
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 47USC153]

 
          TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
 
                 CHAPTER 5--WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION
 
                    SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 153. Definitions

    For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise 
requires--

                            (1) Affiliate

        The term ``affiliate'' means a person that (directly or 
    indirectly) owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under 
    common ownership or control with, another person. For purposes of 
    this paragraph, the term ``own'' means to own an equity interest (or 
    the equivalent thereof) of more than 10 percent.

                         (2) Amateur station

        The term ``amateur station'' means a radio station operated by a 
    duly authorized person interested in radio technique solely with a 
    personal aim and without pecuniary interest.

                       (3) AT&T Consent Decree

        The term ``AT&T Consent Decree'' means the order entered August 
    24, 1982, in the antitrust action styled United States v. Western 
    Electric, Civil Action No. 82-0192, in the United States District 
    Court for the District of Columbia, and includes any judgment or 
    order with respect to such action entered on or after August 24, 
    1982.

                     (4) Bell operating company

        The term ``Bell operating company''--
            (A) means any of the following companies: Bell Telephone 
        Company of Nevada, Illinois Bell Telephone Company, Indiana Bell 
        Telephone Company, Incorporated, Michigan Bell Telephone 
        Company, New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, New Jersey 
        Bell Telephone Company, New York Telephone Company, U S West 
        Communications Company, South Central Bell Telephone Company, 
        Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company, Southwestern Bell 
        Telephone Company, The Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, 
        The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, The Chesapeake and 
        Potomac Telephone Company of Maryland, The Chesapeake and 
        Potomac Telephone Company of Virginia, The Chesapeake and 
        Potomac Telephone Company of West Virginia, The Diamond State 
        Telephone Company, The Ohio Bell Telephone Company, The Pacific 
        Telephone and Telegraph Company, or Wisconsin Telephone Company; 
        and
            (B) includes any successor or assign of any such company 
        that provides wireline telephone exchange service; but
            (C) does not include an affiliate of any such company, other 
        than an affiliate described in subparagraph (A) or (B).

                        (5) Broadcast station

        The term ``broadcast station'', ``broadcasting station'', or 
    ``radio broadcast station'' means a radio station equipment to 
    engage in broadcasting as herein defined.

                          (6) Broadcasting

        The term ``broadcasting'' means the dissemination of radio 
    communications intended to be received by the public, directly or by 
    the intermediary of relay stations.

                          (7) Cable service

        The term ``cable service'' has the meaning given such term in 
    section 522 of this title.

                          (8) Cable system

        The term ``cable system'' has the meaning given such term in 
    section 522 of this title.

                       (9) Chain broadcasting

        The term ``chain broadcasting'' means simultaneous broadcasting 
    of an identical program by two or more connected stations.

                         (10) Common carrier

        The term ``common carrier'' or ``carrier'' means any person 
    engaged as a common carrier for hire, in interstate or foreign 
    communication by wire or radio or interstate or foreign radio 
    transmission of energy, except where reference is made to common 
    carriers not subject to this chapter; but a person engaged in radio 
    broadcasting shall not, insofar as such person is so engaged, be 
    deemed a common carrier.

                       (11) Connecting carrier

        The term ``connecting carrier'' means a carrier described in 
    clauses (2), (3), or (4) of section 152(b) of this title.

                      (12) Construction permit

        The term ``construction permit'' or ``permit for construction'' 
    means that instrument of authorization required by this chapter or 
    the rules and regulations of the Commission made pursuant to this 
    chapter for the construction of a station, or the installation of 
    apparatus, for the transmission of energy, or communications, or 
    signals by radio, by whatever name the instrument may be designated 
    by the Commission.

                          (13) Corporation

        The term ``corporation'' includes any corporation, joint-stock 
    company, or association.

                  (14) Customer premises equipment

        The term ``customer premises equipment'' means equipment 
    employed on the premises of a person (other than a carrier) to 
    originate, route, or terminate telecommunications.

