For changes after the closing date of this publication (December 31, 2002) to provisions of law in this publication, see the United States Code Classification Tables published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives at http://uscode.house.gov/uscct.htm.

(III)

Table of Contents

COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934

Title I-General Provisions

Page

Purposes of Act; Creation of Federal Communications Commission

Application of Act

3

3

Definitions

Provisions Relating to the Commission

Organization and Functioning of the Commission

Authorization of Appropriations

New Technologies and Services

4

11

18

20

21

Application Fees

21

Regulatory Fees

29

10

Competition in Provision of Telecommunications Service

11

Regulatory Reform

34

Hearing as to Lawfulness of New Charges; Suspension

Commission Authorized To Prescribe Just and Reasonable Charges

35

36

37

Transactions Relating to Services, Equipment and So Forth

Application of Act to Receivers and Trustees

39

39

41

44

45

Accounts, Records, and Memoranda; Depreciation Charges

Special Provisions Relating to Telephone Companies

Obscene or Harassing Telephone Calls in the District of Columbia or

in Interstate or Foreign Communications

Telecommunications Services for Hearing-Impaired and Speech-

Impaired Individuals

Restrictions on the Use of Telephone Equipment

Regulation of Carrier Offering of Pay-Per-Call Services

Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act Compliance

Protection for Private Blocking and Screening of Offensive Material

Restriction of Access by Minors to Materials Commercially Distrib-

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

49

49

52

56

59

67

74

81

82

84

Sec.

Page

251

Interconnection

252

253

Removal of Barriers to Entry

Part II Development of Competitive Markets

Procedures for Negotiation, Arbitration, and Approval of Agreements 93

98

98

113

113

114

115

115

116

117

License for Radio Communication or Transmission of Energy

Devices Which Interfere with Radio Reception

139

139

Action upon Applications; Form of and Conditions Attached to

Licenses

Applications for Licenses; Conditions in License for Foreign

Communication

148

149

310

Limitation on Holding and Transfer of Licenses

164

311

Special Requirements with Respect to Certain Applications in the

Broadcasting Service

165

312

Administrative Sanctions

167

313

Application of Antitrust Laws; Refusal of Licenses and Permits in

Certain Cases

Modification by Commission of Construction Permits or Licenses

Announcement with Respect to Certain Matter Broadcast

Operation of Transmitting Apparatus

172

173

174

319

Construction Permits

174

320

321

Designation of Stations Liable to Interfere with Distress Signals

Distress Signals and Communications

175

175

322

Intercommunication in Mobile Service

175

323

324

Interference between Government and Commercial Stations

Use of Minimum Power

176

176

325

326

False Distress Signals; Rebroadcasting; Studios of Foreign Stations

Censorship; Indecent Language

Administration of Radio Laws in Territories and Possessions

Prohibition against Shipment of Certain Television Receivers

Very High Frequency Stations and AM Radio Stations

184

184

185

Broadcast Spectrum Flexibility

337

338

339

Allocation and Assignment of New Public Safety Services Licenses

and Commercial Licenses

Carriage of Local Television Signals by Satellite Carriers

Carriage of Distant Television Stations by Satellite Carriers

Page

193

194

203

205

207

351

352

Part II. Radio Equipment and Radio Operators on Board Ship

Ship Radio Stations and Operations

210

Exceptions

211

353

Radio Officers, Watches, Auto Alarm-Radiotelegraph Equipped

Ships

212

354

355

356

357

358

359

Operators, Watches-Radiotelephone Equipped Ships

Technical Requirements-Radiotelegraph Equipped Ships

Technical Requirements-Radiotelephone Equipped Ships

Survival Craft

360

Authority of Master

216

361

Certificates

216

Part III. Radio Installations on Vessels Carrying Passengers for Hire

Vessels Transporting More Than Six Passengers for Hire Required

To Be Equipped With Radio Telephone

Authority of Commission; Operations, Installations, and Additional

Equipment

Part IV. Assistance for Public Telecommunications Facilities; Tele-

communications Demonstrations; Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Criteria for Approval and Expenditures by Secretary of Commerce

Long-Range Planning for Facilities

222

....

223

(f) Nonprofit and Nonpolitical Nature of the Corporation