a result of its engaging in the provision of basic telephone service.
+
+(4) The term “control” has the meaning that it has in 17 C.F.R. 240.12b–2, the regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) or any successor provision to such section.
+
+(5) The term “electronic publishing joint venture” means a joint venture owned by a Bell operating company or affiliate that engages in the provision of electronic publishing which is disseminated by means of such Bell operating company’s or any of its affiliates’ basic telephone service.
+
+(6) The term “entity” means any organization, and includes corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, associations, and joint ventures.
+
+(7) The term “inbound telemarketing” means the marketing of property, goods, or services by telephone to a customer or potential customer who initiated the call.
+
+(8) The term “own” with respect to an entity means to have a direct or indirect equity interest (or the equivalent thereof) of more than 10 percent of an entity, or the right to more than 10 percent of the gross revenues of an entity under a revenue sharing or royalty agreement.
+
+(9) The term “separated affiliate” means a corporation under common ownership or control with a Bell operating company that does not own or control a Bell operating company and is not owned or controlled by a Bell operating company and that engages in the provision of electronic publishing which is disseminated by means of such Bell operating company’s or any of its affiliates’ basic telephone service.
+
+(10) The term “Bell operating company” has the meaning provided in section 153 of this title, except that such term includes any entity or corporation that is owned or controlled by such a company (as so defined) but does not include an electronic publishing joint venture owned by such an entity or corporation.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 274, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 151(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 100.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe Securities Exchange Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (i)(4), is act June 6, 1934, ch. 404, 48 Stat. 881, which is classified principally to chapter 2B (§ 78a et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 78a of Title 15 and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-275.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 275"
+description: "Alarm monitoring services"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "275"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 275"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s275"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "300e5b9ac1da21d2f0bc3085d1ee727410866ec1011f3edead9786c2c8245340"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "2010a89ef2911e804c7a26c231d53adb242030208cb3c6dffa42b36506dcf3b6"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 275 - Alarm monitoring services
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Delayed entry into alarm monitoring (1) Prohibition No Bell operating company or affiliate thereof shall engage in the provision of alarm monitoring services before the date which is 5 years after February 8, 1996.
+
+(2) Existing activities Paragraph (1) does not prohibit or limit the provision, directly or through an affiliate, of alarm monitoring services by a Bell operating company that was engaged in providing alarm monitoring services as of November 30, 1995, directly or through an affiliate. Such Bell operating company or affiliate may not acquire any equity interest in, or obtain financial control of, any unaffiliated alarm monitoring service entity after November 30, 1995, and until 5 years after February 8, 1996, except that this sentence shall not prohibit an exchange of customers for the customers of an unaffiliated alarm monitoring service entity.
+
+(b) Nondiscrimination An incumbent local exchange carrier (as defined in section 251(h) of this title) engaged in the provision of alarm monitoring services shall—
+
+(1) provide nonaffiliated entities, upon reasonable request, with the network services it provides to its own alarm monitoring operations, on nondiscriminatory terms and conditions; and
+
+(2) not subsidize its alarm monitoring services either directly or indirectly from telephone exchange service operations.
+
+(c) Expedited consideration of complaints The Commission shall establish procedures for the receipt and review of complaints concerning violations of subsection (b) or the regulations thereunder that result in material financial harm to a provider of alarm monitoring service. Such procedures shall ensure that the Commission will make a final determination with respect to any such complaint within 120 days after receipt of the complaint. If the complaint contains an appropriate showing that the alleged violation occurred, as determined by the Commission in accordance with such regulations, the Commission shall, within 60 days after receipt of the complaint, order the incumbent local exchange carrier (as defined in section 251(h) of this title) and its affiliates to cease engaging in such violation pending such final determination.
+
+(d) Use of data A local exchange carrier may not record or use in any fashion the occurrence or contents of calls received by providers of alarm monitoring services for the purposes of marketing such services on behalf of such local exchange carrier, or any other entity. Any regulations necessary to enforce this subsection shall be issued initially within 6 months after February 8, 1996.
+
+(e) “Alarm monitoring service” defined The term “alarm monitoring service” means a service that uses a device located at a residence, place of business, or other fixed premises—
+
+(1) to receive signals from other devices located at or about such premises regarding a possible threat at such premises to life, safety, or property, from burglary, fire, vandalism, bodily injury, or other emergency, and
+
+(2) to transmit a signal regarding such threat by means of transmission facilities of a local exchange carrier or one of its affiliates to a remote monitoring center to alert a person at such center of the need to inform the customer or another person or police, fire, rescue, security, or public safety personnel of such threat,
+
+but does not include a service that uses a medical monitoring device attached to an individual for the automatic surveillance of an ongoing medical condition.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 275, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 151(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 105.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-276.md

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 276"
+description: "Provision of payphone service"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "276"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 276"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s276"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "84300a71ca9ee3e312e3ed2f9c16a8b1a0b3317aac3af3d5536476986218ab05"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "8f21d8d96018806396c9941562df36f7404649a137041e5344c4e463584fd547"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 276 - Provision of payphone service
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Nondiscrimination safeguards After the effective date of the rules prescribed pursuant to subsection (b), any Bell operating company that provides payphone service—
+
+(1) shall not subsidize its payphone service directly or indirectly from its telephone exchange service operations or its exchange access operations; and
+
+(2) shall not prefer or discriminate in favor of its payphone service.
+
+(b) Regulations (1) Contents of regulations In order to promote competition among payphone service providers and promote the widespread deployment of payphone services to the benefit of the general public, within 9 months after February 8, 1996, the Commission shall take all actions necessary (including any reconsideration) to prescribe regulations that—
+
+(A) establish a compensation plan to ensure that all payphone service providers are fairly compensated, and all rates and charges are just and reasonable, for completed intrastate and interstate communications using their payphone or other calling device, except that emergency calls and telecommunications relay service calls for hearing disabled individuals shall not be subject to such compensation;
+
+(B) discontinue the intrastate and interstate carrier access charge payphone service elements and payments in effect on February 8, 1996, and all intrastate and interstate payphone subsidies from basic exchange and exchange access revenues, in favor of a compensation plan as specified in subparagraph (A);
+
+(C) prescribe a set of nonstructural safeguards for Bell operating company payphone service to implement the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), which safeguards shall, at a minimum, include the nonstructural safeguards equal to those adopted in the Computer Inquiry-III (CC Docket No. 90–623) proceeding;
+
+(D) provide for Bell operating company payphone service providers to have the same right that independent payphone providers have to negotiate with the location provider on the location provider’s selecting and contracting with, and, subject to the terms of any agreement with the location provider, to select and contract with, the carriers that carry interLATA calls from their payphones, unless the Commission determines in the rulemaking pursuant to this section that it is not in the public interest; and
+
+(E) provide for all payphone service providers to have the right to negotiate with the location provider on the location provider’s selecting and contracting with, and, subject to the terms of any agreement with the location provider, to select and contract with, the carriers that carry intraLATA calls from their payphones.
+
+(2) Public interest telephones In the rulemaking conducted pursuant to paragraph (1), the Commission shall determine whether public interest payphones, which are provided in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare, in locations where there would otherwise not be a payphone, should be maintained, and if so, ensure that such public interest payphones are supported fairly and equitably.
+
+(3) Existing contracts Nothing in this section shall affect any existing contracts between location providers and payphone service providers or interLATA or intraLATA carriers that are in force and effect as of February 8, 1996.
+
+(c) State preemption To the extent that any State requirements are inconsistent with the Commission’s regulations, the Commission’s regulations on such matters shall preempt such State requirements.
+
+(d) “Payphone service” defined As used in this section, the term “payphone service” means the provision of public or semi-public pay telephones, the provision of inmate telephone service and advanced communications services described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), and (E) of section 153(1) of this title in correctional institutions, and any ancillary services.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 276, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 151(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 10 Stat. 106; amended Pub. L. 117–338, § 2(a), Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6156.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2023—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 117–338, § 2(a)(1), struck out “per call” before “compensation plan” and “each and every” before “completed intrastate”, inserted “, and all rates and charges are just and reasonable,” after “fairly compensated” and “or other calling device” after “their payphone”, and substituted “communications using” for “call using”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–338, § 2(a)(2), inserted “and advanced communications services described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), and (E) of section 153(1) of this title” after “inmate telephone service”.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-301.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 301"
+description: "License for radio communication or transmission of energy"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "301"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 301"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s301"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "a27c6a1a65497589885c0d59ab22c2fb9e887e812b47d7d6452a2d102a2f3469"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "6abcb772b067846cc5131ee7309965cd3f737c726a660c50a47ee681f62c05c7"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 301 - License for radio communication or transmission of energy
+
+## Text
+
+It is the purpose of this chapter, among other things, to maintain the control of the United States over all the channels of radio transmission; and to provide for the use of such channels, but not the ownership thereof, by persons for limited periods of time, under licenses granted by Federal authority, and no such license shall be construed to create any right, beyond the terms, conditions, and periods of the license. No person shall use or operate any apparatus for the transmission of energy or communications or signals by radio (a) from one place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States or in the District of Columbia to another place in the same State, Territory, possession, or District; or (b) from any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or from the District of Columbia to any other State, Territory, or possession of the United States; or (c) from any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, to any place in any foreign country or to any vessel; or (d) within any State when the effects of such use extend beyond the borders of said State, or when interference is caused by such use or operation with the transmission of such energy, communications, or signals from within said State to any place beyond its borders, or from any place beyond its borders to any place within said State, or with the transmission or reception of such energy, communications, or signals from and/or to places beyond the borders of said State; or (e) upon any vessel or aircraft of the United States (except as provided in section 303(t) of this title); or (f) upon any other mobile stations within the jurisdiction of the United States, except under and in accordance with this chapter and with a license in that behalf granted under the provisions of this chapter.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 301, 48 Stat. 1081; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, §§ 107, 111(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1091, 1093.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1982—Pub. L. 97–259 struck out “interstate and foreign” after “channels of” in first sentence, substituted “State, Territory,” for “Territory” after “from one place in any” and inserted “State,” after “to another place in the same” in cl. (a), and inserted “(except as provided in section 303(t) of this title)” in cl. (e).

