U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICEWASHINGTON : 71–376

COMMITTEE PRINT" !107TH CONGRESS1st Session COMMITTEE

2001

PRINT 107–I

COMPILATION OF SELECTED ACTS WITHINTHE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE

ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

COMMUNICATIONS LAW

As Amended Through May 1, 2001

INCLUDING

COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE ACT OF 1962NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

ADMINISTRATION ORGANIZATION ACTTELEPHONE DISCLOSURE AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION ACTCOMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

ACTADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS STATUTESSELECTED PROVISIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES CODE

PREPARED FOR THE USE OF THE

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCEU.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 2001

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing OfficeInternet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250

Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001

Note: This compilation contains the PDF version of the text ofselected communications laws, as amended through May 1, 2001.While this compilation does not represent an official version of anyFederal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure theiraccuracy. Any errors that are detected may be noted by email toSKLITZMA@FCC.GOV.

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

W.J. ‘‘BILLY’’ TAUZIN, Louisiana, ChairmanMICHAEL BILIRAKIS, FloridaJOE BARTON, TexasFRED UPTON, MichiganCLIFF STEARNS, FloridaPAUL E. GILLMOR, OhioJAMES C. GREENWOOD, PennsylvaniaCHRISTOPHER COX, CaliforniaNATHAN DEAL, GeorgiaSTEVE LARGENT, OklahomaRICHARD BURR, North CarolinaED WHITFIELD, KentuckyGREG GANSKE, IowaCHARLIE NORWOOD, GeorgiaBARBARA CUBIN, WyomingJOHN SHIMKUS, IllinoisHEATHER WILSON, New MexicoJOHN B. SHADEGG, ArizonaCHARLES ‘‘CHIP’’ PICKERING, MississippiVITO FOSSELLA, New YorkROY BLUNT, MissouriTOM DAVIS, VirginiaED BRYANT, TennesseeROBERT L. EHRLICH, Jr., MarylandSTEVE BUYER, IndianaGEORGE RADANOVICH, CaliforniaCHARLES F. BASS, New HampshireJOSEPH R. PITTS, PennsylvaniaMARY BONO, CaliforniaGREG WALDEN, OregonLEE TERRY, Nebraska

JOHN D. DINGELL, MichiganHENRY A. WAXMAN, CaliforniaEDWARD J. MARKEY, MassachusettsRALPH M. HALL, TexasRICK BOUCHER, VirginiaEDOLPHUS TOWNS, New YorkFRANK PALLONE, Jr., New JerseySHERROD BROWN, OhioBART GORDON, TennesseePETER DEUTSCH, FloridaBOBBY L. RUSH, IllinoisANNA G. ESHOO, CaliforniaBART STUPAK, MichiganELIOT L. ENGEL, New YorkTOM SAWYER, OhioALBERT R. WYNN, MarylandGENE GREEN, TexasKAREN MCCARTHY, MissouriTED STRICKLAND, OhioDIANA DEGETTE, ColoradoTHOMAS M. BARRETT, WisconsinBILL LUTHER, MinnesotaLOIS CAPPS, CaliforniaMICHAEL F. DOYLE, PennsylvaniaCHRISTOPHER JOHN, LouisianaJANE HARMAN, California

DAVID V. MARVENTANO, Staff DirectorJAMES D. BARNETTE, General Counsel

REID P.F. STUNTZ, Minority Staff Director and Chief Counsel

(II)

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COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934

Title I—General Provisions

Sec. Page1 Purposes of Act; Creation of Federal Communications Commission .... 32 Application of Act ...................................................................................... 33 Definitions .................................................................................................. 44 Provisions Relating to the Commission ................................................... 115 Organization and Functioning of the Commission ................................. 186 Authorization of Appropriations .............................................................. 207 New Technologies and Services ................................................................ 218 Application Fees ........................................................................................ 219 Regulatory Fees ......................................................................................... 3010 Competition in Provision of Telecommunications Service ..................... 3311 Regulatory Reform .................................................................................... 34

Title II—Common Carriers

Part I. Common Carrier Regulation201 Service and Charges .................................................................................. 35202 Discrimination and Preferences ............................................................... 35203 Schedules of Charges ................................................................................ 36204 Hearing as to Lawfulness of New Charges; Suspension ........................ 37205 Commission Authorized To Prescribe Just and Reasonable Charges ... 38206 Liability of Carriers for Damages ............................................................ 39207 Recovery of Damages ................................................................................ 39208 Complaints to the Commission ................................................................ 39209 Orders for Payment of Money .................................................................. 39210 Franks and Passes .................................................................................... 40211 Copies of Contracts To Be Filed ............................................................... 40212 Interlocking Directorates—Officials Dealing in Securities .................... 40213 Valuation of Carrier Property .................................................................. 41214 Extension of Lines ..................................................................................... 42215 Transactions Relating to Services, Equipment and So Forth ................ 45216 Application of Act to Receivers and Trustees ......................................... 46217 Liability of Carrier for Acts and Omissions of Agents ........................... 46218 Inquiries Into Management ...................................................................... 46219 Annual and Other Reports ....................................................................... 47220 Accounts, Records, and Memoranda; Depreciation Charges .................. 48221 Special Provisions Relating to Telephone Companies ............................ 50222 Privacy of Customer Information ............................................................. 50223 Obscene or Harassing Telephone Calls in the District of Columbia or

in Interstate or Foreign Communications ........................................... 53224 Regulation of Pole Attachments ............................................................... 58225 Telecommunications Services for Hearing-Impaired and Speech-

Impaired Individuals ............................................................................. 60226 Telephone Operator Services .................................................................... 63227 Restrictions on the Use of Telephone Equipment .................................. 69228 Regulation of Carrier Offering of Pay-Per-Call Services ....................... 76229 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act Compliance ..... 82230 Protection for Private Blocking and Screening of Offensive Material 84231 Restriction of Access by Minors to Materials Commercially Distrib-

uted by Means of World Wide Web That Are Harmful to Minors 86

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Sec. PagePart II Development of Competitive Markets

251 Interconnection .......................................................................................... 90252 Procedures for Negotiation, Arbitration, and Approval of Agreements 95253 Removal of Barriers to Entry ................................................................... 100254 Universal Service ...................................................................................... 101255 Access by Persons With Disabilities ........................................................ 115256 Coordination for Interconnectivity ........................................................... 116257 Market Entry Barriers Proceeding .......................................................... 117258 Illegal Changes in Subscriber Carrier Selections ................................... 117259 Infrastructure Sharing .............................................................................. 117260 Provision of Telemessaging Service ......................................................... 119261 Effect on Other Requirements .................................................................. 119

Part III Special Provisions Concerning Bell Operating Companies271 Bell Operating Company Entry Into InterLATA Services. .................... 120272 Separate Affiliate; Safeguards ................................................................. 126273 Manufacturing by Bell Operating Companies ........................................ 129274 Electronic Publishing by Bell Operating Companies ............................. 134275 Alarm Monitoring Services ....................................................................... 139276 Provision of Payphone Service ................................................................. 140

