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FEDERAL · U.S. CODE

Title 47 — Telecommunications

403 sections across 32 chapters. View on OLRC ↗

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Chapter 1TELEGRAPHS
§ 9Subsidized companies required to construct and operate lines
§ 10Equal facilities to connecting lines; discrimination in rates
§ 11Powers of Federal Communications Commission
§ 12Interference with liens of United States
§ 13Violations; punishment; action for damages
§ 14Contracts filed with Federal Communications Commission; reports; failure to make
§ 15Reservation of power to alter, amend, or repeal act; power to fix rates and purchase lines
§ 16Washington-Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System; money transfers; portion of receipts withheld
Chapter 2SUBMARINE CABLES
§ 21Submarine cables; willful injury to; punishment
§ 22Negligent injury to submarine cables; punishment
§ 23Injury to submarine cables in efforts to save life excepted
§ 24Vessels laying cables; signals; avoidance of buoys
§ 25Fishing vessels; duty to keep nets from cables
§ 26Duties of commanders of warships
§ 27Offending vessels to show nationality
§ 28Penalties not to bar suits for damages
§ 29Master of offending vessel punishable
§ 30Definitions
§ 31Summary trials
§ 32Application
§ 33Jurisdiction and venue of actions and offenses
§ 34Licenses for landing or operating cables connecting United States with foreign country; necessity for
§ 35Withholding or revoking of licenses by President; terms and conditions of licenses
§ 36Preventing landing or operating of cables; injunction
§ 37Violations; punishment
§ 38"United States" defined
§ 39Amendment, modification, etc., of rights granted
Chapter SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 151Purposes of chapter; Federal Communications Commission created
§ 152Application of chapter
§ 153Definitions
§ 154Federal Communications Commission
§ 155Commission
§ 155aAuthority of Chief Information Officer
§ 156Authorization of appropriations
§ 157New technologies and services
§ 158Application fees
§ 159Regulatory fees
§ 159aProvisions applicable to application and regulatory fees
§ 160Competition in provision of telecommunications service
§ 161Regulatory reform
§ 162Additional research authorities of the FCC
§ 163Communications marketplace report
§ 702Definitions
Chapter SUBCHAPTER II—COMMON CARRIERS
§ 201Service and charges
§ 202Discriminations and preferences
§ 203Schedules of charges
§ 204Hearings on new charges; suspension pending hearing; refunds; duration of hearing; appeal of order concluding hearing
§ 205Commission authorized to prescribe just and reasonable charges; penalties for violations
§ 206Carriers' liability for damages
§ 207Recovery of damages
§ 208Complaints to Commission; investigations; duration of investigation; appeal of order concluding investigation
§ 209Orders for payment of money
§ 210Franks and passes; free service to governmental agencies in connection with national defense
§ 211Contracts of carriers; filing with Commission
§ 212Interlocking directorates; officials dealing in securities
§ 213Valuation of property of carrier
§ 214Extension of lines or discontinuance of service; certificate of public convenience and necessity
§ 215Examination of transactions relating to furnishing of services, equipment, etc.; reports to Congress
§ 216Receivers and trustees; application of chapter
§ 217Agents' acts and omissions; liability of carrier
§ 218Management of business; inquiries by Commission
§ 219Reports by carriers; contents and requirements generally
§ 220Accounts, records, and memoranda
§ 221Consolidations and mergers of telephone companies
§ 222Privacy of customer information
§ 223Obscene or harassing telephone calls in the District of Columbia or in interstate or foreign communications
§ 223aNotice and removal of nonconsensual intimate visual depictions
§ 224Pole attachments
§ 225Telecommunications services for hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals
§ 226Telephone operator services
§ 227Restrictions on use of telephone equipment
§ 227aConsumer education materials on how to avoid scams that rely upon misleading or inaccurate caller identification information
§ 227bCall authentication
§ 228Regulation of carrier offering of pay-per-call services