                         (15) Dialing parity

        The term ``dialing parity'' means that a person that is not an 
    affiliate of a local exchange carrier is able to provide 
    telecommunications services in such a manner that customers have the 
    ability to route automatically, without the use of any access code, 
    their telecommunications to the telecommunications services provider 
    of the customer's designation from among 2 or more 
    telecommunications services providers (including such local exchange 
    carrier).

                        (16) Exchange access

        The term ``exchange access'' means the offering of access to 
    telephone exchange services or facilities for the purpose of the 
    origination or termination of telephone toll services.

                     (17) Foreign communication

        The term ``foreign communication'' or ``foreign transmission'' 
    means communication or transmission from or to any place in the 
    United States to or from a foreign country, or between a station in 
    the United States and a mobile station located outside the United 
    States.

                     (18) Great Lakes Agreement

        The term ``Great Lakes Agreement'' means the Agreement for the 
    Promotion of Safety on the Great Lakes by Means of Radio in force 
    and the regulations referred to therein.

                             (19) Harbor

        The term ``harbor'' or ``port'' means any place to which ships 
    may resort for shelter or to load or unload passengers or goods, or 
    to obtain fuel, water, or supplies. This term shall apply to such 
    places whether proclaimed public or not and whether natural or 
    artificial.

                      (20) Information service

        The term ``information service'' means the offering of a 
    capability for generating, acquiring, storing, transforming, 
    processing, retrieving, utilizing, or making available information 
    via telecommunications, and includes electronic publishing, but does 
    not include any use of any such capability for the management, 
    control, or operation of a telecommunications system or the 
    management of a telecommunications service.

                       (21) InterLATA service

        The term ``interLATA service'' means telecommunications between 
    a point located in a local access and transport area and a point 
    located outside such area.

                    (22) Interstate communication

        The term ``interstate communication'' or ``interstate 
    transmission'' means communication or transmission (A) from any 
    State, Territory, or possession of the United States (other than the 
    Canal Zone), or the District of Columbia, to any other State, 
    Territory, or possession of the United States (other than the Canal 
    Zone), or the District of Columbia, (B) from or to the United States 
    to or from the Canal Zone, insofar as such communication or 
    transmission takes place within the United States, or (C) between 
    points within the United States but through a foreign country; but 
    shall not, with respect to the provisions of subchapter II of this 
    chapter (other than section 223 of this title), include wire or 
    radio communication between points in the same State, Territory, or 
    possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, 
    through any place outside thereof, if such communication is 
    regulated by a State commission.

                          (23) Land station

        The term ``land station'' means a station, other than a mobile 
    station, used for radio communication with mobile stations.

                            (24) Licensee

        The term ``licensee'' means the holder of a radio station 
    license granted or continued in force under authority of this 
    chapter.

                (25) Local access and transport area

        The term ``local access and transport area'' or ``LATA'' means a 
    contiguous geographic area--
            (A) established before February 8, 1996, by a Bell operating 
        company such that no exchange area includes points within more 
        than 1 metropolitan statistical area, consolidated metropolitan 
        statistical area, or State, except as expressly permitted under 
        the AT&T Consent Decree; or
            (B) established or modified by a Bell operating company 
        after February 8, 1996, and approved by the Commission.

                     (26) Local exchange carrier

        The term ``local exchange carrier'' means any person that is 
    engaged in the provision of telephone exchange service or exchange 
    access. Such term does not include a person insofar as such person 
    is engaged in the provision of a commercial mobile service under 
    section 332(c) of this title, except to the extent that the 
    Commission finds that such service should be included in the 
    definition of such term.