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-302.md

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 302"
+description: "Repealed. June 5, 1936, ch. 511, § 1, 49 Stat. 1475"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "302"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 302"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s302"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "c2543452e07aa68fd7479471fd550a2294263e8942cfd307353b3b4e121a7589"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "46cee99185da6d783028900447e17363e7408fb17d9adef08cefeb71e40a5fc6"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 302 - Repealed. June 5, 1936, ch. 511, § 1, 49 Stat. 1475
+
+## Notes
+
+Section, act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 302, 48 Stat. 1081, divided United States into five zones for purposes of this subchapter.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-302a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 302a"
+description: "Devices which interfere with radio reception"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "302a"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 302a"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s302a"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "058f13fc59992108af588e0de5c892eae878b19174065fa5e20e7b0cde0cd126"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "4dcdeac501c51b94ded1bd36c13856a42a0847c1bfd90d6dd6b8c893cafaf5a6"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 302a - Devices which interfere with radio reception
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Regulations The Commission may, consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity, make reasonable regulations (1) governing the interference potential of devices which in their operation are capable of emitting radio frequency energy by radiation, conduction, or other means in sufficient degree to cause harmful interference to radio communications; and (2) establishing minimum performance standards for home electronic equipment and systems to reduce their susceptibility to interference from radio frequency energy. Such regulations shall be applicable to the manufacture, import, sale, offer for sale, or shipment of such devices and home electronic equipment and systems, and to the use of such devices.
+
+(b) Restrictions No person shall manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, or ship devices or home electronic equipment and systems, or use devices, which fail to comply with regulations promulgated pursuant to this section.
+
+(c) Exceptions The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to carriers transporting such devices or home electronic equipment and systems without trading in them, to devices or home electronic equipment and systems manufactured solely for export, to the manufacture, assembly, or installation of devices or home electronic equipment and systems for its own use by a public utility engaged in providing electric service, or to devices or home electronic equipment and systems for use by the Government of the United States or any agency thereof. Devices and home electronic equipment and systems for use by the Government of the United States or any agency thereof shall be developed, procured, or otherwise acquired, including offshore procurement, under United States Government criteria, standards, or specifications designed to achieve the objectives of reducing interference to radio reception and to home electronic equipment and systems, taking into account the unique needs of national defense and security.
+
+(d) Cellular telecommunications receivers (1) Within 180 days after October 28, 1992, the Commission shall prescribe and make effective regulations denying equipment authorization (under part 15 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any other part of that title) for any scanning receiver that is capable of—
+
+(A) receiving transmissions in the frequencies allocated to the domestic cellular radio telecommunications service,
+
+(B) readily being altered by the user to receive transmissions in such frequencies, or
+
+(C) being equipped with decoders that convert digital cellular transmissions to analog voice audio.
+
+(2) Beginning 1 year after the effective date of the regulations adopted pursuant to paragraph (1), no receiver having the capabilities described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), as such capabilities are defined in such regulations, shall be manufactured in the United States or imported for use in the United States.
+
+(e) Delegation of equipment testing and certification to private laboratories The Commission may—
+
+(1) authorize the use of private organizations for testing and certifying the compliance of devices or home electronic equipment and systems with regulations promulgated under this section;
+
+(2) accept as prima facie evidence of such compliance the certification by any such organization; and
+
+(3) establish such qualifications and standards as it deems appropriate for such private organizations, testing, and certification.
+
+(f) State and local enforcement of FCC regulations on use of citizens band radio equipment (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a State or local government may enact a statute or ordinance that prohibits a violation of the following regulations of the Commission under this section:
+
+(A) A regulation that prohibits a use of citizens band radio equipment not authorized by the Commission.
+
+(B) A regulation that prohibits the unauthorized operation of citizens band radio equipment on a frequency between 24 MHz and 35 MHz.
+
+(2) A station that is licensed by the Commission pursuant to section 301 of this title in any radio service for the operation at issue shall not be subject to action by a State or local government under this subsection. A State or local government statute or ordinance enacted for purposes of this subsection shall identify the exemption available under this paragraph.
+
+(3) The Commission shall, to the extent practicable, provide technical guidance to State and local governments regarding the detection and determination of violations of the regulations specified in paragraph (1).
+
+(4) (A) In addition to any other remedy authorized by law, a person affected by the decision of a State or local government agency enforcing a statute or ordinance under paragraph (1) may submit to the Commission an appeal of the decision on the grounds that the State or local government, as the case may be, enacted a statute or ordinance outside the authority provided in this subsection.
+
+(B) A person shall submit an appeal on a decision of a State or local government agency to the Commission under this paragraph, if at all, not later than 30 days after the date on which the decision by the State or local government agency becomes final, but prior to seeking judicial review of such decision.
+
+(C) The Commission shall make a determination on an appeal submitted under subparagraph (B) not later than 180 days after its submittal.
+
+(D) If the Commission determines under subparagraph (C) that a State or local government agency has acted outside its authority in enforcing a statute or ordinance, the Commission shall preempt the decision enforcing the statute or ordinance.
+
+(5) The enforcement of statute or ordinance that prohibits a violation of a regulation by a State or local government under paragraph (1) in a particular case shall not preclude the Commission from enforcing the regulation in that case concurrently.
+
+(6) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to diminish or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Commission under this section over devices capable of interfering with radio communications.
+
+(7) The enforcement of a statute or ordinance by a State or local government under paragraph (1) with regard to citizens band radio equipment on board a “commercial motor vehicle”, as defined in section 31101 of title 49, shall require probable cause to find that the commercial motor vehicle or the individual operating the vehicle is in violation of the regulations described in paragraph (1).
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 302, as added Pub. L. 90–379, July 5, 1968, 82 Stat. 290; amended Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 108(a), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1091; Pub. L. 102–556, title IV, § 403(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4195; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(f), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 131; Pub. L. 106–521, § 1, Nov. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 2438.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2000—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 106–521 added subsec. (f). 1996—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–104 added subsec. (e). 1992—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–556 added subsec. (d). 1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–259, § 108(a)(1), (2), inserted “(1)” after “regulations” and “; and (2) establishing minimum performance standards for home electronic equipment and systems to reduce their susceptibility to interference from radio frequency energy” after “radio communications”, and substituted “or shipment of such devices and home electronic equipment and systems, and to the use of such devices” for “shipment, or use of such devices”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–259, § 108(a)(3), substituted “or ship devices or home electronic equipment and systems, or use devices,” for “ship, or use devices”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–259, § 108(a)(4), inserted “or home electronic equipment and systems” after “devices” wherever appearing, inserted “and home electronic equipment and systems” after “Devices”, substituted “objectives” for “common objective”, and inserted “and to home electronic equipment and systems” after “reception”.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effect on Other LawsPub. L. 102–556, title IV, § 403(c), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4195, provided that: “This section [amending this section] shall not affect section 2512(2) of title 18, United States Code.”
+
+Minimum Performance Standards; Home Electronic Equipment and Systems Manufactured Before September 13, 1982Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 108(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1092, provided that any minimum performance standard established by the Federal Communications Commission under subsec. (a)(2) of this section would not apply to any home electronic equipment or systems manufactured before Sept. 13, 1982.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-303a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 303a"
+description: "Standards for children’s television programming"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "303a"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 303a"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s303a"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "101ebb017c8a01f13b3709169018e19bdb46e8809f93bc9f04aca3725d60089f"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "8c102fb7636525af7b8aac174a2adb39aeddc0290bcb396828f01504b0e0e517"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 303a - Standards for children’s television programming
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Establishment The Commission shall, within 30 days after October 18, 1990, initiate a rulemaking proceeding to prescribe standards applicable to commercial television broadcast licensees with respect to the time devoted to commercial matter in conjunction with children’s television programming. The Commission shall, within 180 days after October 18, 1990, complete the rulemaking proceeding and prescribe final standards that meet the requirements of subsection (b).
+
+(b) Advertising duration limitations Except as provided in subsection (c), the standards prescribed under subsection (a) shall include the requirement that each commercial television broadcast licensee shall limit the duration of advertising in children’s television programming to not more than 10.5 minutes per hour on weekends and not more than 12 minutes per hour on weekdays.
+
+(c) Review of advertising duration limitations; modification After January 1, 1993, the Commission—
+
+(1) may review and evaluate the advertising duration limitations required by subsection (b); and
+
+(2) may, after notice and public comment and a demonstration of the need for modification of such limitations, modify such limitations in accordance with the public interest.
+
+(d) “Commercial television broadcast licensee” defined As used in this section, the term “commercial television broadcast licensee” includes a cable operator, as defined in section 522 of this title.
+
+(Pub. L. 101–437, title I, § 102, Oct. 17, 1990, 104 Stat. 996.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Codification Section was enacted as part of the Children’s Television Act of 1990, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Congressional FindingsPub. L. 101–437, title I, § 101, Oct. 17, 1990, 104 Stat. 996, provided that: “The Congress finds that— “(1) it has been clearly demonstrated that television can assist children to learn important information, skills, values, and behavior, while entertaining them and exciting their curiosity to learn about the world around them; “(2) as part of their obligation to serve the public interest, television station operators and licensees should provide programming that serves the special needs of children; “(3) the financial support of advertisers assists in the provision of programming to children; “(4) special safeguards are appropriate to protect children from overcommercialization on television; “(5) television station operators and licensees should follow practices in connection with children’s television programming and advertising that take into consideration the characteristics of this child audience; and “(6) it is therefore necessary that the Federal Communications Commission (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Commission’) take the actions required by this title [enacting sections 303a and 303b of this title].”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-303b.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 303b"
+description: "Consideration of children’s television service in broadcast license renewal"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "303b"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 303b"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s303b"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "eacd9fa76a6f68cf64f6b43285d4e2511bab79ff75f3c37bfba2c7ae902e21a0"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "e0fa47f434e19fadb9fe541ea301598a0c2f68f42e91eb34dbc1b4bf26d3ed67"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 303b - Consideration of children’s television service in broadcast license renewal
+
+## Text
+
+(a) After the standards required by section 303a of this title are in effect, the Commission shall, in its review of any application for renewal of a commercial or noncommercial television broadcast license, consider the extent to which the licensee—
+
+(1) has complied with such standards; and
+
+(2) has served the educational and informational needs of children through the licensee’s overall programming, including programming specifically designed to serve such needs.
+
+(b) In addition to consideration of the licensee’s programming as required under subsection (a), the Commission may consider—
+
+(1) any special nonbroadcast efforts by the licensee which enhance the educational and informational value of such programming to children; and
+
+(2) any special efforts by the licensee to produce or support programming broadcast by another station in the licensee’s marketplace which is specifically designed to serve the educational and informational needs of children.
+
+(Pub. L. 101–437, title I, § 103, Oct. 17, 1990, 104 Stat. 997; Pub. L. 102–356, § 15, Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 954; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(c), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4296.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Codification Section was enacted as part of the Children’s Television Act of 1990, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.
+
+Amendments1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–414 substituted “noncommercial” for “noncommerical”. 1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–356 inserted reference to commercial or noncommercial television broadcast licenses.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-303c.md