§ 229Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act compliance
§ 230Protection for private blocking and screening of offensive material
§ 231Restriction of access by minors to materials commercially distributed by means of World Wide Web that are harmful to minors
§ 251Interconnection
§ 251aState authority over fees
§ 252Procedures for negotiation, arbitration, and approval of agreements
§ 253Removal of barriers to entry
§ 254Universal service
§ 255Access by persons with disabilities
§ 256Coordination for interconnectivity
§ 257Market entry barriers proceeding
§ 258Illegal changes in subscriber carrier selections
§ 259Infrastructure sharing
§ 260Provision of telemessaging service
§ 261Effect on other requirements
§ 262Ensuring the integrity of voice communications
§ 271Bell operating company entry into interLATA services
§ 272Separate affiliate; safeguards
§ 273Manufacturing by Bell operating companies
§ 274Electronic publishing by Bell operating companies
§ 275Alarm monitoring services
§ 276Provision of payphone service
§ 227b–1Access to number resources
§ 227b–2Provision of evidence of certain robocall violations to Attorney General
Chapter SUBCHAPTER III—SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RADIO
§ 301License for radio communication or transmission of energy
§ 302aDevices which interfere with radio reception
§ 303Powers and duties of Commission
§ 303aStandards for children's television programming
§ 303bConsideration of children's television service in broadcast license renewal
§ 303cTelevision program improvement
§ 304Waiver by license of claims to particular frequency or of electromagnetic spectrum
§ 305Government owned stations
§ 306Foreign ships; application of section 301
§ 307Licenses
§ 308Requirements for license
§ 309Application for license
§ 309aReports related to spectrum auctions
§ 310License ownership restrictions
§ 311Requirements as to certain applications in broadcasting service
§ 312Administrative sanctions
§ 312aRevocation of operator's license used in unlawful distribution of controlled substances
§ 313Application of antitrust laws to manufacture, sale, and trade in radio apparatus
§ 314Competition in commerce; preservation
§ 315Candidates for public office
§ 316Modification by Commission of station licenses or construction permits; burden of proof
§ 317Announcement of payment for broadcast
§ 318Transmitting apparatus; operator's license
§ 319Construction permits
§ 320Stations liable to interfere with distress signals; designation and regulation
§ 321Distress signals and communications; equipment on vessels; regulations
§ 322Exchanging radio communications between land and ship stations and from ship to ship
§ 323Interference between Government and commercial stations
§ 324Use of minimum power
§ 325False, fraudulent, or unauthorized transmissions
§ 326Censorship
§ 327Naval stations; use for commercial messages; rates
§ 329Administration of radio laws in Territories and possessions
§ 330Prohibition against shipment of certain television receivers
§ 331Very high frequency stations and AM radio stations
§ 332Mobile services
§ 333Willful or malicious interference
§ 334Limitation on revision of equal employment opportunity regulations
§ 335Direct broadcast satellite service obligations
§ 336Broadcast spectrum flexibility
§ 337Allocation and assignment of new public safety services licenses and commercial licenses
§ 338Carriage of local television signals by satellite carriers
§ 339Carriage of distant television stations by satellite carriers
§ 340Significantly viewed signals permitted to be carried
§ 341Carriage of television signals to certain subscribers
§ 342Process for issuing qualified carrier certification
§ 343Conditions on commercial terrestrial operations
§ 345Protection of survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related crimes
§ 351Ship radio stations and operations
§ 352Exemptions
§ 353Radio equipment and operators
§ 353aOperators and watches on radiotelephone equipped ships
§ 354Technical requirements of equipment on radiotelegraph equipped ships
§ 354aTechnical requirements of equipment on radiotelephone equipped ships
§ 355Survival craft
§ 356Approval of installations by Commission
§ 357Safety information
§ 358Master's control over operations
§ 359Certificates of compliance; issuance, modification, and cancellation