Title III—Provisions Relating to Radio

Part I. General Provisions301 License for Radio Communication or Transmission of Energy ............. 142302 Devices Which Interfere with Radio Reception ...................................... 142303 General Powers of Commission ................................................................ 145304 Waiver by Licensee ................................................................................... 149305 Government-Owned Stations ................................................................... 149306 Foreign Ships ............................................................................................. 149307 Allocation of Facilities; Term of Licenses ................................................ 150308 Applications for Licenses; Conditions in License for Foreign

Communication ...................................................................................... 151309 Action upon Applications; Form of and Conditions Attached to

Licenses .................................................................................................. 152310 Limitation on Holding and Transfer of Licenses .................................... 168311 Special Requirements with Respect to Certain Applications in the

Broadcasting Service ............................................................................. 169312 Administrative Sanctions ......................................................................... 170313 Application of Antitrust Laws; Refusal of Licenses and Permits in

Certain Cases ......................................................................................... 172314 Preservation of Competition in Commerce .............................................. 172315 Facilities for Candidates for Public Office .............................................. 173316 Modification by Commission of Construction Permits or Licenses ....... 174317 Announcement with Respect to Certain Matter Broadcast ................... 175318 Operation of Transmitting Apparatus ..................................................... 175319 Construction Permits ................................................................................ 176320 Designation of Stations Liable to Interfere with Distress Signals ........ 177321 Distress Signals and Communications .................................................... 177322 Intercommunication in Mobile Service .................................................... 177323 Interference between Government and Commercial Stations ............... 177324 Use of Minimum Power ............................................................................ 178325 False Distress Signals; Rebroadcasting; Studios of Foreign Stations ... 178326 Censorship; Indecent Language ............................................................... 185327 Use of Naval Stations for Commercial Messages ................................... 185329 Administration of Radio Laws in Territories and Possessions .............. 186330 Prohibition against Shipment of Certain Television Receivers ............. 186331 Very High Frequency Stations and AM Radio Stations ......................... 188332 Mobile Services .......................................................................................... 189333 Willful or Malicious Interference ............................................................. 194334 Limitation on Revision of Equal Employment Opportunity

Regulations ............................................................................................. 195

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Sec. Page335 Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Obligations ....................................... 195336 Broadcast Spectrum Flexibility ................................................................ 196337 Allocation and Assignment of New Public Safety Services Licenses

and Commercial Licenses ...................................................................... 205338 Carriage of Local Television Signals by Satellite Carriers .................... 207339 Carriage of Distant Television Stations by Batellite Carriers .............. 209

Part II. Radio Equipment and Radio Operators on Board Ship351 Ship Radio Stations and Operations ........................................................ 213352 Exceptions .................................................................................................. 213353 Radio Officers, Watches, Auto Alarm—Radiotelegraph Equipped

Ships ....................................................................................................... 215354 Operators, Watches—Radiotelephone Equipped Ships .......................... 215355 Technical Requirements—Radiotelegraph Equipped Ships ................... 215356 Technical Requirements—Radiotelephone Equipped Ships .................. 217357 Survival Craft ............................................................................................ 217358 Approval of Installations .......................................................................... 217359 Transmission of Information .................................................................... 218360 Authority of Master ................................................................................... 218361 Certificates ................................................................................................. 219362 Inspection ................................................................................................... 219363 Control by Commission ............................................................................. 220364 Forfeitures .................................................................................................. 220365 Automated Ship Distress and Safety Systems ........................................ 220

Part III. Radio Installations on Vessels Carrying Passengers for Hire381 Vessels Transporting More Than Six Passengers for Hire Required

To Be Equipped With Radio Telephone ............................................... 220382 Vessels Excepted From Radiotelephone Requirement ........................... 221383 Exemptions by Commission ...................................................................... 221384 Authority of Commission; Operations, Installations, and Additional

Equipment .............................................................................................. 221385 Inspections ................................................................................................. 221386 Forfeitures .................................................................................................. 222

Part IV. Assistance for Public Telecommunications Facilities; Tele-communications Demonstrations; Corporation for Public Broadcasting

SUBPART A—ASSISTANCE FOR PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONSFACILITIES

390 Declaration of Purpose .............................................................................. 222391 Authorization of Appropriations .............................................................. 222392 Grants for Construction and Planning .................................................... 222393 Criteria for Approval and Expenditures by Secretary of Commerce .... 224393A Long-Range Planning for Facilities ......................................................... 225

SUBPART B—NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONALTELEVISION

394 Establishment of National Endowment ................................................... 225

SUBPART C—TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEMONSTRATIONS395 Assistance for Demonstration Projects .................................................... 228

SUBPART D—CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING396 [Corporation for Public Broadcasting] ..................................................... 229

(a) Declaration of Policy(b) Corporation established(c) Board of Directors(d) Election of Vice Chairman; Compensation(e) Officers and Employees(f) Nonprofit and Nonpolitical Nature of the Corporation

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Sec. Page(g) Purposes and Activities of Corporation(h) Interconnection Service(i) Report to Congress(j) Right to Repeal, Alter, or Amend(k) Financing; Open Meetings and Financial Records(l) Records and Audit

SUBPART E—GENERAL397 Definitions .................................................................................................. 246398 Federal Interference or Control Prohibited; Equal Employment

Opportunity ............................................................................................ 248399 Support of Political Candidates Prohibited ............................................. 250399A Use of Business or Institutional Logograms ........................................... 250399B Offering of Certain Services, Facilities, or Products by Public

Broadcast Stations ................................................................................. 250

Title IV—Procedural and Administrative Provisions

401 Jurisdiction to Enforce Act and Orders of Commission ......................... 251402 Proceedings to Enjoin, Set Aside, Annul, or Suspend Orders of the

Commission ............................................................................................ 252403 Inquiry by Commission on Its Own Motion ............................................ 253404 Reports of Investigations .......................................................................... 254405 Reconsiderations ........................................................................................ 254406 Mandamus to Compel Furnishing of Facilities ....................................... 255407 Petition for Enforcement of Order for Payment of Money ..................... 255408 Orders Not for Payment of Money—When Effective .............................. 256409 General Provisions Relating to Proceedings—Witnesses and Deposi-

tions ........................................................................................................ 256410 Use of Joint Boards—Cooperation with State Commissions ................. 258411 Joinder of Parties ...................................................................................... 259412 Documents Filed To Be Public Records—Use in Proceedings ............... 259413 Designation of Agent for Service .............................................................. 260414 Remedies in This Act Not Exclusive ........................................................ 260415 Limitations as to Actions .......................................................................... 260416 Provisions Relating to Orders .................................................................. 261

Title V—Penal Provisions; Forfeitures

501 General Penalty ......................................................................................... 261502 Violation of Rules, Regulations, and so forth .......................................... 261503 Forfeitures in Cases of Rebates and Offsets ........................................... 262504 Provisions Relating to Forfeitures ........................................................... 265505 Venue of Offenses ...................................................................................... 265506 Violation of Great Lakes Agreement ....................................................... 265507 Disclosure of Certain Payments ............................................................... 266508 Prohibited Practices in Case of Contests of Intellectual Knowledge,

Intellectual Skill, or Chance ................................................................. 267510 Forfeiture of Communications Devices .................................................... 267