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 303c"
+description: "Television program improvement"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "303c"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 303c"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s303c"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "6e9a22a3b0a132a60b735640e3e5349b6fdf23c6cb4f46b5fffb067762391241"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "7c4b987c21f83a0a9647ee9b146288ca189c65944283919ca2f35dd60d880372"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 303c - Television program improvement
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Short title This section may be cited as the “Television Program Improvement Act of 1990”.
+
+(b) Definitions For purposes of this section—
+
+(1) the term “antitrust laws” has the meaning given it in subsection (a) of section 12 of title 15, except that such term includes section 45 of title 15 to the extent that section 45 of title 15 applies to unfair methods of competition;
+
+(2) the term “person in the television industry” means a television network, any entity which produces programming (including theatrical motion pictures) for telecasting or telecasts programming, the National Cable Television Association, the Association of Independent Television Stations, Incorporated, the National Association of Broadcasters, the Motion Picture Association of America, the Community Antenna Television Association, and each of the networks’ affiliate organizations, and shall include any individual acting on behalf of such person; and
+
+(3) the term “telecast” means—
+
+(A) to broadcast by a television broadcast station; or
+
+(B) to transmit by a cable television system or a satellite television distribution service.
+
+(c) Exemption The antitrust laws shall not apply to any joint discussion, consideration, review, action, or agreement by or among persons in the television industry for the purpose of, and limited to, developing and disseminating voluntary guidelines designed to alleviate the negative impact of violence in telecast material.
+
+(d) Limitations (1) The exemption provided in subsection (c) shall not apply to any joint discussion, consideration, review, action, or agreement which results in a boycott of any person.
+
+(2) The exemption provided in subsection (c) shall apply only to any joint discussion, consideration, review, action, or agreement engaged in only during the 3-year period beginning on December 1, 1990.
+
+(Pub. L. 101–650, title V, § 501, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5127.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Codification Section was enacted as part of the Television Program Improvement Act of 1990 and also as part of the Judicial Improvements Act of 1990, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-304.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 304"
+description: "Waiver by license of claims to particular frequency or of electromagnetic spectrum"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "304"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 304"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s304"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "586f952b9e61b28282353c9d0e5372381df0428393abfb425640f40475d63970"
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+text_hash: "abc3c744174f3a8d8ad5c70594b210c6b4570aae1cccc6882a0feed7ecf49f18"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 304 - Waiver by license of claims to particular frequency or of electromagnetic spectrum
+
+## Text
+
+No station license shall be granted by the Commission until the applicant therefor shall have waived any claim to the use of any particular frequency or of the electromagnetic spectrum as against the regulatory power of the United States because of the previous use of the same, whether by license or otherwise.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 304, 48 Stat. 1083; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 127(a), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1099; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 204(a), Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3543.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1992—Pub. L. 102–538 substituted “waived” for “signed a waiver of”. 1982—Pub. L. 97–259 substituted “electromagnetic spectrum” for “ether”.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-306.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 306"
+description: "Foreign ships; application of section 301"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "306"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 306"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s306"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "ee48c9db64be013da6791796dd05c8f5893df31d6a93c46770557d824396002f"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "c28955a15934925621178e9bd98f25a4aecead90e92433ae568670ef7e0a3861"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 306 - Foreign ships; application of section 301
+
+## Text
+
+Section 301 of this title shall not apply to any person sending radio communications or signals on a foreign ship while the same is within the jurisdiction of the United States, but such communications or signals shall be transmitted only in accordance with such regulations designed to prevent interference as may be promulgated under the authority of this chapter.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 306, 48 Stat. 1083.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-307.md

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 307"
+description: "Licenses"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "307"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 307"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s307"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "e167686eb9f23fbc66ff9e1a1862bcf1345c0392fd69062fc2df5388d3679ccf"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "250c71789a2e0567216ebb311a0f828f611ecbed199c4b10896f5cae094a310f"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 307 - Licenses
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Grant The Commission, if public convenience, interest, or necessity will be served thereby, subject to the limitations of this chapter, shall grant to any applicant therefor a station license provided for by this chapter.
+
+(b) Allocation of facilities In considering applications for licenses, and modifications and renewals thereof, when and insofar as there is demand for the same, the Commission shall make such distribution of licenses, frequencies, hours of operation, and of power among the several States and communities as to provide a fair, efficient, and equitable distribution of radio service to each of the same.
+
+(c) Terms of licenses (1) Initial and renewal licenses Each license granted for the operation of a broadcasting station shall be for a term of not to exceed 8 years. Upon application therefor, a renewal of such license may be granted from time to time for a term of not to exceed 8 years from the date of expiration of the preceding license, if the Commission finds that public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served thereby. Consistent with the foregoing provisions of this subsection, the Commission may by rule prescribe the period or periods for which licenses shall be granted and renewed for particular classes of stations, but the Commission may not adopt or follow any rule which would preclude it, in any case involving a station of a particular class, from granting or renewing a license for a shorter period than that prescribed for stations of such class if, in its judgment, the public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by such action.
+
+(2) Materials in application In order to expedite action on applications for renewal of broadcasting station licenses and in order to avoid needless expense to applicants for such renewals, the Commission shall not require any such applicant to file any information which previously has been furnished to the Commission or which is not directly material to the considerations that affect the granting or denial of such application, but the Commission may require any new or additional facts it deems necessary to make its findings.
+
+(3) Continuation pending decision Pending any administrative or judicial hearing and final decision on such an application and the disposition of any petition for rehearing pursuant to section 405 or section 402 of this title, the Commission shall continue such license in effect.
+
+(d) Renewals No renewal of an existing station license in the broadcast or the common carrier services shall be granted more than thirty days prior to the expiration of the original license.
+
+(e) Operation of certain radio stations without individual licenses (1) Notwithstanding any license requirement established in this chapter, if the Commission determines that such authorization serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity, the Commission may by rule authorize the operation of radio stations without individual licenses in the following radio services: (A) the citizens band radio service; (B) the radio control service; (C) the aviation radio service for aircraft stations operated on domestic flights when such aircraft are not otherwise required to carry a radio station; and (D) the maritime radio service for ship stations navigated on domestic voyages when such ships are not otherwise required to carry a radio station.
+
+(2) Any radio station operator who is authorized by the Commission to operate without an individual license shall comply with all other provisions of this chapter and with rules prescribed by the Commission under this chapter.
+
+(3) For purposes of this subsection, the terms “citizens band radio service”, “radio control service”, “aircraft station” and “ship station” shall have the meanings given them by the Commission by rule.
+
+(f) Areas in Alaska without access to over the air broadcasts Notwithstanding any other provision of law, (1) any holder of a broadcast license may broadcast to an area of Alaska that otherwise does not have access to over the air broadcasts via translator, microwave, or other alternative signal delivery even if another holder of a broadcast license begins broadcasting to such area, (2) any holder of a broadcast license who has broadcast to an area of Alaska that did not have access to over the air broadcasts via translator, microwave, or other alternative signal delivery may continue providing such service even if another holder of a broadcast license begins broadcasting to such area, and shall not be fined or subject to any other penalty, forfeiture, or revocation related to providing such service including any fine, penalty, forfeiture, or revocation for continuing to operate notwithstanding orders to the contrary.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 307, 48 Stat. 1083; June 5, 1936, ch. 511, § 2, 49 Stat. 1475; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 5, 66 Stat. 714; Pub. L. 86–752, § 3, Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 889; Pub. L. 87–439, Apr. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 58; Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1241(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 736; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, §§ 112, 113(a), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1093; Pub. L. 104–104, title II, § 203, title IV, § 403(i), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 112, 131; Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title II, § 213(1), (2)], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3431.)
+
+## Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (e), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments2004—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 108–447, § 213(1), substituted “any administrative or judicial hearing” for “any hearing” and inserted “or section 402” after “section 405”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 108–447, § 213(2), added subsec. (f). 1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–104, § 203, inserted heading and amended text generally, restructuring existing provisions into pars. (1) to (3) and substituting provisions providing 8 year term for licenses of broadcasting stations for provisions providing 5 year term for licenses of television broadcasting stations, 7 year term for licenses of radio broadcasting stations, and 10 year term for other broadcasting stations. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–104, § 403(i), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “(1) Notwithstanding any licensing requirement established in this chapter, the Commission may by rule authorize the operation of radio stations without individual licenses in the radio control service and the citizens band radio service if the Commission determines that such authorization serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity. “(2) Any radio station operator who is authorized by the Commission under paragraph (1) to operate without an individual license shall comply with all other provisions of this chapter and with rules prescribed by the Commission under this chapter. “(3) For purposes of this subsection, the terms ‘radio control service’ and ‘citizens band radio service’ shall have the meanings given them by the Commission by rule.” 1982—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–259, § 112, redesignated subsec. (d) as (c), substituted “ten years” for “five years” after “station) shall be for a longer term than” and “term of not to exceed”, and inserted provision that the term of any license for the operation of any auxiliary broadcast station or equipment which can be used only in conjunction with a primary radio, television, or translator station shall be concurrent with the term of the license for such primary radio, television, or translator station. Former subsec. (c), which required the Commission to study proposal that Congress allocate fixed percentages of radio broadcasting facilities to nonprofit activities and report recommendations, with reasons, to Congress not later than Feb. 1, 1935, was struck out. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–259, § 112(a), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–259, §§ 112(a), 113(a), added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (d). 1981—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–35 substituted provisions authorizing term of five years for a television broadcasting station license, seven years for a radio broadcasting station license, and five years for any other class of license, with comparable provisions for renewal, for provisions authorizing term of three years for a broadcasting station license, and five years for any other class of station license, with comparable provisions for renewal. 1962—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 87–439 inserted “in the broadcast or the common carrier services” before “shall be granted”. 1960—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 86–752 inserted last sentence dealing with the Commission’s authority to grant licenses for periods shorter than 3 years. 1952—Subsec. (d). Act July 16, 1952, provided that upon the expiration of any license, any renewal applied for may be granted “if the Commission finds that public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served thereby”, and provided that pending a hearing and final decision on an application for renewal and the disposition of any petition for a rehearing the Commission shall continue the license in effect. 1936—Subsec. (b). Act June 5, 1936, amended subsec. (b) generally.
+
+Effective Date of 1981 AmendmentPub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1241(b), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 736, provided that: “The amendments made in subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to television and radio broadcasting licenses granted or renewed by the Federal Communications Commission after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 1981].”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-308.md