§ 360Station licenses; inspection of equipment by Commission
§ 361Control by Commission; review of decisions
§ 362Forfeitures; recovery
§ 363Automated ship distress and safety systems
§ 381Vessels transporting more than six passengers for hire required to be equipped with radiotelephone
§ 382Vessels excepted from radiotelephone requirement
§ 383Exemptions by Commission
§ 384Authority of Commission; operations, installations, and additional equipment
§ 385Inspections
§ 386Forfeitures
§ 390Declaration of purpose
§ 391Authorization of appropriations
§ 392Grants for construction
§ 393Criteria for approval and expenditures by Secretary
§ 393aLong-range planning for facilities
§ 394Establishment of National Endowment
§ 395Assistance for demonstration projects
§ 396Corporation for Public Broadcasting
§ 397Definitions
§ 398Federal interference or control
§ 399Support of political candidates prohibited
§ 399aUse of business or institutional logograms
§ 399bOffering of certain services, facilities, or products by public broadcast station
Chapter SUBCHAPTER IV—PROCEDURAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
§ 401Enforcement provisions
§ 402Judicial review of Commission's orders and decisions
§ 403Inquiry by Commission on its own motion
§ 404Reports of investigations
§ 405Petition for reconsideration; procedure; disposition; time of filing; additional evidence; time for disposition of petition for reconsideration of order concluding hearing or investigation; appeal of order
§ 406Compelling furnishing of facilities; mandamus; jurisdiction
§ 407Order for payment of money; petition for enforcement; procedure; order of Commission as prima facie evidence; costs; attorneys' fees
§ 408Order not for payment of money; when effective
§ 409Hearings
§ 410Joint boards and commissions
§ 411Joinder of parties
§ 412Documents filed with Commission as public records; prima facie evidence; confidential records
§ 413Designation of agent for service; method of service
§ 414Exclusiveness of chapter
§ 415Limitations of actions
§ 416Orders of Commission
Chapter SUBCHAPTER V—PENAL PROVISIONS; FORFEITURES
§ 501General penalty
§ 502Violation of rules, regulations, etc
§ 503Forfeitures
§ 504Forfeitures
§ 505Venue of trials
§ 507Violation of Great Lakes Agreement
§ 508Disclosure of payments to individuals connected with broadcasts
§ 509Prohibited practices in contests of knowledge, skill, or chance
§ 510Forfeiture of communications devices
§ 511Enhanced penalties for pirate radio broadcasting; enforcement sweeps; reporting
Chapter SUBCHAPTER V–A—CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
§ 521Purposes
§ 522Definitions
§ 531Cable channels for public, educational, or governmental use
§ 532Cable channels for commercial use
§ 533Ownership restrictions
§ 534Carriage of local commercial television signals
§ 535Carriage of noncommercial educational television
§ 536Regulation of carriage agreements
§ 537Sales of cable systems
§ 537aCarriage of certain programming
§ 541General franchise requirements
§ 542Franchise fees
§ 543Regulation of rates
§ 544Regulation of services, facilities, and equipment
§ 544aConsumer electronics equipment compatibility
§ 545Modification of franchise obligations
§ 546Renewal
§ 547Conditions of sale
§ 548Development of competition and diversity in video programming distribution
§ 549Competitive availability of navigation devices
§ 551Protection of subscriber privacy
§ 552Consumer protection and customer service
§ 553Unauthorized reception of cable service
§ 554Equal employment opportunity
§ 555Judicial proceedings
§ 555aLimitation of franchising authority liability
§ 556Coordination of Federal, State, and local authority
§ 557Existing franchises
§ 558Criminal and civil liability
§ 559Obscene programming
§ 560Scrambling of cable channels for nonsubscribers
§ 561Scrambling of sexually explicit adult video service programming
§ 562Requirements relating to charges for covered services
§ 571Regulatory treatment of video programming services
§ 572Prohibition on buy outs
§ 573Establishment of open video systems
Chapter SUBCHAPTER VI—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
§ 601Interstate Commerce Commission and Postmaster General; duties, powers, and functions transferred to Commission
§ 604Effect of transfer