Title VI—Cable Communications

Part I. General Provisions601 Purposes ..................................................................................................... 268602 Definitions .................................................................................................. 269

Part II. Use of Cable Channels and Cable Ownership Restrictions611 Cable Channels for Public, Educational, or Governmental Use ............ 271612 Cable Channels for Commercial Use ....................................................... 272613 Ownership Restrictions ............................................................................. 276614 Carriage of Local Commercial Television Signals .................................. 277615 Carriage of Noncommercial Educational Television ............................... 284

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Sec. Page616 Regulation of Carriage Agreements ......................................................... 289617 Sales of Cable Systems ............................................................................. 289

Part III. Franchising and Regulation621 General Franchise Requirements ............................................................ 290622 Franchise Fees ........................................................................................... 292623 Regulation of Rates ................................................................................... 293624 Regulation of Services, Facilities, and Equipment ................................. 302624A Consumer Electronics Equipment Compatibility ................................... 303625 Modification of Franchise Obligations ..................................................... 306626 Renewal ...................................................................................................... 307627 Conditions of Sale ...................................................................................... 309628 Development of Competition and Diversity in Video Programming

Distribution ............................................................................................ 310629 Competitive Availability of Navigation Devices ..................................... 313

Part IV. Miscellaneous Provisions631 Protection of Subscriber Privacy .............................................................. 315632 Consumer Protection and Customer Service ........................................... 317633 Unauthorized Reception of Cable Service ............................................... 318634 Equal Employment Opportunity .............................................................. 319635 Judicial Proceedings .................................................................................. 323635A Limitation of Franchising Authority Liability ........................................ 323636 Coordination of Federal, State, and Local Authority ............................. 324637 Existing Franchises ................................................................................... 324638 Criminal and Civil Liability ..................................................................... 324639 Obscene Programming .............................................................................. 324640 Scrambling of Cable Channels for Nonsubscribers ................................ 324641 Scrambling of Sexually Explicit Adult Video Service Programming .... 325

Part V. Video Programming Services Provided by Telephone Companies651 Regulatory Treatment of Video Programming Services ......................... 325652 Prohibition on Buy Outs ........................................................................... 326653 Establishment of Open Video Systems .................................................... 328

Title VII—Miscellaneous Provisions

701 Transfer to Commission of Duties, Powers, and Functions underExisting Law .......................................................................................... 331

704 Effect of Transfers, Repeals, and Amendments ...................................... 331705 Unauthorized Publication of Communications ....................................... 332706 War Emergency—Powers of President .................................................... 336707 Effective Date of Act ................................................................................. 338708 Separability Clause ................................................................................... 338709 Short Title .................................................................................................. 338710 Telephone Service for the Disabled ......................................................... 338711 Closed-Captioning of Public Service Announcements ............................ 340712 Syndicated Exclusivity .............................................................................. 341713 Video Programming Accessibility ............................................................. 341714 Telecommunications Development Fund ................................................. 342

Index to Public Laws Amending the Communications Act:Public Laws in Chronological Order ........................................................ 347

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES IN GLOBALAND NATIONAL COMMERCE ACT

Title I—Electronic Records and Signatures in Commerce

101 General Rule of Validity ........................................................................... 353102 Exemption to Preemption ......................................................................... 357103 Specific Exceptions .................................................................................... 357

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Sec. Page104 Applicability to Federal and State Governments ................................... 358105 Studies ........................................................................................................ 360106 Definitions .................................................................................................. 361107 Effective Date ............................................................................................ 362

Title II—Transferable Records

201 Transferable Records ................................................................................ 363202 Effective Date ............................................................................................ 364

Title III—Promotion of International Electronic Commerce

301 Principles Governing the Use of Electronic Signatures in Inter-national Transactions ............................................................................ 364

Title IV—Commission on Online Child Protection

401 Authority to Accept Gifts .......................................................................... 365

LAUNCHING OUR COMMUNITIES’ACCESS TO LOCAL TELEVISION ACT

OF 2000Title X—Local TV Act

1001 Short Title .................................................................................................. 3691002 Purpose ....................................................................................................... 3691003 Local Television Loan Guarantee Board ................................................. 3691004 Approval of Loan Guarantees .................................................................. 3701005 Adminstration of Loan Guarantees ......................................................... 3761006 Annual Audit ............................................................................................. 3801007 Improved Cellular Service in Rural Areas .............................................. 3801008 Technical Amendment .............................................................................. 3821009 Sunset ......................................................................................................... 3821010 Definitions .................................................................................................. 3821011 Authorizations of Appropriations ............................................................. 3831012 Prevention of Interference to Direct Broadcast Satellite Services ........ 383

INTERNET TAX FREEDOM ACTTitle XI—Moratorium on Certain Taxes1100 Short Title .................................................................................................. 3871101 Moratorium ................................................................................................ 3871102 Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce ...................................... 3901103 Report ......................................................................................................... 3931104 Definitions .................................................................................................. 393

Title XII—Other Provisions1201 Declaration That Internet Should be Free of New Federal Taxes ........ 3951202 National Trade Estimate .......................................................................... 3951203 Declaration That the Internet Should be Free of Foreign Tariffs,

Trade Barriers, and Other Restrictions ............................................... 3961204 No Expansion of Tax Authority ............................................................... 3961205 Preservation of Authority ......................................................................... 3961206 Severability ................................................................................................ 397

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Sec. Page

CHILDREN’S ONLINE PRIVACYPROTECTION ACT OF 1998

Title XIII—Children’s Online Privacy Protection1301 Short Title .................................................................................................. 4011302 Definitions .................................................................................................. 4011303 Regulation of Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices in Connection

with the Collection and Use of Personal Information From andAbout Children on the Internet ............................................................ 403

1304 Safe Harbors .............................................................................................. 4051305 Actions by States ....................................................................................... 4061306 Administration and Applicability of Act .................................................. 4071307 Review ........................................................................................................ 4091308 Effective Date ............................................................................................ 409

TITLE III OF THE BALANCED BUDGETACT OF 1997

Title III—Communications and Spectrum Allocation Provisions

3001 Definitions .................................................................................................. 4133002 Spectrum Auctions .................................................................................... 4133006 Universal Service Fund Payment Schedule ............................................ 4153007 Deadline for Collection .............................................................................. 4163008 Administrative Procedures for Spectrum Auctions ................................ 416

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 19963 Definitions .................................................................................................. 419

Title II—Broadcast Services

202 Broadcast Ownership ................................................................................ 419207 Restrictions on Over-The-Air Reception Devices .................................... 421

Title III—Cable Services

302 Cable Service Provided by Telephone Companies .................................. 421

Title IV—Regulatory Reform

402 Biennial Review of Regulations; Regulatory Relief ................................ 421

Title V—Obscenity and Violence

SUBTITLE B—VIOLENCE551 Parental Choice in Television Programming .......................................... 422552 Technology Fund ....................................................................................... 424

SUBTITLE C—JUDICIAL REVIEW561 Expedited Review ...................................................................................... 425

