COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED AN ACT To provide for the regulation of interstate and foreign communication by wire or radio, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, TITLE I-GENERAL PROVISIONS PURPOSES OF ACT, CREATION OF FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS SECTION 1. [47 U.S.C. 151] For the purpose of regulating interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio so as to make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges, for the purpose of the national defense, for the purpose of promoting safety of life and property through the use of wire and radio communication,1 and for the purpose of securing a more effective execution of this policy by centralizing authority heretofore granted by law to several agencies and by granting additional authority with respect to interstate and foreign commerce in wire and radio communication, there is hereby created a commission to be known as the "Federal Communications Commission," which shall be constituted as hereinafter provided, and which shall execute and enforce the provisions of this Act.2 APPLICATION OF ACT SEC. 2. [47 U.S.C. 152] (a) The provisions of this act shall apply to all interstate and foreign communication by wire or radio and all interstate and foreign transmission of energy by radio, which originates and/or is received within the United States, and to all persons engaged within the United States in such communication or such transmission of energy by radio, and to the licensing and regulating of all radio stations as hereinafter provided; but it shall 1 The provision relating to the promotion of safety of life and property was added by "An Act to amend the Communications Act of 1934, etc." Public Law 97, 75th Congress, approved and effective May 20, 1937, 50 Stat. 189. 2 Section 202 of Public Law 97-259, 96 Stat. 1087, 1099, Sept. 13, 1982, provides: (a) The National Telecommunications and Information Administration shall conduct a comprehensive study of the long-range international telecommunications and information goals of the United States, the specific international telecommunications and information policies necessary to promote those goals and the strategies that will ensure that the United States achieves them. The Administration shall further conduct a review of the structures, procedures, and mechanisms which are utilized by the United States to develop international telecommunications and information policy. (b) In any study or review conducted pursuant to this section, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shall not make public information regarding usage or traffic patterns which would damage United States commercial interests. Any such study or review shall be limited to international telecommunications policies or to domestic telecommunications issues which directly affect such policies. Applications for Licenses; Conditions in License for Foreign Commu- Action upon Applications; Form of and Conditions Attached to Li censes Limitation on Holding and Transfer of Licenses Special Requirements with Respect to Certain Applications in the Administrative Sanctions... Application of Antitrust Laws; Refusal of Licenses and Permits in Preservation of Competition in Commerce. 316 317 318 Modification by Commission of Construction Permits or Licenses. 319 Construction Permits. 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 331 Designation of Stations Liable to Interfere with Distress Signals. Interference between Government and Commercial Stations False Distress Signals; Rebroadcasting; Studios of Foreign Stations Use of Naval Stations for Commercial Messages Administration of Radio Laws in Territories and Possessions Prohibition against Shipment of Certain Television Receivers. Private Land Mobile Services Part II. Radio Equipment and Radio Operators on Board Ship Radio Officers, Watches, Auto Alarm-Radiotelegraph Equipped 351 352 353 354 Operators, Watches-Radiotelephone Equipped Ships 355 356 357 Technical Requirements-Radiotelegraph Equipped Ships 84 85 87 87 88 90 91 91 91 92 92 93 94 94 381 Part III. Radio Installations on Vessels Carrying Passengers for Hire 382 [Vessels excepted from radiotelephone requirement]. 383 [Exemptions by Commission].. 384 [Authority of Commission; Operations, Installations, and Additional Part IV. Assistance for Public Telecommunications Facilities: Telecommunications, Demonstrations, Corporation for Public Broadcasting Sec. 390 SUBPART A-ASSISTANCE FOR PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES Page 96 391 Authorization of Appropriations 97 392 Grants for Construction and Planning. 97 393 394 Criteria for Approval and Expenditures by Secretary of Commerce 102 103 SUBPART B-TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEMONSTRATIONS (f) Nonprofit and Nonpolitical Nature of the Corporation (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 SUBPART D-GENERAL 397 Definitions.......... 124 398 Federal Interference or Control Prohibited; Equal Employment Op- 127 399 399A 399B Editorializing and Support of Political Candidates Prohibited 129 130 Offering of Certain Services, Facilities, or Products by Public Broad- Proceedings to Enjoin, Set Aside, Annul, or Suspend Orders of the Petition for Enforcement of Order for Payment of Money 137 138 409 General Provisions Relating to Proceedings-Witnesses and Deposi- 138 410 411 Use of Joint Boards-Cooperation with State Commissions. 141 143 412 Documents Filed To Be Public Records-Use in Proceedings 143 |