§ 605Unauthorized publication or use of communications
§ 606War powers of President
§ 607Effective date of chapter
§ 608Separability
§ 609Short title
§ 610Telephone service for disabled
§ 611Closed-captioning of public service announcements
§ 612Syndicated exclusivity
§ 613Video programming accessibility
§ 614Telecommunications Development Fund
§ 615Support for universal emergency telephone number
§ 615aService provider parity of protection
§ 615bDefinitions
§ 615cEmergency Access Advisory Committee
§ 616Internet protocol-based relay services
§ 617Access to advanced communications services and equipment
§ 618Enforcement and recordkeeping obligations
§ 619Internet browsers built into telephones used with public mobile services
§ 620Relay services for deaf-blind individuals
§ 621Rulemaking on loud commercials required
§ 622Optional electronic labeling of communications equipment
§ 623Configuration of multi-line telephone systems for direct dialing of 9–1–1
§ 624Disclosure requirements for United States-based foreign media outlets
§ 615a–1Duty to provide 9–1–1 and enhanced 9–1–1 service
Chapter SUBCHAPTER VII—BROADBAND DATA
§ 641Definitions
§ 642Broadband maps
§ 643Enforcement
§ 644Improving data accuracy
§ 645Cost
§ 646Other provisions
Chapter SUBCHAPTER II—FEDERAL COORDINATION, PLANNING, AND REGULATION
§ 721Implementation of policy
Chapter SUBCHAPTER V—INTERNATIONAL MARITIME SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 753Implementation of policy
§ 757Definitions
Chapter SUBCHAPTER VI—COMMUNICATIONS COMPETITION AND PRIVATIZATION
§ 761Federal Communications Commission licensing
§ 761aIncentives; limitation on expansion pending privatization
§ 763General criteria to ensure a pro-competitive privatization of INTELSAT and Inmarsat
§ 763aSpecific criteria for INTELSAT
§ 763cSpace segment capacity of the GMDSS
§ 763dEncouraging market access and privatization
§ 765Access to INTELSAT
§ 765aSignatory role
§ 765bElimination of procurement preferences
§ 765cITU functions
§ 765dTermination of provisions of this chapter
§ 765fSatellite auctions
§ 765gExclusivity arrangements
§ 767Methods to pursue privatization
§ 769Definitions
Chapter SUBCHAPTER I—ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
§ 901Definitions; findings; policy
§ 902Establishment; assigned functions
§ 903Spectrum management activities
§ 904General administrative provisions
§ 906Wireless supply chain innovation and multilateral security
Chapter SUBCHAPTER II—TRANSFER OF AUCTIONABLE FREQUENCIES
§ 921Definitions
§ 922National spectrum allocation planning
§ 923Identification of reallocable frequencies
§ 924Withdrawal or limitation of assignment to Federal Government stations
§ 925Distribution of frequencies by Commission
§ 926Authority to recover reassigned frequencies
§ 927Existing allocation and transfer authority retained
§ 928Spectrum Relocation Fund
§ 929National security and other sensitive information
Chapter SUBCHAPTER III—MISCELLANEOUS
§ 941Child-friendly second-level Internet domain
§ 942Coordination of 9–1–1, E9–1–1, and Next Generation 9–1–1 implementation
Chapter SUBCHAPTER I—INTERCEPTION OF DIGITAL AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
§ 1001Definitions
§ 1002Assistance capability requirements
§ 1003Notices of capacity requirements
§ 1004Systems security and integrity
§ 1005Cooperation of equipment manufacturers and providers of telecommunications support services
§ 1006Technical requirements and standards; extension of compliance date
§ 1007Enforcement orders
§ 1008Payment of costs of telecommunications carriers to comply with capability requirements
§ 1009Authorization of appropriations
§ 1010Reports
Chapter SUBCHAPTER II—TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER COMPLIANCE PAYMENTS
§ 1021Department of Justice Telecommunications Carrier Compliance Fund
Chapter 11COMMERCIAL MOBILE SERVICE ALERTS
§ 1201Federal Communications Commission duties
§ 1202Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee
§ 1203Research and development
§ 1204Grant program for remote community alert systems
§ 1205Funding
§ 1206Reliable emergency alert distribution improvement
Chapter 12BROADBAND
§ 1301Findings
§ 1302Advanced telecommunications incentives
§ 1303Improving Federal data on broadband
§ 1304Encouraging State initiatives to improve broadband