Title VI—Effect on Other Laws

601 Applicability of Consent Decrees and Other Law ................................... 425602 Preemption of Local Taxation with Respect to Direct-to-Home Serv-

ices .......................................................................................................... 427

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Sec. PageTitle VII—Miscellaneous Provisions

704 Facilities Siting; Radio Frequency Emission Standards ........................ 427706 Advanced Telecommunications Incentives .............................................. 428708 National Education Technology Funding Corporation ........................... 429709 Report on the Use of Advanced Telecommunications Services for

Medical Purposes ................................................................................... 432710 Authorization of Appropriations .............................................................. 432

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE FORLAW ENFORCEMENT ACT

Title I—Interception of Digital and Other Communications

101 Short Title .................................................................................................. 437102 Definitions .................................................................................................. 437103 Assistance Capability Requirements ....................................................... 438104 Notices of Capacity Requirements ........................................................... 440105 Systems Security and Integrity ................................................................ 442106 Cooperation of Equipment Manufacturers and Providers of Tele-

communications Support Services ........................................................ 442107 Technical Requirements and Standards; Extension of Compliance

Date ......................................................................................................... 442108 Enforcement orders ................................................................................... 444109 Payment of costs of telecommunications carriers to comply with capa-

bility requirements ................................................................................ 444110 Authorization of Appropriations .............................................................. 447111 Effective Date ............................................................................................ 447112 Reports ....................................................................................................... 447

Title IV—Telecommunications Carrier Compliance Payments

401 Department of Justice Telecommunications Carrier Compliance Fund 448

NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONSAND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION

ORGANIZATION ACTTitle I—National Telecommunications and Information Administra-

tion

Part A—Organization and Functions101 Short Title .................................................................................................. 453102 Definitions; Findings; Policy ..................................................................... 453103 Establishment; Assigned Functions ......................................................... 454104 Spectrum Management Activities ............................................................ 458105 General Administrative Provisions .......................................................... 460

Part B—Transfer of Auctionable Frequencies111 Definitions .................................................................................................. 461112 National Spectrum Allocation Planning .................................................. 461113 Identification of Reallocable Frequencies ................................................ 462114 Withdrawal or Limitation of Assignment to Federal Government

Stations ................................................................................................... 469115 Distribution of Frequencies by the Commission ..................................... 470116 Authority to Recover Reassigned Frequencies ........................................ 471117 Existing Allocation and Transfer Authority Retained ........................... 472

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Part C—Special and Temporary Provisions151 Authorization of Appropriations for Administration .............................. 473

* * * * * * *154 Communications for Rural Health Providers .......................................... 473155 Report on the Role of Telecommunications in Hate Crimes .................. 474

TELEPHONE DISCLOSURE ANDDISPUTE RESOLUTION ACT

1 Short Title, Findings ................................................................................. 479

Title I—Carrier Obligations and Consumer Rights Concerning Pay-Per-Call Transactions

* * * * * * *

Title II—Regulation of Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices inConnection With Pay-Per-Call Services

201 Federal Trade Commission Regulations .................................................. 480202 Actions by States ....................................................................................... 483203 Administration and Applicability of Title ............................................... 484204 Definitions .................................................................................................. 485

Title III—Billing and Collection

301 Regulations ................................................................................................ 485302 Relation to State Laws .............................................................................. 486303 Enforcement ............................................................................................... 486304 Definitions .................................................................................................. 487

Title IV—Miscellaneous Provisions

401 Proposal for Demonstrating the Potential of Innovative Communica-tions Equipment and Services .............................................................. 488

* * * * * * *403 Interception of Cellular Telecommunications ......................................... 489

Children’s Television Act of 19901 Short Title .................................................................................................. 493

TITLE I—REGULATION OF CHILDREN’S TELEVISION101 Findings ..................................................................................................... 493102 Standard for Children’s Television Programming .................................. 493103 Consideration of Children’s Television Service in Broadcast License

Renewal .................................................................................................. 494104 Program Length Commercial Matter ...................................................... 494

TITLE II—ENDOWMENT FOR CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION201 Short Title .................................................................................................. 494202 Findings ..................................................................................................... 494203 National Endowment for Children’s Educational Television ................. 495

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COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE ACT OF1962

Title I—Short Title, Declaration of Policy and Definitions

101 Short Title .................................................................................................. 499102 Declaration of Policy and Purpose ........................................................... 499103 Definitions .................................................................................................. 500

Title II—Federal Coordination, Planning, and Regulation

201 Implementation of Policy .......................................................................... 501

Title III—Creation of a Communications Satellite Corporation

301 Creation of Corporation ............................................................................ 503302 Applicable Laws ......................................................................................... 503303 Directors and Officers ............................................................................... 503304 Financing of the Corporation ................................................................... 505305 Purposes and Powers of the Corporation ................................................ 506

Title IV—Miscellaneous

401 Applicability of Communications Act of 1934 ......................................... 507402 Notice of Foreign Business Negotiations ................................................. 507403 Sanctions .................................................................................................... 507404 Reports to the Congress ............................................................................ 507

Title V—International Maritime Satellite Telecommunications

501 Short Title .................................................................................................. 508502 Declaration of Policy and Purpose ........................................................... 508503 Designated Operating Entity ................................................................... 508504 Implementation of Policy .......................................................................... 509505 Definitions .................................................................................................. 510

Title VI—Communications Competition and Privatization

SUBTITLE A—ACTIONS TO ENSURE PRO-COMPETITIVE PRIVATIZATION601 Federal Communications Commission Licensing ................................... 511602 Incentives; Limitation on Expansion Pending Privatization ................. 513

SUBTITLE B—FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION LICENSINGCRITERIA: PRIVATIZATION CRITERIA

621 General Criteria to Ensure a Pro-Competitive Privatization ofIntelsat and Inmarsat ........................................................................... 514

622 Specific Criteria for Intelsat ..................................................................... 516623 Specific Criteria for Intelsat Separated Entities .................................... 516624 Specific Criteria for Inmarsat .................................................................. 517625 Encouraging Market Access and Privatization ....................................... 517

SUBTITLE C—DEREGULATION AND OTHER STATUTORY CHANGES641 Access to Intelsat ....................................................................................... 518642 Signatory Role ........................................................................................... 518643 Elimination of Procurement Preferences ................................................. 519644 ITU Functions ............................................................................................ 519645 Termination of Communications Satellite Act of 1962 Provisions ........ 519646 Reports to Congress .................................................................................. 520647 Satellite Auctions ...................................................................................... 520648 Exclusivity Arrangements ........................................................................ 520

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SUBTITLE D—NEGOTIATIONS TO PURSUE PRIVATIZATION661 Methods to Pursue Privatization ............................................................. 521

SUBTITLE E—DEFINITIONS681 Definitions .................................................................................................. 521

Submarine Cable Statute (Act of May 27,1921)

Sec. 2 .......................................................................................................... 527Sec. 3 .......................................................................................................... 527Sec. 4 .......................................................................................................... 527Sec. 5 .......................................................................................................... 528Sec. 6 .......................................................................................................... 528

ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONSSTATUTES

Section 632 of the Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, andRelated Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001

Sec. 632 ...................................................................................................... 533