                         (27) Mobile service

        The term ``mobile service'' means a radio communication service 
    carried on between mobile stations or receivers and land stations, 
    and by mobile stations communicating among themselves, and includes 
    (A) both one-way and two-way radio communication services, (B) a 
    mobile service which provides a regularly interacting group of base, 
    mobile, portable, and associated control and relay stations (whether 
    licensed on an individual, cooperative, or multiple basis) for 
    private one-way or two-way land mobile radio communications by 
    eligible users over designated areas of operation, and (C) any 
    service for which a license is required in a personal communications 
    service established pursuant to the proceeding entitled ``Amendment 
    to the Commission's Rules to Establish New Personal Communications 
    Services'' (GEN Docket No. 90-314; ET Docket No. 92-100), or any 
    successor proceeding.

                         (28) Mobile station

        The term ``mobile station'' means a radio-communication station 
    capable of being moved and which ordinarily does move.

                        (29) Network element

        The term ``network element'' means a facility or equipment used 
    in the provision of a telecommunications service. Such term also 
    includes features, functions, and capabilities that are provided by 
    means of such facility or equipment, including subscriber numbers, 
    databases, signaling systems, and information sufficient for billing 
    and collection or used in the transmission, routing, or other 
    provision of a telecommunications service.

                       (30) Number portability

        The term ``number portability'' means the ability of users of 
    telecommunications services to retain, at the same location, 
    existing telecommunications numbers without impairment of quality, 
    reliability, or convenience when switching from one 
    telecommunications carrier to another.

                            (31) Operator

        (A) The term ``operator'' on a ship of the United States means, 
    for the purpose of parts II and III of subchapter III of this 
    chapter, a person holding a radio operator's license of the proper 
    class as prescribed and issued by the Commission.
        (B) ``Operator'' on a foreign ship means, for the purpose of 
    part II of subchapter III of this chapter, a person holding a 
    certificate as such of the proper class complying with the 
    provisions of the radio regulations annexed to the International 
    Telecommunication Convention in force, or complying with an 
    agreement or treaty between the United States and the country in 
    which the ship is registered.

                             (32) Person

        The term ``person'' includes an individual, partnership, 
    association, joint-stock company, trust, or corporation.

                      (33) Radio communication

        The term ``radio communication'' or ``communication by radio'' 
    means the transmission by radio of writing, signs, signals, 
    pictures, and sounds of all kinds, including all instrumentalities, 
    facilities, apparatus, and services (among other things, the 
    receipt, forwarding, and delivery of communications) incidental to 
    such transmission.

                         (34) Radio officer

        (A) The term ``radio officer'' on a ship of the United States 
    means, for the purpose of part II of subchapter III of this chapter, 
    a person holding at least a first or second class radiotelegraph 
    operator's license as prescribed and issued by the Commission. When 
    such person is employed to operate a radiotelegraph station aboard a 
    ship of the United States, he is also required to be licensed as a 
    ``radio officer'' in accordance with chapter 71 of title 46.
        (B) ``Radio officer'' on a foreign ship means, for the purpose 
    of part II of subchapter III of this chapter, a person holding at 
    least a first or second class radiotelegraph operator's certificate 
    complying with the provisions of the radio regulations annexed to 
    the International Telecommunication Convention in force.

                         (35) Radio station

        The term ``radio station'' or ``station'' means a station 
    equipped to engage in radio communication or radio transmission of 
    energy.

                   (36) Radiotelegraph auto alarm

        The term ``radiotelegraph auto alarm'' on a ship of the United 
    States subject to the provisions of part II of subchapter III of 
    this chapter means an automatic alarm receiving apparatus which 
    responds to the radiotelegraph alarm signal and has been approved by 
    the Commission. ``Radiotelegraph auto alarm'' on a foreign ship 
    means an automatic alarm receiving apparatus which responds to the 
    radiotelegraph alarm signal and has been approved by the government 
    of the country in which the ship is registered: Provided, That the 
    United States and the country in which the ship is registered are 
    parties to the same treaty, convention, or agreement prescribing the 
    requirements for such apparatus. Nothing in this chapter or in any 
    other provision of law shall be construed to require the recognition 
    of a radiotelegraph auto alarm as complying with part II of 
    subchapter III of this chapter, on a foreign ship subject to part II 
    of subchapter III of this chapter, where the country in which the 
    ship is registered and the United States are not parties to the same 
    treaty, convention, or agreement prescribing the requirements for 
    such apparatus.