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 308"
+description: "Requirements for license"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "308"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 308"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s308"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "3c1d3e92aa70e3f8bb5d2af94761071e72bd4bbe3ac05c79aa1063ae22a25d5e"
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+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 308 - Requirements for license
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Writing; exceptions The Commission may grant construction permits and station licenses, or modifications or renewals thereof, only upon written application therefor received by it: Provided, That (1) in cases of emergency found by the Commission involving danger to life or property or due to damage to equipment, or (2) during a national emergency proclaimed by the President or declared by the Congress and during the continuance of any war in which the United States is engaged and when such action is necessary for the national defense or security or otherwise in furtherance of the war effort, or (3) in cases of emergency where the Commission finds, in the nonbroadcast services, that it would not be feasible to secure renewal applications from existing licensees or otherwise to follow normal licensing procedure, the Commission may grant construction permits and station licenses, or modifications or renewals thereof, during the emergency so found by the Commission or during the continuance of any such national emergency or war, in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as the Commission shall by regulation prescribe, and without the filing of a formal application, but no authorization so granted shall continue in effect beyond the period of the emergency or war requiring it: Provided further, That the Commission may issue by cable, telegraph, or radio a permit for the operation of a station on a vessel of the United States at sea, effective in lieu of a license until said vessel shall return to a port of the continental United States.
+
+(b) Conditions All applications for station licenses, or modifications or renewals thereof, shall set forth such facts as the Commission by regulation may prescribe as to the citizenship, character, and financial, technical, and other qualifications of the applicant to operate the station; the ownership and location of the proposed station and of the stations, if any, with which it is proposed to communicate; the frequencies and the power desired to be used; the hours of the day or other periods of time during which it is proposed to operate the station; the purposes for which the station is to be used; and such other information as it may require. The Commission, at any time after the filing of such original application and during the term of any such license, may require from an applicant or licensee further written statements of fact to enable it to determine whether such original application should be granted or denied or such license revoked. Such application and/or such statement of fact shall be signed by the applicant and/or licensee in any manner or form, including by electronic means, as the Commission may prescribe by regulation.
+
+(c) Commercial communication The Commission in granting any license for a station intended or used for commercial communication between the United States or any Territory or possession, continental or insular, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and any foreign country, may impose any terms, conditions, or restrictions authorized to be imposed with respect to submarine-cable licenses by section 35 of this title.
+
+(d) Summary of complaints Each applicant for the renewal of a commercial or noncommercial television license shall attach as an exhibit to the application a summary of written comments and suggestions received from the public and maintained by the licensee (in accordance with Commission regulations) that comment on the applicant’s programming, if any, and that are characterized by the commentor as constituting violent programming.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 308, 48 Stat. 1084; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 6, 66 Stat. 714; Pub. L. 87–444, § 3, Apr. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 63; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 204(b), Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3543; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(a)(15), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4295; Pub. L. 104–104, title II, § 204(b), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 113.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–104 added subsec. (d). 1994—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–414 made technical amendment to reference to section 35 of this title to correct reference to corresponding section of original act. 1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–538 inserted before period at end “in any manner or form, including by electronic means, as the Commission may prescribe by regulation”. 1962—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 87–444 struck out requirement that applications or statements of fact were to be signed under oath or affirmation. 1952—Subsec. (a). Act July 16, 1952, § 6(a), provided that the Commission may grant construction permits and station licenses, or modifications or renewals, only upon written application except that during war or emergency periods no formal application need be filed. Subsec. (b). Act July 16, 1952, § 6(b), substituted “All applications for station licenses or modifications or renewals thereof, shall set forth” for “All such applications shall set forth”.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1996 AmendmentPub. L. 104–104, title II, § 204(c), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 113, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 309 of this title] apply to applications filed after May 1, 1995.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-309a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 309a"
+description: "Reports related to spectrum auctions"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "309a"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 309a"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s309a"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "d7393212f4fd1698c390161bc6758f092e07a6964aac02823b873039b1bd2176"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "4d3fb33ef82c621db498b5059dec161513a75eb957561dfcc1dc1ab260a114b6"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 309a - Reports related to spectrum auctions
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Omitted
+
+(b) Auction expenditure justification report Not later than April 1, 2019, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing a detailed justification for the use of proceeds retained by the Commission under section 309(j)(8)(B) of this title for the costs of developing and implementing the program required by section 309(j) of this title.
+
+(c) Definition For purposes of this section, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—
+
+(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
+
+(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
+
+(3) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
+
+(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
+
+(Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title V, § 512, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1097.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Codification Section is comprised of section 512 of div. P of Pub. L. 115–141. Subsec. (a) of section 512 of div. P of Pub. L. 115–141 amended section 309 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-310.md

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 310"
+description: "License ownership restrictions"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "310"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 310"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s310"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "d635c6fd05afe346187b409d47b0592ab0f6b66f9ed00835a25f9f267a6fd272"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "8ba1a66fed5a331c4984945e330ba53c8b9fe89a2bd898e3dca67a4a7c7ee419"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 310 - License ownership restrictions
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Grant to or holding by foreign government or representative The station license required under this chapter shall not be granted to or held by any foreign government or the representative thereof.
+
+(b) Grant to or holding by alien or representative, foreign corporation, etc. No broadcast or common carrier or aeronautical en route or aeronautical fixed radio station license shall be granted to or held by—
+
+(1) any alien or the representative of any alien;
+
+(2) any corporation organized under the laws of any foreign government;
+
+(3) any corporation of which more than one-fifth of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens or their representatives or by a foreign government or representative thereof or by any corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country;
+
+(4) any corporation directly or indirectly controlled by any other corporation of which more than one-fourth of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens, their representatives, or by a foreign government or representative thereof, or by any corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country, if the Commission finds that the public interest will be served by the refusal or revocation of such license.
+
+(c) Authorization for aliens licensed by foreign governments; multilateral or bilateral agreement to which United States and foreign country are parties as prerequisite In addition to amateur station licenses which the Commission may issue to aliens pursuant to this chapter, the Commission may issue authorizations, under such conditions and terms as it may prescribe, to permit an alien licensed by his government as an amateur radio operator to operate his amateur radio station licensed by his government in the United States, its possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico provided there is in effect a multilateral or bilateral agreement, to which the United States and the alien’s government are parties, for such operation on a reciprocal basis by United States amateur radio operators. Other provisions of this chapter and of subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of title 5 shall not be applicable to any request or application for or modification, suspension, or cancellation of any such authorization.
+
+(d) Assignment and transfer of construction permit or station license No construction permit or station license, or any rights thereunder, shall be transferred, assigned, or disposed of in any manner, voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly, or by transfer of control of any corporation holding such permit or license, to any person except upon application to the Commission and upon finding by the Commission that the public interest, convenience, and necessity will be served thereby. Any such application shall be disposed of as if the proposed transferee or assignee were making application under section 308 of this title for the permit or license in question; but in acting thereon the Commission may not consider whether the public interest, convenience, and necessity might be served by the transfer, assignment, or disposal of the permit or license to a person other than the proposed transferee or assignee.
+
+(e) Administration of regional concentration rules for broadcast stations (1) In the case of any broadcast station, and any ownership interest therein, which is excluded from the regional concentration rules by reason of the savings provision for existing facilities provided by the First Report and Order adopted March 9, 1977 (docket No. 20548; 42 Fed. Reg. 16145), the exclusion shall not terminate solely by reason of changes made in the technical facilities of the station to improve its service.
+
+(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term “regional concentration rules” means the provisions of sections 73.35, 73.240, and 73.636 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect June 1, 1983), which prohibit any party from directly or indirectly owning, operating, or controlling three broadcast stations in one or several services where any two of such stations are within 100 miles of the third (measured city-to-city), and where there is a primary service contour overlap of any of the stations.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 310, 48 Stat. 1086; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 8, 66 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 85–817, § 2, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 981; Pub. L. 88–313, § 2, May 28, 1964, 78 Stat. 202; Pub. L. 92–81, § 2, Aug. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 302; Pub. L. 93–505, § 2, Nov. 30, 1974, 88 Stat. 1576; Pub. L. 98–214, § 7, Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1469; Pub. L. 101–396, § 8(b), Sept. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 850; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(k), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 131.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Codification In subsec. (c), “subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of title 5” substituted for “the Administrative Procedure Act” on authority of Pub. L. 89–554, § 7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
+
+Amendments1996—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 104–104, § 403(k)(1), struck out “of which any officer or director is an alien or” before “of which more”. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 104–104, § 403(k)(2), struck out “of which any officer or more than one-fourth of the directors are aliens, or” after “any other corporation”. 1990—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–396 substituted “multilateral or bilateral agreement, to which the United States and the alien’s government are parties,” for “bilateral agreement between the United States and the alien’s government”. 1983—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–214 added subsec. (e). 1974—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–505 added subsec. (a). Former subsec. (a), which related to granting to or holding of required station licenses by aliens, was struck out. Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 93–505 added subsecs. (b) and (c) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (d). 1971—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–81 inserted provisions empowering the Commission to issue licenses to certain aliens admitted to the United States for permanent residence, provided that the Commission notify the appropriate agencies of the Government of applications received for license, and that such agencies furnish to the Commission information bearing on the request’s compatibility with national security. 1964—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 88–313 empowered the Commission to issue authorizations to permit an alien licensed by his government as an amateur radio operator to operate his station, licensed by his government, in the United States, its possessions, and Puerto Rico, provided there is a bilateral agreement between the United States and the alien’s government giving similar rights to United States amateur radio operators, and provided that the Commission notify appropriate agencies of our Government of any applications for authorization, and that such agencies furnish to the Commission information bearing on the request’s compatibility with our national security. 1958—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 85–817 inserted paragraph authorizing the grant of licenses for radio stations on aircraft to aliens or representatives of aliens holding pilot certificates. 1952—Subsec. (b). Act July 16, 1952, provided that construction permits and station licenses cannot be transferred, assigned, or disposed of except upon a finding by the Commission that public interest, convenience, or necessity will be served thereby, and that such transfer application will be treated the same as if made under section 308 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-311.md