Sections 2, 4, and 6 of the Wireless Communications and Public SafetyAct of 1999

1 Short Title .................................................................................................. 5372 Findings and Purpose ............................................................................... 5374 Parity of Protection for Provision or Use of Wireless Service ............... 5386 Definitions .................................................................................................. 538

International Telecommunications Policy

2218 Reaffirming United States International Telecommunications Policy .. 543

International Anti-Bribery and Fair Competition Act

1 Short Title .................................................................................................. 5475 Treatment of International Organizations Providing Commercial

Communications Services ..................................................................... 5476 Enforcement and Monitoring .................................................................... 549

Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1997

3001 Competitive Bidding for Spectrum .......................................................... 553

Public Telecommunications Act of 1992

1 Short Title .................................................................................................. 557

* * * * * * *16 Broadcasting of Indecent Programming .................................................. 55817 Ready-To-Learn Television Channel ........................................................ 55818 Corporation for Public Broadcasting Report on Distance Learning ...... 55919 Objectivity and Balance Policy, Procedures, and Reports ..................... 55920 Consumer Information .............................................................................. 56021 Independent Production Service Funding ............................................... 56022 Effective Date ............................................................................................ 560

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Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992

1 Short Title .................................................................................................. 5632 Findings; Policy; Definitions ..................................................................... 563

* * * * * * *10 Children’s Protection From Indecent Programming on Leased Access

Channels ................................................................................................. 566

* * * * * * *26 Sports Programming and Migration Study and Reports ....................... 56727 Applicability of Antitrust Laws ................................................................ 56728 Effective Date ............................................................................................ 568

Telecommunications Authorization Act of 1992

1 Short Title .................................................................................................. 571

* * * * * * *

TITLE II—FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

* * * * * * *211 Review of License Transfer ...................................................................... 571213 Telephone Rates for Members of Armed Forces Deployed Abroad ....... 572214 AM Radio Improvement Standard ........................................................... 572

National Telecommunications and Information AdministrationAuthorization, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991

Sec. 2 .......................................................................................................... 574Sec. 3 .......................................................................................................... 576

Television Program Improvement Act of 1990

TITLE V—TELEVISION PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT501 Television Program Improvement ............................................................ 581

Federal Communications Commission Authorization Act of 1988

6 Older Americans Program ........................................................................ 5857 Congressional Communications ............................................................... 5869 Hawaii Monitoring Station ....................................................................... 58610 Sense of Congress ...................................................................................... 587

SELECTED PROVISIONS FROM THEUNITED STATES CODE

Title 5—Government Organization and Employees[From: Freedom of Information Act; Privacy Act; Government in the Sunshine Act; Adminis-trative Procedure Act; Regulatory Flexibility Act]

551 Definitions .................................................................................................. 591552 Public Information; Agency Rules, Opinions, Orders, Records, and

Proceedings ............................................................................................. 593552a Records Maintained on Individuals ......................................................... 602552b Open Meetings ........................................................................................... 618553 Rule Making .............................................................................................. 624554 Adjudications ............................................................................................. 624555 Ancillary Matters ...................................................................................... 626556 Hearings; Presiding Employees, Powers and Duties, Burden of Proof;

Evidence; Record as Basis of Decision ................................................. 627

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557 Initial Decisions; Conclusiveness; Review by Agency; Submissions byParties; Contents of Decisions; Record ................................................ 628

558 Imposition of Sanctions; Determination of Applications for Licenses;Suspension, Revocation, and Expiration of Licenses .......................... 630

559 Effect on Other Laws; Effect of Subsequent Statute .............................. 630601 Definitions .................................................................................................. 631602 Regulatory Agenda .................................................................................... 632603 Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis .................................................... 633604 Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis ...................................................... 634605 Avoidance of Duplicative or Unnecessary Analyses ............................... 634606 Effect on Other Law .................................................................................. 635607 Preparation of Analyses ............................................................................ 635608 Procedure for Waiver or Delay of Completion ........................................ 635609 Procedures for Gathering Comments ....................................................... 635610 Periodic Review of Rules ........................................................................... 637611 Judicial Review .......................................................................................... 638612 Reports and Intervention Rights .............................................................. 639701 Application; Definitions ............................................................................ 639702 Right of Review ......................................................................................... 640703 Form and Venue of Proceeding ................................................................ 640704 Actions Reviewable .................................................................................... 641705 Relief Pending Review .............................................................................. 641706 Scope of Review ......................................................................................... 641

Appendix (Inspector General Act of 1978) .............................................. 642

Title 15—Commerce and Trade

[From Uniform Time Act; Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act; ComprehensiveSmokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986]

260a(a) Uniform Time Act of 1966 ........................................................................ 6471331 Declaration of Policy ................................................................................. 6481332 Definitions .................................................................................................. 6481333 Labeling ...................................................................................................... 6491334 Preemption ................................................................................................. 6511335 Unlawful Advertisements ......................................................................... 6511335a Cigarette Ingredients ................................................................................ 6521336 Federal Trade Commission ....................................................................... 6531337 Reports ....................................................................................................... 6531338 Criminal Penalty ....................................................................................... 6531339 Injunction Proceedings .............................................................................. 6531340 Cigarettes for Export ................................................................................ 6531331n Separability ................................................................................................ 6534402 Smokeless Tobacco Warning .................................................................... 654

Title 17—Copyrights

101 Definitions .................................................................................................. 655104 Subject Matter of Copyright: National Origin ........................................ 661108 Limitations on Exclusive Rights: Reproduction by Libraries and Ar-

chives ...................................................................................................... 663111 Limitations on Exclusive Rights: Secondary Transmissions ................. 666112 Limitations on Exclusive Rights: Ephemeral Recordings ...................... 675114 Scope of Exclusive Rights in Sound Recordings ..................................... 679117 Limitations on Exclusive Rights: Computer Programs .......................... 694119 Limitations on Exclusive Rights: Secondary Transmissions of Super-

stations and Network Stations for Private Home Viewing ................ 695501 Infringement of Copyright ........................................................................ 708512 imitations on Liability Relating to Material Online ............................... 710801 Copyright Arbitration Royalty panels: Establishment and Purpose ..... 7191101 Unauthorized Fixation and Trafficking in Sound Recordings and

Music Videos .......................................................................................... 7721201 Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems .................................... 7231202 Integrity of Copyright Management Information ................................... 7321203 Civil Remedies ........................................................................................... 7341204 Criminal Offenses and Penalties ............................................................. 736

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1205 Savings Clause .......................................................................................... 736

Title 18—Crimes and Criminal Procedure

1304 Broadcasting Lottery Information ........................................................... 7371307 Exceptions Relating to Certain Advertisements and Other Informa-

tion and to State-Conducted Lotteries ................................................. 7371343 Fraud by Wire, Radio, or Television ........................................................ 7381367 Interference With the Operation of a Satellite ....................................... 7381464 Broadcasting Obscene Language ............................................................. 7391468 Distributing Obscene Material by Cable or Subscription Television .... 7392510 Definitions .................................................................................................. 7402511 Interception and Disclosure of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communica-

tions Prohibited ...................................................................................... 7422512 Manufacture, Distribution, Possession, and Advertising of Wire, Oral,

or Electronic Communication, Intercepting Devices Prohibited ........ 7472513 Confiscation of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communication Intercepting