                    (37) Rural telephone company

        The term ``rural telephone company'' means a local exchange 
    carrier operating entity to the extent that such entity--
            (A) provides common carrier service to any local exchange 
        carrier study area that does not include either--
                (i) any incorporated place of 10,000 inhabitants or 
            more, or any part thereof, based on the most recently 
            available population statistics of the Bureau of the Census; 
            or
                (ii) any territory, incorporated or unincorporated, 
            included in an urbanized area, as defined by the Bureau of 
            the Census as of August 10, 1993;

            (B) provides telephone exchange service, including exchange 
        access, to fewer than 50,000 access lines;
            (C) provides telephone exchange service to any local 
        exchange carrier study area with fewer than 100,000 access 
        lines; or
            (D) has less than 15 percent of its access lines in 
        communities of more than 50,000 on February 8, 1996.

                       (38) Safety convention

        The term ``safety convention'' means the International 
    Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea in force and the 
    regulations referred to therein.

                              (39) Ship

        (A) The term ``ship'' or ``vessel'' includes every description 
    of watercraft or other artificial contrivance, except aircraft, used 
    or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, 
    whether or not it is actually afloat.
        (B) A ship shall be considered a passenger ship if it carries or 
    is licensed or certificated to carry more than twelve passengers.
        (C) A cargo ship means any ship not a passenger ship.
        (D) A passenger is any person carried on board a ship or vessel 
    except (1) the officers and crew actually employed to man and 
    operate the ship, (2) persons employed to carry on the business of 
    the ship, and (3) persons on board a ship when they are carried, 
    either because of the obligation laid upon the master to carry 
    shipwrecked, distressed, or other persons in like or similar 
    situations or by reason of any circumstance over which neither the 
    master, the owner, nor the charterer (if any) has control.
        (E) ``Nuclear ship'' means a ship provided with a nuclear 
    powerplant.

                             (40) State

        The term ``State'' includes the District of Columbia and the 
    Territories and possessions.

                        (41) State commission

        The term ``State commission'' means the commission, board, or 
    official (by whatever name designated) which under the laws of any 
    State has regulatory jurisdiction with respect to intrastate 
    operations of carriers.

                        (42) Station license

        The term ``station license'', ``radio station license'', or 
    ``license'' means that instrument of authorization required by this 
    chapter or the rules and regulations of the Commission made pursuant 
    to this chapter, for the use or operation of apparatus for 
    transmission of energy, or communications, or signals by radio, by 
    whatever name the instrument may be designated by the Commission.

                       (43) Telecommunications

        The term ``telecommunications'' means the transmission, between 
    or among points specified by the user, of information of the user's 
    choosing, without change in the form or content of the information 
    as sent and received.

                   (44) Telecommunications carrier

        The term ``telecommunications carrier'' means any provider of 
    telecommunications services, except that such term does not include 
    aggregators of telecommunications services (as defined in section 
    226 of this title). A telecommunications carrier shall be treated as 
    a common carrier under this chapter only to the extent that it is 
    engaged in providing telecommunications services, except that the 
    Commission shall determine whether the provision of fixed and mobile 
    satellite service shall be treated as common carriage.

                  (45) Telecommunications equipment

        The term ``telecommunications equipment'' means equipment, other 
    than customer premises equipment, used by a carrier to provide 
    telecommunications services, and includes software integral to such 
    equipment (including upgrades).

                   (46) Telecommunications service

        The term ``telecommunications service'' means the offering of 
    telecommunications for a fee directly to the public, or to such 
    classes of users as to be effectively available directly to the 
    public, regardless of the facilities used.