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 311"
+description: "Requirements as to certain applications in broadcasting service"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "311"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 311"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s311"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "459ede7ad422f2667d7df990820e92ea9d98e44ddef9eb8cff02b5fffc8a9509"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "83e6754e4888b48f45bf68b3672326a66985bcee267328435530e202155a19f4"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 311 - Requirements as to certain applications in broadcasting service
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Notices of filing and hearing; form and contents When there is filed with the Commission any application to which section 309(b)(1) of this title applies, for an instrument of authorization for a station in the broadcasting service, the applicant—
+
+(1) shall give notice of such filing in the principal area which is served or is to be served by the station; and
+
+(2) if the application is formally designated for hearing in accordance with section 309 of this title, shall give notice of such hearing in such area at least ten days before commencement of such hearing.
+
+The Commission shall by rule prescribe the form and content of the notices to be given in compliance with this subsection, and the manner and frequency with which such notices shall be given.
+
+(b) Place of hearing Hearings referred to in subsection (a) may be held at such places as the Commission shall determine to be appropriate, and in making such determination in any case the Commission shall consider whether the public interest, convenience, or necessity will be served by conducting the hearing at a place in, or in the vicinity of, the principal area to be served by the station involved.
+
+(c) Agreement between two or more applicants; approval of Commission; pendency of application (1) If there are pending before the Commission two or more applications for a permit for construction of a broadcasting station, only one of which can be granted, it shall be unlawful, without approval of the Commission, for the applicants or any of them to effectuate an agreement whereby one or more of such applicants withdraws his or their application or applications.
+
+(2) The request for Commission approval in any such case shall be made in writing jointly by all the parties to the agreement. Such request shall contain or be accompanied by full information with respect to the agreement, set forth in such detail, form, and manner as the Commission shall by rule require.
+
+(3) The Commission shall approve the agreement only if it determines that (A) the agreement is consistent with the public interest, convenience, or necessity; and (B) no party to the agreement filed its application for the purpose of reaching or carrying out such agreement.
+
+(4) For the purposes of this subsection an application shall be deemed to be “pending” before the Commission from the time such application is filed with the Commission until an order of the Commission granting or denying it is no longer subject to rehearing by the Commission or to review by any court.
+
+(d) License for operation of station; agreement to withdraw application; approval of Commission (1) If there are pending before the Commission an application for the renewal of a license granted for the operation of a broadcasting station and one or more applications for a construction permit relating to such station, only one of which can be granted, it shall be unlawful, without approval of the Commission, for the applicants or any of them to effectuate an agreement whereby one or more of such applicants withdraws his or their application or applications in exchange for the payment of money, or the transfer of assets or any other thing of value by the remaining applicant or applicants.
+
+(2) The request for Commission approval in any such case shall be made in writing jointly by all the parties to the agreement. Such request shall contain or be accompanied by full information with respect to the agreement, set forth in such detail, form, and manner as the Commission shall require.
+
+(3) The Commission shall approve the agreement only if it determines that (A) the agreement is consistent with the public interest, convenience, or necessity; and (B) no party to the agreement filed its application for the purpose of reaching or carrying out such agreement.
+
+(4) For purposes of this subsection, an application shall be deemed to be pending before the Commission from the time such application is filed with the Commission until an order of the Commission granting or denying it is no longer subject to rehearing by the Commission or to review by any court.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 311, 48 Stat. 1086; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 9, 66 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 86–752, § 5(a), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 892; Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1243, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 737; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 116, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1095.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1982—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 97–259, § 116(a), inserted provision that the Commission may not approve the agreement if it determines that a party to the agreement filed its application for the purpose of reaching or carrying out the agreement, and struck out provision that if the agreement did not contemplate a merger, but contemplated the making of any direct or indirect payment to any party thereto in consideration of his withdrawal of his application, the Commission could determine the agreement to be consistent with the public interest, convenience, or necessity only if the amount or value of such payment, as determined by the Commission, was not in excess of the aggregate amount determined by the Commission to have been legitimately and prudently expended and to be expended by such applicant in connection with preparing, filing, and advocating the granting of his application. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 97–259, § 116(b), substituted “an application for the renewal of a license granted for the operation of a broadcasting station and one or more applications for a construction permit relating to such station” for “two or more applications for a license granted for the operation of a broadcasting station”. Subsec. (d)(3)(B). Pub. L. 97–259, § 116(c), struck out “license” after “filed its”. 1981—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–35 added subsec. (d). 1960—Pub. L. 86–752 amended section generally, substituting provisions on requirements for certain applications for broadcasting service, for provisions directing the Commission to refuse a license or permit to any person whose license had been revoked by a court under section 313 of this title. 1952—Act July 16, 1952, omitted provisions relating to monopoly.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-312.md

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 312"
+description: "Administrative sanctions"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "312"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 312"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s312"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "1d19a53103e1acc4d27653006ad7b355c1e03b64d6e9ebc315f03ad2f1103ddc"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "e4dd85f501b043bf078f7acfdd4fe3c5627a510f3b42ca514cfcf6ee957e99da"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 312 - Administrative sanctions
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Revocation of station license or construction permit The Commission may revoke any station license or construction permit—
+
+(1) for false statements knowingly made either in the application or in any statement of fact which may be required pursuant to section 308 of this title;
+
+(2) because of conditions coming to the attention of the Commission which would warrant it in refusing to grant a license or permit on an original application;
+
+(3) for willful or repeated failure to operate substantially as set forth in the license;
+
+(4) for willful or repeated violation of, or willful or repeated failure to observe any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation of the Commission authorized by this chapter or by a treaty ratified by the United States;
+
+(5) for violation of or failure to observe any final cease and desist order issued by the Commission under this section;
+
+(6) for violation of section 1304, 1343, or 1464 of title 18; or
+
+(7) for willful or repeated failure to allow reasonable access to or to permit purchase of reasonable amounts of time for the use of a broadcasting station, other than a non-commercial educational broadcast station, by a legally qualified candidate for Federal elective office on behalf of his candidacy.
+
+(b) Cease and desist orders Where any person (1) has failed to operate substantially as set forth in a license, (2) has violated or failed to observe any of the provisions of this chapter, or section 1304, 1343, or 1464 of title 18, or (3) has violated or failed to observe any rule or regulation of the Commission authorized by this chapter or by a treaty ratified by the United States, the Commission may order such person to cease and desist from such action.
+
+(c) Order to show cause Before revoking a license or permit pursuant to subsection (a), or issuing a cease and desist order pursuant to subsection (b), the Commission shall serve upon the licensee, permittee, or person involved an order to show cause why an order of revocation or a cease and desist order should not be issued. Any such order to show cause shall contain a statement of the matters with respect to which the Commission is inquiring and shall call upon said licensee, permittee, or person to appear before the Commission at a time and place stated in the order, but in no event less than thirty days after the receipt of such order, and give evidence upon the matter specified therein; except that where safety of life or property is involved, the Commission may provide in the order for a shorter period. If after hearing, or a waiver thereof, the Commission determines that an order of revocation or a cease and desist order should issue, it shall issue such order, which shall include a statement of the findings of the Commission and the grounds and reasons therefor and specify the effective date of the order, and shall cause the same to be served on said licensee, permittee, or person.
+
+(d) Burden of proof In any case where a hearing is conducted pursuant to the provisions of this section, both the burden of proceeding with the introduction of evidence and the burden of proof shall be upon the Commission.
+
+(e) Procedure for issuance of cease and desist order The provisions of section 558(c) of title 5 which apply with respect to the institution of any proceeding for the revocation of a license or permit shall apply also with respect to the institution, under this section, of any proceeding for the issuance of a cease and desist order.
+
+(f) “Willful” and “repeated” defined For purposes of this section:
+
+(1) The term “willful”, when used with reference to the commission or omission of any act, means the conscious and deliberate commission or omission of such act, irrespective of any intent to violate any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation of the Commission authorized by this chapter or by a treaty ratified by the United States.
+
+(2) The term “repeated”, when used with reference to the commission or omission of any act, means the commission or omission of such act more than once or, if such commission or omission is continuous, for more than one day.
+
+(g) Limitation on silent station authorizations If a broadcasting station fails to transmit broadcast signals for any consecutive 12-month period, then the station license granted for the operation of that broadcast station expires at the end of that period, notwithstanding any provision, term, or condition of the license to the contrary, except that the Commission may extend or reinstate such station license if the holder of the station license prevails in an administrative or judicial appeal, the applicable law changes, or for any other reason to promote equity and fairness. Any broadcast license revoked or terminated in Alaska in a proceeding related to broadcasting via translator, microwave, or other alternative signal delivery is reinstated.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 312, 48 Stat. 1086; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 10, 66 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 86–752, § 6, Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 893; Pub. L. 92–225, title I, § 103(a)(2)(A), Feb. 7, 1972, 86 Stat. 4; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 117, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1095; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(l), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 132; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title I, § 148(a)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–251; Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title II, § 213(3)], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3431.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(4), (b), and (f)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Codification In subsec. (e), “section 558(c) of title 5” substituted for “section 1008(b) of title 5” on authority of Pub. L. 89–554, § 7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
+
+Amendments2004—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 108–447 inserted before period at end “, except that the Commission may extend or reinstate such station license if the holder of the station license prevails in an administrative or judicial appeal, the applicable law changes, or for any other reason to promote equity and fairness. Any broadcast license revoked or terminated in Alaska in a proceeding related to broadcasting via translator, microwave, or other alternative signal delivery is reinstated”. 2000—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 106–554 inserted “, other than a non-commercial educational broadcast station,” after “use of a broadcasting station”. 1996—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104–104 added subsec. (g). 1982—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–259 added subsec. (f). 1972—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 92–225 added par. (7). 1960—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 86–752 inserted provisions referring to sections 1304, 1343 and 1464 of title 18. 1952—Act July 16, 1952, amended section generally to provide for revocation of licenses and permits only for acts willfully and knowingly committed or for disregarding cease and desist orders, and to authorize the Commission to issue cease and desist orders.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+RepealsRepeal of title I of Pub. L. 92–225, cited as a credit to this section, by Pub. L. 93–443, title II, § 205(b), Oct. 15, 1974, 88 Stat. 1278, has been construed as not repealing the amendment to this section made by section 103(a)(2)(A) of such title I.
+
+Declination of Political Advertising by Educational Broadcast StationsPub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title I, § 148(b)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–251, provided that: “The Federal Communications Commission shall take no action against any non-commercial educational broadcast station which declines to carry a political advertisement.”