Devices .................................................................................................... 7482514 [REPEALED] ............................................................................................. 7492515 Prohibition of Use as Evidence of Intercepted Wire or Oral Commu-

nications ................................................................................................. 7492516 Authorization for Interception of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Commu-

nications ................................................................................................. 7492517 Authorization for Disclosure and Use of Intercepted Wire, Oral, or

Electronic Communications .................................................................. 7522518 Procedure for Interception of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communica-

tions ........................................................................................................ 7532519 Reports Concerning Intercepted Wire, Oral, or Electronic Commu-

nications ................................................................................................. 7582520 Recovery of Civil Damages Authorized ................................................... 7602521 Injunction Against Illegal Interception ................................................... 7612522 Enforcement of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement

Act ........................................................................................................... 761

Title 22—Foreign Relations and Intercourse

241 Short Title .................................................................................................. 763242 Findings and Purposes .............................................................................. 763243 Television Broadcasting to Cuba .............................................................. 764244 Television Marti Service of the United States Information Agency ..... 765245 Amendments to the Radio Broadcastings to Cuba Act .......................... 766246 Assistance from other Government Agencies .......................................... 766247 Authorization of Appropriations .............................................................. 766248 Definitions .................................................................................................. 767

Title 28—Judiciary and Judicial Procedure

2341 Definitions .................................................................................................. 7682342 Jurisdiction of Court of Appeals ............................................................... 7682343 Venue .......................................................................................................... 7692344 Review of Orders; Time; Notice; Contents of Petition; Service ............. 7692345 Prehearing Conference .............................................................................. 7702346 Certification of Record on Review ............................................................ 7702347 Petitions to Review; Proceedings ............................................................. 7702348 Representation in Proceeding; Intervention ............................................ 7702349 Jurisdiction of the Proceeding .................................................................. 7712350 Review in Supreme Court on Certiorari or Certification ....................... 7712351 Enforcement of Orders by District Courts .............................................. 7724001 Assumption of Contractual Obligations Related to Transfers of Rights

in Motion Pictures ................................................................................. 772

Title 40—Public Buildings, Property, and Works[From: Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act of 1988]

762 note Short Title .................................................................................................. 775

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762 Definitions .................................................................................................. 775762a Federal Telecommunications System Requirements .............................. 775762b Additional Requirements .......................................................................... 776762c Inquiry Regarding Interstate TDD Relay System .................................. 776762d TDD Installation by Congress .................................................................. 776

Title 42—The Public Health and Welfare[From: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969]

4321 Congressional Declaration of Purpose ..................................................... 7774331 Congressional Declaration of National Environmental Policy .............. 7774332 Cooperation of Agencies; Reports; Availability of Information; Rec-

ommendations; International and National Coordination of Efforts 7784333 Conformity of Administrative Procedures to National Environmental

Policy ....................................................................................................... 7794334 Other Statutory Obligations of Agencies ................................................. 7804335 Efforts Supplemental to Existing Authorizations ................................... 780

Title 44—Public Printing and Documents[From: Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980]

3501 Purposes ..................................................................................................... 7813502 Definitions .................................................................................................. 7823503 Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs ......................................... 7843504 Authority and Functions of Director ........................................................ 7843505 Assignment of Tasks and Deadlines ........................................................ 7883506 Federal Agency Responsibilities ............................................................... 7893507 Public Information Collection Activities—Submission to Director; Ap-

proval and Delegation ........................................................................... 7943508 Determination of Necessity for Information; Hearing ............................ 7983509 Designation of Central Collection Agency ............................................... 7983510 Cooperation of Agencies in Making Information Available ................... 7993511 Establishment and Operation of Federal Information Locator System 7993512 Public Protection ....................................................................................... 8003513 Director Review of Agency Activities; Reporting; Agency Response ..... 8003514 Responsiveness to Congress ..................................................................... 8003515 Adminstrative Powers ............................................................................... 8013516 Rules and Regulations .............................................................................. 8013517 Consultation with Other Agencies and the Public ................................. 8013518 Effect on Existing Laws and Regulations ............................................... 8023519 Access to Information ................................................................................ 8033520 Authorization of Appropriations .............................................................. 803

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONSGovernment Paperwork Elimination Act1701 Short Title .................................................................................................. 8041702 Authority of OMB to Provide for Acquisition and Use of Alternative

Information Technologies by Executive Agencies ............................... 8041703 Procedures for Use and Acceptance of Electronic Signatures by Exec-

utive Agencies ........................................................................................ 8041704 Deadline for Implementation by Executive Agencies of Procedures for

Use and Acceptance of Electronic Signatures ..................................... 8051705 Electronic Storage and Filing of Employment Forms ............................ 8051706 Study on Use of Electronic Signatures .................................................... 8051707 Enforceability and Legal Effect of Electronic Records ........................... 8051708 Disclosure of Information ......................................................................... 8061709 Application with Internal Revenue Laws ................................................ 8061710 Definitions .................................................................................................. 806146 Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987 ...... 8073451 Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 ................................................................... 8092281 Global Positioning System (Title 10, U.S.C.) .......................................... 810

1

COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934

3

COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED

AN ACT To provide for the regulation of interstate and foreign communication bywire or radio, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of theUnited States of America in Congress assembled,

TITLE I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 1. ø47 U.S.C. 151¿ PURPOSES OF ACT, CREATION OF FEDERALCOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.

For the purpose of regulating interstate and foreign commercein communication by wire and radio so as to make available, so faras possible, to all the people of the United States, without discrimi-nation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex,a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio com-munication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges,for the purpose of the national defense, for the purpose of pro-moting safety of life and property through the use of wire and radiocommunication, and for the purpose of securing a more effectiveexecution of this policy by centralizing authority heretofore grantedby law to several agencies and by granting additional authoritywith respect to interstate and foreign commerce in wire and radiocommunication, there is hereby created a commission to be knownas the ‘‘Federal Communications Commission,’’ which shall be con-stituted as hereinafter provided, and which shall execute and en-force the provisions of this Act.SEC. 2. ø47 U.S.C. 152¿ APPLICATION OF ACT.

(a) The provisions of this act shall apply to all interstate andforeign communication by wire or radio and all interstate and for-eign transmission of energy by radio, which originates and/or is re-ceived within the United States, and to all persons engaged withinthe United States in such communication or such transmission ofenergy by radio, and to the licensing and regulating of all radio sta-tions as hereinafter provided; but it shall not apply to persons en-gaged in wire or radio communication or transmission in the CanalZone, or to wire or radio communication or transmission whollywithin the Canal Zone. The provisions of this Act shall apply withrespect to cable service, to all persons engaged within the UnitedStates in providing such service, and to the facilities of cable opera-tors which relate to such service, as provided in title VI.