                   (47) Telephone exchange service

        The term ``telephone exchange service'' means (A) service within 
    a telephone exchange, or within a connected system of telephone 
    exchanges within the same exchange area operated to furnish to 
    subscribers intercommunicating service of the character ordinarily 
    furnished by a single exchange, and which is covered by the exchange 
    service charge, or (B) comparable service provided through a system 
    of switches, transmission equipment, or other facilities (or 
    combination thereof) by which a subscriber can originate and 
    terminate a telecommunications service.

                     (48) Telephone toll service

        The term ``telephone toll service'' means telephone service 
    between stations in different exchange areas for which there is made 
    a separate charge not included in contracts with subscribers for 
    exchange service.

                       (49) Television service

        (A) Analog television service

            The term ``analog television service'' means television 
        service provided pursuant to the transmission standards 
        prescribed by the Commission in section 73.682(a) of its 
        regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.682(a)).

        (B) Digital television service

            The term ``digital television service'' means television 
        service provided pursuant to the transmission standards 
        prescribed by the Commission in section 73.682(d) of its 
        regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.682(d)).

                (50) Transmission of energy by radio

        The term ``transmission of energy by radio'' or ``radio 
    transmission of energy'' includes both such transmission and all 
    instrumentalities, facilities, and services incidental to such 
    transmission.

                         (51) United States

        The term ``United States'' means the several States and 
    Territories, the District of Columbia, and the possessions of the 
    United States, but does not include the Canal Zone.

                       (52) Wire communication

        The term ``wire communication'' or ``communication by wire'' 
    means the transmission of writing, signs, signals, pictures, and 
    sounds of all kinds by aid of wire, cable, or other like connection 
    between the points of origin and reception of such transmission, 
    including all instrumentalities, facilities, apparatus, and services 
    (among other things, the receipt, forwarding, and delivery of 
    communications) incidental to such transmission.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, Sec. 3, 48 Stat. 1065; May 20, 1937, 
ch. 229, Sec. 2, 50 Stat. 189; Proc. No. 2695, eff. July 4, 1946, 11 
F.R. 7517, 60 Stat. 1352; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, Sec. 2, 66 Stat. 711; 
Apr. 27, 1954, ch. 175, Secs. 2, 3, 68 Stat. 64; Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, 
Sec. 3, 68 Stat. 707; Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 735, Sec. 1, 68 Stat. 729; Aug. 
6, 1956, ch. 973, Sec. 3, 70 Stat. 1049; Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 1, Aug. 
13, 1965, 79 Stat. 511; Pub. L. 90-299, Sec. 2, May 3, 1968, 82 Stat. 
112; Pub. L. 97-259, title I, Sec. 120(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 
1097; Pub. L. 103-66, title VI, Sec. 6002(b)(2)(B)(ii), Aug. 10, 1993, 
107 Stat. 396; Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 3(a), (c), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 
58, 61; Pub. L. 105-33, title III, Sec. 3001(b), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 
258.)

                       References in Text

    For definition of Canal Zone, referred to in pars. (22) and (51), 
see section 3602(b) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
    Part II of subchapter III of this chapter, referred to in pars. 
(31), (34), and (36), is classified to section 351 et seq. of this 
title. Part III of subchapter III of this chapter, referred to in par. 
(31)(A), is classified to section 381 et seq. of this title.

                          Codification

    In par. (34)(A), ``chapter 71 of title 46'' substituted for ``the 
Act of May 12, 1948 (46 U.S.C. 229a-h)'' on authority of Pub. L. 98-89, 
Sec. 2(b), Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 598, section 1 of which enacted Title 
46, Shipping.
    References to Philippine Islands in pars. (22) and (51) of this 
section omitted on authority of Proc. No. 2695, issued pursuant to 
section 1394 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, which 
proclamation recognized the independence of Philippine Islands as of 
July 4, 1946. Proc. No. 2695 is set out under section 1394 of Title 22.