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-312a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 312a"
+description: "Revocation of operator’s license used in unlawful distribution of controlled substances"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "312a"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 312a"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s312a"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "656f01e68216cff1b262c6a27001a1cabe22e11db558ee0d8fd28dd38c7932dd"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "afad620b62633a84f668097b0fe093fb033fb18ed1c2ce02340e5726a7a2d2a8"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 312a - Revocation of operator’s license used in unlawful distribution of controlled substances
+
+## Text
+
+The Federal Communications Commission may revoke any private operator’s license issued to any person under the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) who is found to have willfully used said license for the purpose of distributing, or assisting in the distribution of, any controlled substance in violation of any provision of Federal law. In addition, the Federal Communications Commission may, upon the request of an appropriate Federal law enforcement agency, assist in the enforcement of Federal law prohibiting the use or distribution of any controlled substance where communications equipment within the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 is willfully being used for purposes of distributing, or assisting in the distribution of, any such substance.
+
+(Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3451, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–103.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe Communications Act of 1934, referred to in text, is act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, which is classified principally to this chapter (§ 151 et seq.). For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Codification Section was enacted as part of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, and also as part of the National Drug Interdiction Improvement Act of 1986, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-313.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 313"
+description: "Application of antitrust laws to manufacture, sale, and trade in radio apparatus"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "313"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 313"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s313"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "7d1fc91418e1f97cff388ae393adaceba683ee1b47ed22005af669132125ae5b"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "cd002056461ab6617cab472f0a032cac7260f0f2ba2a521e1cc9bdda4d726736"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 313 - Application of antitrust laws to manufacture, sale, and trade in radio apparatus
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Revocation of licenses All laws of the United States relating to unlawful restraints and monopolies and to combinations, contracts, or agreements in restraint of trade are declared to be applicable to the manufacture and sale of and to trade in radio apparatus and devices entering into or affecting interstate or foreign commerce and to interstate or foreign radio communications. Whenever in any suit, action, or proceeding, civil or criminal, brought under the provisions of any of said laws or in any proceedings brought to enforce or to review findings and orders of the Federal Trade Commission or other governmental agency in respect of any matters as to which said Commission or other governmental agency is by law authorized to act, any licensee shall be found guilty of the violation of the provisions of such laws or any of them, the court, in addition to the penalties imposed by said laws, may adjudge, order, and/or decree that the license of such licensee shall, as of the date the decree or judgment becomes finally effective or as of such other date as the said decree shall fix, be revoked and that all rights under such license shall thereupon cease: Provided, however, That such licensee shall have the same right of appeal or review as is provided by law in respect of other decrees and judgments of said court.
+
+(b) Refusal of licenses and permits The Commission is hereby directed to refuse a station license and/or the permit hereinafter required for the construction of a station to any person (or to any person directly or indirectly controlled by such person) whose license has been revoked by a court under this section.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 313, 48 Stat. 1087; Pub. L. 86–752, § 5(b), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 893.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1960—Pub. L. 86–752 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
+
+Executive Documents
+
+Transfer of Functions All executive and administrative functions of the Federal Trade Commission were, with certain exceptions, transferred to the Chairman of such Commission by Reorg. Plan No. 8 of 1950, § 1, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1264, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-314.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 314"
+description: "Competition in commerce; preservation"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "314"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 314"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s314"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "91a44e97055e4f496798b87ec5890fc06287499b0c4d49855ef276726c73c2a8"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "6bdbcc755de9bff5687c9d23abce8defc9a1e32bfc845838974ec3e38507430b"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 314 - Competition in commerce; preservation
+
+## Text
+
+After the effective date of this chapter no person engaged directly, or indirectly through any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such person, or through an agent, or otherwise, in the business of transmitting and/or receiving for hire energy, communications, or signals by radio in accordance with the terms of the license issued under this chapter, shall by purchase, lease, construction, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, acquire, own, control, or operate any cable or wire telegraph or telephone line or system between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States or in the District of Columbia, and any place in any foreign country, or shall acquire, own, or control any part of the stock or other capital share or any interest in the physical property and/or other assets of any such cable, wire, telegraph, or telephone line or system, if in either case the purpose is and/or the effect thereof may be to substantially lessen competition or to restrain commerce between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, and any place in any foreign country, or unlawfully to create monopoly in any line of commerce; nor shall any person engaged directly, or indirectly through any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such person, or through an agent, or otherwise, in the business of transmitting and/or receiving for hire messages by any cable, wire, telegraph, or telephone line or system (a) between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, and any place in any other State, Territory, or possession of the United States; or (b) between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place in any foreign country, by purchase, lease, construction, or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquire, own, control, or operate any station or the apparatus therein, or any system for transmitting and/or receiving radio communications or signals between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, and any place in any foreign country, or shall acquire, own, or control any part of the stock or other capital share or any interest in the physical property and/or other assets of any such radio station, apparatus, or system, if in either case the purpose is and/or the effect thereof may be to substantially lessen competition or to restrain commerce between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, and any place in any foreign country, or unlawfully to create monopoly in any line of commerce.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 314, 48 Stat. 1087.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextFor effective date of this chapter, see section 607 of this title. This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-315.md

@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 315"
+description: "Candidates for public office"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "315"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 315"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s315"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "b3320535a11dfd977235d4a1590517d015a2b0eda1bdee618938c62a8bd50633"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "d0991c9a6df1be9def1a1fa88d9062b8f66dddbe5c390684138fd223daa76800"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 315 - Candidates for public office
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Equal opportunities requirement; censorship prohibition; allowance of station use; news appearances exception; public interest; public issues discussion opportunities If any licensee shall permit any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station, he shall afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in the use of such broadcasting station: Provided, That such licensee shall have no power of censorship over the material broadcast under the provisions of this section. No obligation is imposed under this subsection upon any licensee to allow the use of its station by any such candidate. Appearance by a legally qualified candidate on any—
+
+(1) bona fide newscast,
+
+(2) bona fide news interview,
+
+(3) bona fide news documentary (if the appearance of the candidate is incidental to the presentation of the subject or subjects covered by the news documentary), or
+
+(4) on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events (including but not limited to political conventions and activities incidental thereto),
+
+shall not be deemed to be use of a broadcasting station within the meaning of this subsection. Nothing in the foregoing sentence shall be construed as relieving broadcasters, in connection with the presentation of newscasts, news interviews, news documentaries, and on-the-spot coverage of news events, from the obligation imposed upon them under this chapter to operate in the public interest and to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance.
+
+(b) Charges (1) In general The charges made for the use of any broadcasting station by any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office in connection with his campaign for nomination for election, or election, to such office shall not exceed—
+
+(A) subject to paragraph (2), during the forty-five days preceding the date of a primary or primary runoff election and during the sixty days preceding the date of a general or special election in which such person is a candidate, the lowest unit charge of the station for the same class and amount of time for the same period; and
+
+(B) at any other time, the charges made for comparable use of such station by other users thereof.
+
+(2) Content of broadcasts (A) In general In the case of a candidate for Federal office, such candidate shall not be entitled to receive the rate under paragraph (1)(A) for the use of any broadcasting station unless the candidate provides written certification to the broadcast station that the candidate (and any authorized committee of the candidate) shall not make any direct reference to another candidate for the same office, in any broadcast using the rights and conditions of access under this chapter, unless such reference meets the requirements of subparagraph (C) or (D).
+
+(B) Limitation on charges If a candidate for Federal office (or any authorized committee of such candidate) makes a reference described in subparagraph (A) in any broadcast that does not meet the requirements of subparagraph (C) or (D), such candidate shall not be entitled to receive the rate under paragraph (1)(A) for such broadcast or any other broadcast during any portion of the 45-day and 60-day periods described in paragraph (1)(A), that occur on or after the date of such broadcast, for election to such office.
+
+(C) Television broadcasts A candidate meets the requirements of this subparagraph if, in the case of a television broadcast, at the end of such broadcast there appears simultaneously, for a period no less than 4 seconds—
+
+(i) a clearly identifiable photographic or similar image of the candidate; and
+
+(ii) a clearly readable printed statement, identifying the candidate and stating that the candidate has approved the broadcast and that the candidate’s authorized committee paid for the broadcast.
+
+(D) Radio broadcasts A candidate meets the requirements of this subparagraph if, in the case of a radio broadcast, the broadcast includes a personal audio statement by the candidate that identifies the candidate, the office the candidate is seeking, and indicates that the candidate has approved the broadcast.
+
+(E) Certification Certifications under this section shall be provided and certified as accurate by the candidate (or any authorized committee of the candidate) at the time of purchase.
+
+(F) Definitions For purposes of this paragraph, the terms “authorized committee” and “Federal office” have the meanings given such terms by section 30101 of title 52.
+
+(c) Definitions For purposes of this section—
+
+(1) the term “broadcasting station” includes a community antenna television system; and
+
+(2) the terms “licensee” and “station licensee” when used with respect to a community antenna television system mean the operator of such system.
+
+(d) Rules and regulations The Commission shall prescribe appropriate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.
+
+(e) Political record (1) In general A licensee shall maintain, and make available for public inspection, a complete record of a request to purchase broadcast time that—
+
+(A) is made by or on behalf of a legally qualified candidate for public office; or
+
+(B) communicates a message relating to any political matter of national importance, including—
+
+(i) a legally qualified candidate;
+
+(ii) any election to Federal office; or
+
+(iii) a national legislative issue of public importance.
+
+(2) Contents of record A record maintained under paragraph (1) shall contain information regarding—
+
+(A) whether the request to purchase broadcast time is accepted or rejected by the licensee;
+
+(B) the rate charged for the broadcast time;
+
+(C) the date and time on which the communication is aired;
+
+(D) the class of time that is purchased;
+
+(E) the name of the candidate to which the communication refers and the office to which the candidate is seeking election, the election to which the communication refers, or the issue to which the communication refers (as applicable);
+
+(F) in the case of a request made by, or on behalf of, a candidate, the name of the candidate, the authorized committee of the candidate, and the treasurer of such committee; and
+
+(G) in the case of any other request, the name of the person purchasing the time, the name, address, and phone number of a contact person for such person, and a list of the chief executive officers or members of the executive committee or of the board of directors of such person.
+
+(3) Time to maintain file The information required under this subsection shall be placed in a political file as soon as possible and shall be retained by the licensee for a period of not less than 2 years.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 315, 48 Stat. 1088; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 11, 66 Stat. 717; Pub. L. 86–274, § 1, Sept. 14, 1959, 73 Stat. 557; Pub. L. 92–225, title I, §§ 103(a)(1), (2)(B), 104(c), Feb. 7, 1972, 86 Stat. 4, 7; Pub. L. 93–443, title IV, § 402, Oct. 15, 1974, 88 Stat. 1291; Pub. L. 107–155, title III, § 305(a), (b), title V, § 504, Mar. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 100, 101, 115.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(2)(A), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments2002—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–155, § 305(a), (b), inserted subsec. heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted par. heading, redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, of par. (1), inserted “subject to paragraph (2),” before “during the forty-five days” in par. (1)(A), and added par. (2). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–155, § 504, which directed addition of subsec. (e) and redesignation of former subsecs. (e) and (f) as (f) and (g), respectively, was executed by adding subsec. (e) to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Section did not contain subsecs. (e) and (f). 1974—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 93–443, § 402, struck out provisions respecting station use charges upon certification of nonviolation of Federal limitations of expenditures for use of communications media; redesignated former subsec. (f) as (c); incorporated former par. (1)(A) and (B) provisions in clauses designated (1) and (2) and struck out subpar. (C) definition of “Federal elective office” and par. (2) definition of “legally qualified candidate”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 93–443, § 402(a), struck out provisions respecting station use charges upon certification of nonviolation of State limitations of expenditures for use of communications media and conditions for application of State limitations and redesignated former subsec. (g) as (d). Subsecs. (e) to (g). Pub. L. 93–443, § 402(a), struck out subsec. (e) provisions respecting penalties for violations and inapplicability of sections 501 through 503 of this title and redesignated former subsecs. (f) and (g) as (c) and (d). 1972—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–225, § 103(a)(2)(B), inserted “under this subsection” after “No obligation is imposed”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–225, § 103(a)(1), substituted in introductory text “by any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office in connection with his campaign for nomination for election, or election, to such office”, for “for any of the purposes set forth in this section”, added par. (1), designated existing provisions as par. (2), inserted therein the opening words “at any other time,” and substituted “by other users thereof” for “for other purposes”. Subsecs. (c) to (g). Pub. L. 92–225, § 104(c), added subsecs. (c) to (f) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (g). 1959—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 86–274 provided that appearances by legally qualified candidates on bona fide newscasts, interviews and documentaries and on on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events shall not be deemed to be use of a broadcasting station within the meaning of this subsection. 1952—Act July 16, 1952, designated existing provisions as subsecs. (a) and (c) and added subsec. (b).
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2002 AmendmentPub. L. 107–155, title III, § 305(c), Mar. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 102, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to broadcasts made after the effective date of this Act [Nov. 6, 2002].” Amendment by Pub. L. 107–155 effective Nov. 6, 2002 (notwithstanding section 305(c) of Pub. L. 107–155, set out above), but not applicable with respect to runoff elections, recounts, or election contests resulting from elections held prior to Nov. 6, 2002, see section 402 of Pub. L. 107–155, set out as an Effective Date of 2002 Amendment; Regulations note under section 30101 of Title 52, Voting and Elections.
+
+Effective Date of 1974 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 93–443 effective Jan. 1, 1975, see section 410(a) of Pub. L. 93–443, set out as a note under section 30101 of Title 52, Voting and Elections.
+
+RepealsRepeal of title I of Pub. L. 92–225, cited as a credit to this section, by Pub. L. 93–443, title II, § 205(b), Oct. 15, 1974, 88 Stat. 1278, has been construed as not repealing the amendments to this section made by sections 103(a)(1), (2)(B), and 104(c) of such title I.
+
+Reexamination of 1959 Amendment; Declaration of Congressional IntentPub. L. 86–274, § 2, Sept. 14, 1959, 73 Stat. 557, provided that: “(a) The Congress declares its intention to reexamine from time to time the amendment to section 315(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 [subsec. (a) of this section] made by the first section of this Act, to ascertain whether such amendment has proved to be effective and practicable. “(b) To assist the Congress in making its reexaminations of such amendment, the Federal Communications Commission shall include in each annual report it makes to Congress a statement setting forth (1) the information and data used by it in determining questions arising from or connected with such amendment, and (2) such recommendations as it deems necessary in the public interest.”
+
+Suspension of Equal Time Provisions for 1960 CampaignPub. L. 86–677, Aug. 24, 1960, 74 Stat. 554, suspended that part of subsec. (a) of this section, which requires any licensee of a broadcast station who permits any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station to afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in the use of such broadcasting station, for the period of the 1960 presidential and vice presidential campaigns with respect to nominees for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States. The Federal Communications Commission was directed to make a report to the Congress, not later than March 1, 1961, with respect to the effect of the provisions of Pub. L. 86–677 and any recommendations the Commission might have for amendments to this chapter as a result of experience under the provisions of Pub. L. 86–677.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-316.md