(b) Except as provided in sections 223 through 227, inclusive,and section 332, and subject to the provisions of section 301 andtitle VI, nothing in this Act shall be construed to apply or to givethe Commission jurisdiction with respect to (1) charges, classifica-tions, practices, services, facilities, or regulations for or in connec-tion with intrastate communication service by wire or radio of any

4Sec. 3 COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934

carrier, or (2) any carrier engaged in interstate or foreign commu-nication solely through physical connection with the facilities of an-other carrier not directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by,or under direct or indirect common control with such carrier, or (3)any carrier engaged in interstate or foreign communication solelythrough connection by radio, or by wire and radio, with facilities,located in an adjoining State or in Canada or Mexico (where theyadjoin the State in which the carrier is doing business), of anothercarrier not directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, orunder direct or indirect common control with such carrier, or (4)any carrier to which clause (2) or clause (3) would be applicable ex-cept for furnishing interstate mobile radio communication serviceor radio communication service to mobile stations on land vehiclesin Canada or Mexico; except that sections 201 through 205 of thisAct, both inclusive, shall, except as otherwise provided therein,apply to carriers described in clauses (2), (3), and (4).SEC. 3. ø47 U.S.C. 153¿ DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this Act, unless the context otherwiserequires—

(1) AFFILIATE.—The term ‘‘affiliate’’ means a person that(directly or indirectly) owns or controls, is owned or controlledby, or is under common ownership or control with, another per-son. For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘‘own’’ means toown an equity interest (or the equivalent thereof) of more than10 percent.

(2) AMATEUR STATION.—The term ‘‘amateur station’’ meansa radio station operated by a duly authorized person interestedin radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pe-cuniary interest.

(3) AT&T CONSENT DECREE.—The term ‘‘AT&T ConsentDecree’’ means the order entered August 24, 1982, in the anti-trust action styled United States v. Western Electric, Civil Ac-tion No. 82–0192, in the United States District Court for theDistrict of Columbia, and includes any judgment or order withrespect to such action entered on or after August 24, 1982.

(4) BELL OPERATING COMPANY.—The term ‘‘Bell operatingcompany’’—

(A) means any of the following companies: Bell Tele-phone Company of Nevada, Illinois Bell Telephone Com-pany, Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Incorporated,Michigan Bell Telephone Company, New England Tele-phone and Telegraph Company, New Jersey Bell Tele-phone Company, New York Telephone Company, U S WestCommunications Company, South Central Bell TelephoneCompany, Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Com-pany, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, The BellTelephone Company of Pennsylvania, The Chesapeake andPotomac Telephone Company, The Chesapeake and Poto-mac Telephone Company of Maryland, The Chesapeakeand Potomac Telephone Company of Virginia, The Chesa-peake and Potomac Telephone Company of West Virginia,The Diamond State Telephone Company, The Ohio BellTelephone Company, The Pacific Telephone and TelegraphCompany, or Wisconsin Telephone Company; and

5 Sec. 3COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934

(B) includes any successor or assign of any such com-pany 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).(5) BROADCAST STATION.—The term ‘‘broadcast station,’’

‘‘broadcasting station,’’ or ‘‘radio broadcast station’’ means aradio station equipped to engage in broadcasting as herein de-fined.

(6) BROADCASTING.—The term ‘‘broadcasting’’ means thedissemination of radio communications intended to be receivedby the public, directly or by the intermediary of relay stations.

(7) CABLE SERVICE.—The term ‘‘cable service’’ has themeaning given such term in section 602.

(8) CABLE SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘cable system’’ has themeaning given such term in section 602.

(9) CHAIN BROADCASTING.—The term ‘‘chain broadcasting’’means simultaneous broadcasting of an identical program bytwo or more connected stations.

(10) COMMON CARRIER.—The term ‘‘common carrier’’ or‘‘carrier’’ means any person engaged as a common carrier forhire, in interstate or foreign communication by wire or radio orin interstate or foreign radio transmission of energy, exceptwhere reference is made to common carriers not subject to thisAct; but a person engaged in radio broadcasting shall not, inso-far as such person is so engaged, be deemed a common carrier.

(11) CONNECTING CARRIER.—The term ‘‘connecting carrier’’means a carrier described in clauses (2), (3), or (4) of section2(b).

(12) CONSTRUCTION PERMIT.—The term ‘‘construction per-mit’’ or ‘‘permit for construction’’ means that instrument of au-thorization required by this Act or the rules and regulations ofthe Commission made pursuant to this Act for the constructionof a station, or the installation of apparatus, for the trans-mission of energy, or communications, or signals by radio, bywhatever name the instrument may be designated by the Com-mission.

(13) CORPORATION.—The term ‘‘corporation’’ includes anycorporation, joint-stock company, or association.

(14) CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT.—The term ‘‘cus-tomer premises equipment’’ means equipment employed on thepremises of a person (other than a carrier) to originate, route,or terminate telecommunications.

(15) DIALING PARITY.—The term ‘‘dialing parity’’ meansthat a person that is not an affiliate of a local exchange carrieris able to provide telecommunications services in such a man-ner that customers have the ability to route automatically,without the use of any access code, their telecommunicationsto the telecommunications services provider of the customer’sdesignation from among 2 or more telecommunications servicesproviders (including such local exchange carrier).

(16) EXCHANGE ACCESS.—The term ‘‘exchange access’’means the offering of access to telephone exchange services or

6Sec. 3 COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934

facilities for the purpose of the origination or termination oftelephone toll services.

(17) FOREIGN COMMUNICATION.—The term ‘‘foreign commu-nication’’ or ‘‘foreign transmission’’ means communication ortransmission from or to any place in the United States to orfrom a foreign country, or between a station in the UnitedStates and a mobile station located outside the United States.

(18) GREAT LAKES AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘Great LakesAgreement’’ means the Agreement for the Promotion of Safetyon the Great Lakes by Means of Radio in force and the regula-tions referred to therein.

(19) HARBOR.—The term ‘‘harbor’’ or ‘‘port’’ means anyplace to which ships may resort for shelter or to load or unloadpassengers or goods, or to obtain fuel, water, or supplies. Thisterm shall apply to such places whether proclaimed public ornot and whether natural or artifical.

(20) INFORMATION SERVICE.—The term ‘‘information serv-ice’’ means the offering of a capability for generating, acquir-ing, storing, transforming, processing, retrieving, utilizing, ormaking available information via telecommunications, and in-cludes electronic publishing, but does not include any use ofany such capability for the management, control, or operationof a telecommunications system or the management of a tele-communications service.

(21) INTERLATA SERVICE.—The term ‘‘interLATA service’’means telecommunications between a point located in a localaccess and transport area and a point located outside sucharea.

(22) INTERSTATE COMMUNICATION.—The term ‘‘interstatecommunication’’ or ‘‘interstate transmission’’ means commu-nication or transmission (A) from any State, Territory, or pos-session of the United States (other than the Canal Zone), orthe District of Columbia, to any other State, Territory, or pos-session of the United States (other than the Canal Zone), orthe District of Columbia, (B) from or to the United States toor from the Canal Zone, insofar as such communication ortransmission takes place within the United States, or (C) be-tween points within the United States but through a foreigncountry; but shall not, with respect to the provisions of title IIof this Act (other than section 223 thereof), include wire orradio communication between points in the same State, Terri-tory, or possession of the United States, or the District of Co-lumbia, through any place outside thereof, if such communica-tion is regulated by a State commission.