                               Amendments

    1997--Pars. (49) to (52). Pub. L. 105-33 added par. (49) and 
redesignated former pars. (49) to (51) as (50) to (52), respectively.
    1996--Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 3(a)(2), (c)(4)-(8), redesignated 
subsecs. (a) to (ff) as pars. (1) to (32), respectively, realigned 
margins, inserted headings and words ``The term'', changed 
capitalization, added pars. (33) to (51), reordered pars. in 
alphabetical order based on headings of pars. and renumbered pars. as so 
reordered.
    Subsecs. (e), (n). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 3(c)(1), redesignated 
clauses (1) to (3) as (A) to (C), respectively.
    Subsec. (r). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 3(a)(1), designated existing 
provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B).
    Subsec. (w). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 3(c)(2), redesignated pars. (1) 
to (5) as subpars. (A) to (E), respectively.
    Subsecs. (y), (z). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 3(c)(3), redesignated pars. 
(1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively.
    1993--Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 103-66, Sec. 6002(b)(2)(B)(ii)(I), 
inserted cl. (1) designation and added cls. (2) and (3).
    Subsec. (gg). Pub. L. 103-66, Sec. 6002(b)(2)(B)(ii)(II), struck out 
subsec. (gg) which read as follows: `` `Private land mobile service' 
means a mobile service which provides a regularly interacting group of 
base, mobile, portable, and associated control and relay stations 
(whether licensed on an individual, cooperative, or multiple basis) for 
private one-way or two-way land mobile radio communications by eligible 
users over designated areas of operation.''
    1982--Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 120(b)(2), substituted ``a 
radio'' for ``the radio'', inserted ``or receivers'' after ``between 
mobile stations'', and inserted provision that ``mobile service'' 
includes both one-way and two-way radio communication services.
    Subsec. (gg). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 120(b)(1), added subsec. (gg).
    1968--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 90-299 inserted ``(other than section 223 
of this title)'' after ``subchapter II of this chapter''.
    1965--Subsec. (w)(5). Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 1(1), added par. (5).
    Subsec. (x). Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 1(2), among other changes, 
substituted ``radiotelegraph auto alarm'' for ``auto-alarm'' wherever 
appearing, ``receiving apparatus which responds to the radiotelegraph 
alarm signal'' for ``receiver'' in two places, and ``country in which 
the ship is registered'' for ``country to which the ship belongs'' and 
for ``country of origin''.
    Subsec. (y). Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 1(3), struck out ``qualified 
operator'' from pars. (1) and (2), and substituted ``country in which 
the ship is registered'' for ``country to which the ship belongs''.
    Subsec. (z). Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 1(4)(D), (E), added subsec. (z) 
and redesignated former subsec. (z) as (aa).
    Subsec. (aa). Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 1(4)(A), (D), redesignated former 
subsec. (z) as (aa) and former subsec. (aa) as (bb).
    Subsecs. (bb) to (dd). Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 1(4)(A), redesignated 
former subsecs. (aa) to (cc) as (bb) to (dd) and former subsec. (dd) as 
(ee).
    Subsec. (ee). Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 1(4)(A), (B), redesignated former 
subsec. (dd) as (ee), and repealed former subsec. (ee) which defined 
``existing installation''.
    Subsecs. (ff), (gg). Pub. L. 89-121, Sec. 1(4)(B), (C), redesignated 
subsec. (gg) as (ff) and repealed former subsec. (ff) which defined 
``new installation''.
    1956--Subsec. (y)(2). Act Aug. 6, 1956, substituted ``parts II and 
III of subchapter III of this chapter'' for ``part II of subchapter III 
of this chapter''.
    1954--Subsec. (e). Act Apr. 27, 1954, Sec. 2, obviated any possible 
construction that the Commission is empowered to assert common-carrier 
jurisdiction over point-to-point communication by radio between two 
points within a single State when the only possible claim that such an 
operation constitutes an interstate communication rests on the fact that 
the signal may traverse the territory of another State.
    Subsec. (u). Act Apr. 27, 1954, Sec. 3, inserted reference to 
clauses (3) and (4) of section 152(b) of this title.
    Subsecs. (ee), (ff). Act Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 729, added subsecs. (ee) 
and (ff).
    Subsec. (gg), ``Great Lakes Agreement''. Act Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 735, 
added another subsec. (ee) which for purposes of codification was 
designated subsec. (gg).
    1952--Subsecs. (bb) to (dd). Act July 16, 1952, added subsecs. (bb) 
to (dd).
    1937--Subsecs. (w) to (aa). Act May 20, 1937, added subsecs. (w) to 
(aa).