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 316"
+description: "Modification by Commission of station licenses or construction permits; burden of proof"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "316"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 316"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s316"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "71cbce3f68dba7088b8cf34cbdcf55f04491e0477e873eebe9ee3e0a4e7fa3b5"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "9aad06620d33d0d40eb411c48eac79a4ab0eb69e26503cace3e9e07a098c0cac"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 316 - Modification by Commission of station licenses or construction permits; burden of proof
+
+## Text
+
+(a) (1) Any station license or construction permit may be modified by the Commission either for a limited time or for the duration of the term thereof, if in the judgment of the Commission such action will promote the public interest, convenience, and necessity, or the provisions of this chapter or of any treaty ratified by the United States will be more fully complied with. No such order of modification shall become final until the holder of the license or permit shall have been notified in writing of the proposed action and the grounds and reasons therefor, and shall be given reasonable opportunity, of at least thirty days, to protest such proposed order of modification; except that, where safety of life or property is involved, the Commission may by order provide, for a shorter period of notice.
+
+(2) Any other licensee or permittee who believes its license or permit would be modified by the proposed action may also protest the proposed action before its effective date.
+
+(3) A protest filed pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the requirements of section 309 of this title for petitions to deny.
+
+(b) In any case where a hearing is conducted pursuant to the provisions of this section, both the burden of proceeding with the introduction of evidence and the burden of proof shall be upon the Commission; except that, with respect to any issue that addresses the question of whether the proposed action would modify the license or permit of a person described in subsection (a)(2), such burdens shall be as determined by the Commission.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 316, as added July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 12, 66 Stat. 717; amended Pub. L. 98–214, § 4(a), Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1467.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Prior ProvisionsA prior section 316 of act June 19, 1934, related to lotteries and similar devices, prior to repeal by act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, § 21, 62 Stat. 862, eff. Sept. 1, 1948. See section 1304 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
+
+Amendments1983—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–214, § 4(a)(1), (2), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “and shall be given reasonable opportunity, of at least thirty days, to protest such proposed order of modification; except that, where safety of life or property is involved, the Commission may by order provide, for a shorter period of notice” for “and shall have been given reasonable opportunity, in no event less than thirty days, to show cause by public hearing, if requested, why such order of modification should not issue: Provided, That where safety of life or property is involved, the Commission may by order provide for a shorter period of notice”, and added pars. (2) and (3). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–214, § 4(a)(3), inserted “; except that, with respect to any issue that addresses the question of whether the proposed action would modify the license or permit of a person described in subsection (a)(2), such burdens shall be as determined by the Commission”.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-317.md

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 317"
+description: "Announcement of payment for broadcast"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "317"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 317"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s317"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "a869641d7e5cea0347ff16c0c84cda61c5f61181a89ed38b6a193b5d6e6fa96c"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "7c9437e2a5eda3d21d779f50c4ce95d7013a48c1bdb213bf88e5472b8f389b9a"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 317 - Announcement of payment for broadcast
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Disclosure of person furnishing (1) All matter broadcast by any radio station for which any money, service or other valuable consideration is directly or indirectly paid, or promised to or charged or accepted by, the station so broadcasting, from any person, shall, at the time the same is so broadcast, be announced as paid for or furnished, as the case may be, by such person: Provided, That “service or other valuable consideration” shall not include any service or property furnished without charge or at a nominal charge for use on, or in connection with, a broadcast unless it is so furnished in consideration for an identification in a broadcast of any person, product, service, trademark, or brand name beyond an identification which is reasonably related to the use of such service or property on the broadcast.
+
+(2) Nothing in this section shall preclude the Commission from requiring that an appropriate announcement shall be made at the time of the broadcast in the case of any political program or any program involving the discussion of any controversial issue for which any films, records, transcriptions, talent, scripts, or other material or service of any kind have been furnished, without charge or at a nominal charge, directly or indirectly, as an inducement to the broadcast of such program.
+
+(b) Disclosure to station of payments In any case where a report has been made to a radio station, as required by section 508 of this title, of circumstances which would have required an announcement under this section had the consideration been received by such radio station, an appropriate announcement shall be made by such radio station.
+
+(c) Acquiring information from station employees The licensee of each radio station shall exercise reasonable diligence to obtain from its employees, and from other persons with whom it deals directly in connection with any program or program matter for broadcast, information to enable such licensee to make the announcement required by this section.
+
+(d) Waiver of announcement The Commission may waive the requirement of an announcement as provided in this section in any case or class of cases with respect to which it determines that the public interest, convenience, or necessity does not require the broadcasting of such announcement.
+
+(e) Rules and regulations The Commission shall prescribe appropriate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 317, 48 Stat. 1089; Pub. L. 86–752, § 8(a), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 895; Pub. L. 96–507, § 2(a), Dec. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 2747.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–507 conformed the reference to section 508 of this title to reflect the renumbering of that section by Pub. L. 96–507. 1960—Pub. L. 86–752 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserting proviso clause, and added subsecs. (b) to (e).