§ 1305Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
§ 1306Connecting minority communities
§ 1307Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth
§ 1308Interagency agreement
Chapter 13PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM AUCTIONS
§ 1401Definitions
§ 1402Rule of construction
§ 1403Enforcement
§ 1404National security restrictions on use of funds and auction participation
Chapter SUBCHAPTER I—REALLOCATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY SPECTRUM
§ 1411Reallocation of D block to public safety
§ 1412Flexible use of narrowband spectrum
Chapter SUBCHAPTER II—GOVERNANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY SPECTRUM
§ 1421Single public safety wireless network licensee
§ 1422Public safety broadband network
§ 1423Public safety Interoperability Board
§ 1424Establishment of the First Responder Network Authority
§ 1425Advisory committees of the First Responder Network Authority
§ 1426Powers, duties, and responsibilities of the First Responder Network Authority
§ 1427Initial funding for the First Responder Network Authority
§ 1428Permanent self-funding; duty to assess and collect fees for network use
§ 1429Audit and report
§ 1430Annual report to Congress
§ 1431Public safety roaming and priority access
§ 1432Prohibition on direct offering of commercial telecommunications service directly to consumers
§ 1433Provision of technical assistance
Chapter SUBCHAPTER III—PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITMENTS
§ 1441State and Local Implementation Fund
§ 1442State and local implementation
§ 1443Public safety wireless communications research and development
Chapter SUBCHAPTER IV—SPECTRUM AUCTION AUTHORITY
§ 1451Deadlines for auction of certain spectrum
§ 1452Special requirements for incentive auction of broadcast TV spectrum
§ 1453Unlicensed use in the 5 GHZ band
§ 1454Guard bands and unlicensed use
§ 1455Wireless facilities deployment
§ 1456System certification
§ 1457Public Safety Trust Fund
Chapter SUBCHAPTER V—NEXT GENERATION 9–1–1 ADVANCEMENT ACT OF 2012
§ 1471Definitions
§ 1472Parity of protection for provision or use of Next Generation 9–1–1 services
§ 1473Commission proceeding on autodialing
Chapter 14MAKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BROADBAND INVESTMENT AND LIMITING EXCESSIVE AND NEEDLESS OBSTACLES TO WIRELESS
§ 1501Definitions
§ 1502Identifying 255 megahertz
§ 1503Millimeter wave spectrum
§ 1504Broadband infrastructure deployment
§ 1505Unlicensed services in guard bands
§ 1506Rulemaking related to partitioning or disaggregating licenses
§ 1507Unlicensed spectrum policy
§ 1508National plan for unlicensed spectrum
§ 1509Spectrum Challenge Prize
§ 1510Wireless telecommunications tax and fee collection fairness
§ 1511Rules of construction
§ 1512Relationship to Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012
§ 1513No additional funds authorized
Chapter 15SECURE AND TRUSTED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
§ 1601Determination of communications equipment or services posing national security risks
§ 1602Prohibition on use of certain Federal subsidies
§ 1603Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program
§ 1604Reports on covered communications equipment or services
§ 1605Hold harmless
§ 1606Enforcement
§ 1607NTIA program for preventing future vulnerabilities
§ 1608Definitions
§ 1609Severability
Chapter SUBCHAPTER I—BROADBAND GRANTS FOR STATES, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO, AND TERRITORIES
§ 1701Findings
§ 1702Grants for broadband deployment
§ 1703Broadband DATA maps
§ 1704Broadband Deployment Locations Map
§ 1705Grants for broadband connectivity
Chapter SUBCHAPTER II—DIGITAL EQUITY ACT OF 2021
§ 1721Definitions
§ 1722Sense of Congress
§ 1723State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program
§ 1724Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program
§ 1725Policy research, data collection, analysis and modeling, evaluation, and dissemination
§ 1726General provisions
Chapter SUBCHAPTER III—ENABLING MIDDLE MILE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE
§ 1741Enabling middle mile broadband infrastructure
Chapter SUBCHAPTER IV—BROADBAND AFFORDABILITY
§ 1751Definitions
§ 1752Benefit for broadband service
§ 1753Adoption of consumer broadband labels
§ 1754Digital discrimination