(23) LAND STATION.—The term ‘‘land station’’ means a sta-tion, other than a mobile station, used for radio communicationwith mobile stations.

(24) LICENSEE.—The term ‘‘licensee’’ means the holder of aradio station license granted or continued in force underauthority of this Act.

(25) LOCAL ACCESS AND TRANSPORT AREA.—The term ‘‘localaccess and transport area’’ or ‘‘LATA’’ means a contiguous geo-graphic area—

(A) established before the date of enactment of theTelecommunications Act of 1996 by a Bell operating com-

7 Sec. 3COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934

pany such that no exchange area includes points withinmore than 1 metropolitan statistical area, consolidatedmetropolitan statistical area, or State, except as expresslypermitted under the AT&T Consent Decree; or

(B) established or modified by a Bell operating com-pany after such date of enactment and approved by theCommission.(26) LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIER.—The term ‘‘local exchange

carrier’’ means any person that is engaged in the provision oftelephone exchange service or exchange access. Such term doesnot include a person insofar as such person is engaged in theprovision of a commercial mobile service under section 332(c),except to the extent that the Commission finds that such serv-ice should be included in the definition of such term.

(27) MOBILE SERVICE.—The term ‘‘mobile service’’ means aradio communication service carried on between mobile sta-tions or receivers and land stations, and by mobile stationscommunicating among themselves, and includes (A) both one-way and two-way radio communication services, (B) a mobileservice which provides a regularly interacting group of base,mobile, portable, and associated control and relay stations(whether licensed on an individual, cooperative, or multiplebasis) for private one-way or two-way land mobile radio com-munications by eligible users over designated areas of oper-ation, and (C) any service for which a license is required in apersonal communications service established pursuant to theproceeding entitled ‘‘Amendment to the Commission’s Rules toEstablish New Personal Communications Services’’ (GENDocket No. 90–314; ET Docket No. 92–100), or any successorproceeding.

(28) MOBILE STATION.—The term ‘‘mobile station’’ means aradio-communication station capable of being moved and whichordinarily does move.

(29) NETWORK ELEMENT.—The term ‘‘network element’’means a facility or equipment used in the provision of a tele-communications service. Such term also includes features,functions, and capabilities that are provided by means of suchfacility or equipment, including subscriber numbers, databases,signaling systems, and information sufficient for billing andcollection or used in the transmission, routing, or otherprovision of a telecommunications service.

(30) NUMBER PORTABILITY.—The term ‘‘number portability’’means the ability of users of telecommunications services to re-tain, at the same location, existing telecommunications num-bers without impairment of quality, reliability, or conveniencewhen switching from one telecommunications carrier to an-other.

(31)(A) OPERATOR.—The term ‘‘operator’’ on a ship of theUnited States means, for the purpose of parts II and III of titleIII of this Act, a person holding a radio operator’s license of theproper class as prescribed and issued by the Commission.

(B) ‘‘Operator’’ on a foreign ship means, for the purpose ofpart II of title III of this Act, a person holding a certificate assuch of the proper class complying with the provision of theradio regulations annexed to the International Telecommuni-

8Sec. 3 COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934

cation Convention in force, or complying with an agreement ortreaty between the United States and the country in which theship is registered.

(32) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ includes an individual,partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, or corpora-tion.

(33) RADIO COMMUNICATION.—The term ‘‘radio communica-tion’’ or ‘‘communication by radio’’ means the transmission byradio of writing, signs, signals, pictures, and sounds of allkinds, including all instrumentalities, facilities, apparatus, andservices (among other things, the receipt, forwarding, and de-livery of communications) incidental to such transmission.

(34)(A) RADIO OFFICER.—The term ‘‘radio officer’’ on a shipof the United States means, for the purpose of part II of titleIII of this Act, a person holding at least a first or second classradiotelegraph operator’s license as prescribed and issued bythe Commission. When such person is employed to operate aradiotelegraph station aboard a ship of the United States, heis also required to be licensed as a ‘‘radio officer’’ in accordancewith the Act of May 12, 1948 (46 U.S.C. 229a–h).

(B) ‘‘Radio officer’’ on a foreign ship means, for the purposeof part II of title III of this Act, a person holding at least a firstor second class radiotelegraph operator’s certificate complyingwith the provisions of the radio regulations annexed to theInternational Telecommunication Convention in force.

(35) RADIO STATION.—The term ‘‘radio station’’ or ‘‘station’’means a station equipped to engage in radio communication orradio transmission of energy.

(36) RADIOTELEGRAPH AUTO ALARM.—The term ‘‘radio-telegraph auto alarm’’ on a ship of the United States subjectto the provisions of part II of title III of this Act means anautomatic alarm receiving apparatus which responds to the ra-diotelegraph alarm signal and has been approved by the Com-mission. ‘‘Radiotelegraph auto alarm’’ on a foreign ship meansan automatic alarm receiving apparatus which responds to theradiotelegraph alarm signal and has been approved by the gov-ernment of the country in which the ship is registered: Pro-vided, That the United States and the country in which theship is registered are parties to the same treaty, convention, oragreement prescribing the requirements for such apparatus.Nothing in this Act or in any other provision of law shall beconstrued to require the recognition of a radiotelegraph autoalarm as complying with part II of title III of this Act, on aforeign ship subject to such part, where the country in whichthe ship is registered and the United States are not parties tothe same treaty, convention, or agreements prescribing the re-quirements for such apparatus.

(37) RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY.—The term ‘‘rural tele-phone company’’ means a local exchange carrier operating enti-ty to the extent that such entity—

(A) provides common carrier service to any local ex-change carrier study area that does not include either—

(i) any incorporated place of 10,000 inhabitants ormore, or any part thereof, based on the most recently

9 Sec. 3COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934

available population statistics of the Bureau of theCensus; or

(ii) any territory, incorporated or unincorporated,included in an urbanized area, as defined by the Bu-reau of the Census as of August 10, 1993;(B) provides telephone exchange service, including ex-

change 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 ac-cess lines; or

(D) has less than 15 percent of its access lines in com-munities of more than 50,000 on the date of enactment ofthe Telecommunications Act of 1996.(38) SAFETY CONVENTION.—The term ‘‘safety convention’’

means the International Convention for the Safety of Life atSea in force and the regulations referred to therein.

(39)(A) SHIP.—The term ‘‘ship’’ or ‘‘vessel’’ includes everydescription of watercraft or other artificial contrivance, exceptaircraft, used or capable of being used as a means of transpor-tation on water, whether or not it is actually afloat.

(B) A ship shall be considered a passenger ship if it carriesor is licensed or certificated to carry more than twelve pas-sengers.

(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 toman and operate the ship, (2) persons employed to carry on thebusiness of the ship, and (3) persons on board a ship whenthey are carried, either because of the obligation laid upon themaster to carry shipwrecked, distressed, or other persons inlike or similar situations or by reason of any circumstance overwhich neither the master, the owner, nor the charterer (if any)has control.

(E) ‘‘Nuclear ship’’ means a ship provided with a nuclearpowerplant.

(40) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ includes the District of Co-lumbia and the Territorie