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-318.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 318"
+description: "Transmitting apparatus; operator’s license"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "318"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 318"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s318"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "168c3daaf0228c190c76e6b98d777064cfaf4425d0f7dd21c8dc92f372bd09ad"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "8892c0d8aca00ac9c16fcf32ed8efc1111758c49d9af25dada11d438a4ad4872"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 318 - Transmitting apparatus; operator’s license
+
+## Text
+
+The actual operation of all transmitting apparatus in any radio station for which a station license is required by this chapter shall be carried on only by a person holding an operator’s license issued hereunder, and no person shall operate any such apparatus in such station except under and in accordance with an operator’s license issued to him by the Commission: Provided, however, That the Commission if it shall find that the public interest, convenience, or necessity will be served thereby may waive or modify the foregoing provisions of this section for the operation of any station except (1) stations for which licensed operators are required by international agreement, (2) stations for which licensed operators are required for safety purposes, and (3) stations operated as common carriers on frequencies below thirty thousand kilocycles: Provided further, That the Commission shall have power to make special regulations governing the granting of licenses for the use of automatic radio devices and for the operation of such devices.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 318, 48 Stat. 1089; Mar. 29, 1937, ch. 58, 50 Stat. 56; Pub. L. 86–609, § 1, July 7, 1960, 74 Stat. 363; Pub. L. 94–335, July 1, 1976, 90 Stat. 794; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 205, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3543; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(d), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4296.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1994—Pub. L. 103–414 made technical amendments to directory language of Pub. L. 102–538, § 205(1). See 1992 Amendment note below. 1992—Pub. L. 102–538, § 205(2), redesignated cl. (4) as (3). Pub. L. 102–538, § 205(1), as amended by Pub. L. 103–414, struck out cl. (3) which read as follows: “stations engaged in broadcasting (other than those engaged primarily in the function of rebroadcasting the signals of broadcast stations),”. 1976—Pub. L. 94–335 substituted “engaged primarily in the function of rebroadcasting the signals of broadcast stations” for “engaged solely in the function of rebroadcasting the signals of television broadcast stations” in parenthetical provisions of cl. (3). 1960—Pub. L. 86–609 inserted “(other than those engaged solely in the function of rebroadcasting the signals of television broadcast stations)” after “engaged in broadcasting”. 1937—Act Mar. 29, 1937, inserted provisos.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-319.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 319"
+description: "Construction permits"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "319"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 319"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s319"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "f64696e066e49944eefc8b98ecb498d9cf1d6eacbc8a4ad50946d9637079a65e"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "caf348a3268fee6f1c88d9b5078caefc9c616eca79dc45d67a99cd3e47dba7d4"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 319 - Construction permits
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Requirements No license shall be issued under the authority of this chapter for the operation of any station unless a permit for its construction has been granted by the Commission. The application for a construction permit shall set forth such facts as the Commission by regulation may prescribe as to the citizenship, character, and the financial, technical, and other ability of the applicant to construct and operate the station, the ownership and location of the proposed station and of the station or stations with which it is proposed to communicate, the frequencies desired to be used, the hours of the day or other periods of time during which it is proposed to operate the station, the purpose for which the station is to be used, the type of transmitting apparatus to be used, the power to be used, the date upon which the station is expected to be completed and in operation, and such other information as the Commission may require. Such application shall be signed by the applicant in any manner or form, including by electronic means, as the Commission may prescribe by regulation.
+
+(b) Time limitation; forfeiture Such permit for construction shall show specifically the earliest and latest dates between which the actual operation of such station is expected to begin, and shall provide that said permit will be automatically forfeited if the station is not ready for operation within the time specified or within such further time as the Commission may allow, unless prevented by causes not under the control of the grantee.
+
+(c) Licenses for operation Upon the completion of any station for the construction or continued construction of which a permit has been granted, and upon it being made to appear to the Commission that all the terms, conditions, and obligations set forth in the application and permit have been fully met, and that no cause or circumstance arising or first coming to the knowledge of the Commission since the granting of the permit would, in the judgment of the Commission, make the operation of such station against the public interest, the Commission shall issue a license to the lawful holder of said permit for the operation of said station. Said license shall conform generally to the terms of said permit. The provisions of section 309(a)–(g) of this title shall not apply with respect to any station license the issuance of which is provided for and governed by the provisions of this subsection.
+
+(d) Government, amateur, or mobile station; waiver A permit for construction shall not be required for Government stations, amateur stations, or mobile stations. A permit for construction shall not be required for public coast stations, privately owned fixed microwave stations, or stations licensed to common carriers, unless the Commission determines that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served by requiring such permits for any such stations. With respect to any broadcasting station, the Commission shall not have any authority to waive the requirement of a permit for construction, except that the Commission may by regulation determine that a permit shall not be required for minor changes in the facilities of authorized broadcast stations. With respect to any other station or class of stations, the Commission shall not waive the requirement for a construction permit unless the Commission determines that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served by such a waiver.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 319, 48 Stat. 1089; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 13, 66 Stat. 718; Mar. 26, 1954, ch. 111, 68 Stat. 35; Pub. L. 86–609, § 2, July 7, 1960, 74 Stat. 363; Pub. L. 86–752, § 4(b), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 892; Pub. L. 87–444, § 4, Apr. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 64; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, §§ 118, 119, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1095, 1096; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 204(c), Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3543; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(m), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 132.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
+
+Amendments1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–104 substituted “With respect to any broadcasting station, the Commission shall not have any authority to waive the requirement of a permit for construction, except that the Commission may by regulation determine that a permit shall not be required for minor changes in the facilities of authorized broadcast stations. With respect to any other station or class of stations, the Commission shall not waive the requirement for a construction permit unless the Commission determines that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served by such a waiver.” for “With respect to any broadcasting station, the Commission shall not have any authority to waive the requirement of a permit for construction. With respect to any other station or class of stations, the Commission shall not waive such requirement unless the Commission determines that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served by such a waiver.” 1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–538 inserted before period at end “in any manner or form, including by electronic means, as the Commission may prescribe by regulation”. 1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–259, § 118, struck out “the construction of which is begun or is continued after this chapter takes effect,” after “operation of any station”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–259, § 119, substituted provision that a permit for construction shall not be required for public coast stations, privately owned fixed microwave stations, or stations licensed to common carriers, unless the Commission determines that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served by requiring such permits for any such stations, that with respect to any broadcasting station, the Commission shall not have any authority to waive the requirement of a permit for construction, and that with respect to any other station or class of stations, the Commission shall not waive such requirement unless the Commission determines that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served by such a waiver, for provision that with respect to stations or classes of stations other than Government stations, amateur stations, mobile stations, and broadcasting stations, the Commission could waive the requirement of a permit for construction if it found that the public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served thereby, that such waiver would apply only to stations whose construction was begun subsequent to the effective date of the waiver, and that if the Commission found that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served thereby, it could waive the requirement of a permit for construction of a station that was engaged solely in rebroadcasting television signals if such station had been constructed on or before July 7, 1960. 1962—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–444 struck out requirement that applications were to be signed under oath or affirmation. 1960—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 86–752 inserted references to section 309(d)–(g). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 86–609 authorized the Commission to waive the requirement of a permit for construction of a station engaged solely in rebroadcasting television signals if such station was constructed on or before July 7, 1960. 1954—Subsec. (b). Act Mar. 26, 1954, struck out sentence providing that a construction permit should not be required for Government stations, amateur stations, or stations upon mobile vessels, railroad rolling stock, or aircraft, such provisions being covered by subsec. (d) of this section. Subsec. (d). Act Mar. 26, 1954, added subsec. (d). 1952—Subsec. (a). Act July 16, 1952, § 13(a), (b), struck out “upon written application therefor” after “by the Commission” in first sentence, struck out second sentence, and substituted in third sentence, “The application for a construction permit shall set forth” for “This application shall set forth”. Subsec. (b). Act July 16, 1952, § 13(c), (d), struck out second sentence relating to assignment of rights under a permit, and struck out last two sentences, which are incorporated in subsec. (c). Subsec. (c). Act July 16, 1952, § 13(d), added subsec. (c).
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1960 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 86–752 effective ninety days after Sept. 13, 1960, see section 4(d)(1) of Pub. L. 86–752, set out as a note under section 309 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-320.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 320"
+description: "Stations liable to interfere with distress signals; designation and regulation"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "320"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 320"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s320"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "32cdcbfb2c3109e47c299cb302b517a686acd84b4416aeca4225bae9ae75971f"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "21a0437872b949ea667576440638523ffdb70c80aad6da4a06c4419ef67d124a"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 320 - Stations liable to interfere with distress signals; designation and regulation
+
+## Text
+
+The Commission is authorized to designate from time to time radio stations the communications or signals of which, in its opinion, are liable to interfere with the transmission or reception of distress signals of ships. Such stations are required to keep a licensed radio operator listening in on the frequencies designated for signals of distress and radio communications relating thereto during the entire period the transmitter of such station is in operation.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 320, 48 Stat. 1090.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-321.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 321"
+description: "Distress signals and communications; equipment on vessels; regulations"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "321"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 321"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s321"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "46f2aeb29b8d729ed21eae780b6cee7753f20d47502413e08f5bb51f239758e5"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "76c34dd4e97c7b39615120a2d1fd9b7fde7d8fbd1688a3a00706b171203430ab"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 321 - Distress signals and communications; equipment on vessels; regulations
+
+## Text
+
+(a) The transmitting set in a radio station on shipboard may be adjusted in such a manner as to produce a maximum of radiation, irrespective of the amount of interference which may thus be caused, when such station is sending radio communications or signals of distress and radio communications relating thereto.
+
+(b) All radio stations, including Government stations and stations on board foreign vessels when within the territorial waters of the United States, shall give absolute priority to radio communications or signals relating to ships in distress; shall cease all sending on frequencies which will interfere with hearing a radio communication or signal of distress, and, except when engaged in answering or aiding the ship in distress, shall refrain from sending any radio communications or signals until there is assurance that no interference will be caused with the radio communications or signals relating thereto, and shall assist the vessel in distress, so far as possible, by complying with its instructions.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 321, 48 Stat. 1090; May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 7, 50 Stat. 191.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1937—Subsec. (a). Act May 20, 1937, struck out provisions which required radio stations on shipboard to be equipped to transmit radio communications or signals of distress on the frequency specified by the Commission, with apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving messages over a distance of at least 100 miles by day or night.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-322.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 322"
+description: "Exchanging radio communications between land and ship stations and from ship to ship"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "322"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 322"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s322"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "bb023394558f0027bba5c8cb460196a8aa48a2621a9afb625ef65089f7383b95"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "db2c6b55596029d47639f00d2459bc3dcda70b00231e6a4bfe843b3d9f011218"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 322 - Exchanging radio communications between land and ship stations and from ship to ship
+
+## Text
+
+Every land station open to general public service between the coast and vessels or aircraft at sea shall, within the scope of its normal operations, be bound to exchange radio communications or signals with any ship or aircraft station at sea; and each station on shipboard or aircraft at sea shall, within the scope of its normal operations, be bound to exchange radio communications or signals with any other station on shipboard or aircraft at sea or with any land station open to general public service between the coast and vessels or aircraft at sea: Provided, That such exchange of radio communication shall be without distinction as to radio systems or instruments adopted by each station.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 322, 48 Stat. 1090; May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 8, 50 Stat. 191.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1937—Act May 20, 1937, provided for radio communications with aircraft stations.

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-323.md

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 323"
+description: "Interference between Government and commercial stations"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "323"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 323"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s323"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "92cef7aba7f57acfda3a449f0ffbab92f733add290dae0630a7f93fc4e02c6d2"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "3d539d43b02d8a1f0f1e8d29e7b029f160fac5c91edee53f7289300f156548b4"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 323 - Interference between Government and commercial stations
+
+## Text
+
+(a) At all places where Government and private or commercial radio stations on land operate in such close proximity that interference with the work of Government stations cannot be avoided when they are operating simultaneously, such private or commercial stations as do interfere with the transmission or reception of radio communications or signals by the Government stations concerned shall not use their transmitters during the first fifteen minutes of each hour, local standard time.
+
+(b) The Government stations for which the above-mentioned division of time is established shall transmit radio communications or signals only during the first fifteen minutes of each hour, local standard time, except in case of signals or radio communications relating to vessels in distress and vessel requests for information as to course, location, or compass direction.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 323, 48 Stat. 1090.)

legal/us/code/title-47/chapter-5/section-324.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "47 U.S.C. § 324"
+description: "Use of minimum power"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 47
+title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
+chapter_number: "5"
+chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
+section: "324"
+citation: "47 U.S.C. § 324"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc47@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s324"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-47/usc47.xml"
+source_hash: "a3fd060979b2b7dde157c6bd0c7b798b899cbf0c60cfb43f7359e8fe3afa108a"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "7cfb2d22df305544d8fac4913876d34c6b712d99019bd01ec134ed44ef145534"
+text_hash: "a6c40fc6bc9e8eea18cd924daf6500e0f63ad20fadfb0da15b33bf35211c6f56"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 47 U.S.C. § 324 - Use of minimum power
+
+## Text
+
+In all circumstances, except in case of radio communications or signals relating to vessels in distress, all radio stations, including those owned and operated by the United States, shall use the minimum amount of power necessary to carry out the communication desired.
+
+(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 324, 48 Stat. 1091.)