                    Effective Date of 1956 Amendment

    Amendment by act Aug. 6, 1956, effective Mar. 1, 1957, see section 4 
of act Aug. 6, 1956, set out as an Effective Date note under section 381 
of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1954 Amendment

    Amendment by act Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 735, effective Nov. 13, 1954, 
see section 6 of act Aug. 13, 1954, set out as an Effective Date note 
under section 507 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1952 Amendment

    Section 19 of act July 16, 1952, provided that: ``This Act [enacting 
section 1343 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, amending this 
section and sections 154, 155, 307 to 312, 315, 316, 319, 402, 405, 409, 
and 410 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under 
this section and section 609 of this title] shall take effect on the 
date of its enactment [July 16, 1952], but--
        ``(1) Insofar as the amendments made by this Act to the 
    Communications Act of 1934 [this chapter] provide for procedural 
    changes, requirements imposed by such changes shall not be mandatory 
    as to any agency proceeding (as defined in the Administrative 
    Procedure Act) [see sections 551 et seq. and 701 et seq. of Title 5, 
    Government Organization and Employees] with respect to which 
    hearings have been commenced prior to the date of enactment of this 
    Act [July 16, 1952].
        ``(2) The amendments made by this Act to section 402 of the 
    Communications Act of 1934 [section 402 of this title] (relating to 
    judicial review of orders and decisions of the Commission) shall not 
    apply with respect to any action or appeal which is pending before 
    any court on the date of enactment of this Act [July 16, 1952].''


                           Common Terminology

    Section 3001(a) of title III of Pub. L. 105-33 provided that: 
``Except as otherwise provided in this title [enacting section 337 of 
this title, amending this section and sections 303, 309, and 923 to 925 
of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 254, 
309, and 925 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note 
under section 309 of this title], the terms used in this title have the 
meanings provided in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 153), as amended by this section.''
    Section 3(b) of Pub. L. 104-104 provided that: ``Except as otherwise 
provided in this Act [see Short Title of 1996 Amendment note set out 
under section 609 of this title], the terms used in this Act have the 
meanings provided in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 153), as amended by this section.''


                          Great Lakes Agreement

    The Great Lakes Agreement, referred to in this section, relates to 
the bilateral Agreement for the Promotion of Safety on the Great Lakes 
by Means of Radio, signed at Ottawa, Canada, Feb. 21, 1952; entered into 
force Nov. 13, 1954, 3 UST 4926. A subsequent agreement for Promotion of 
Safety on the Great Lakes by Means of Radio, 1973, was signed at Ottawa, 
Canada, Feb. 26, 1973, and entered into force May 16, 1975, 25 UST 935.


                            Safety Convention

    The United States was a party to the International Convention for 
the Safety of Life at Sea, signed at London May 31, 1929, entered into 
force as to the United States, Nov. 7, 1936, 50 Stat. 1121, 1306. For 
subsequent International Conventions for the Safety of Life at Sea to 
which the United States has been a party, see section 1602 of Title 33, 
Navigation and Navigable Waters, and notes thereunder.


                            Cross References

    Charges or services, see section 202 of this title.
    Contest for purposes of provisions relating to prohibited practices 
in contests of knowledge, skill, or chance, see section 509 of this 
title.
    Employee as used in provisions relating to franks and passes, see 
section 210 of this title.
    Line, see section 214 of this title.
    Listening or viewing public for purposes of provisions relating to 
prohibited practices in contests of knowledge, skill, or chance, see 
section 509 of this title.
    Overcharges as used in limitations of action provisions, see section 
415 of this title.
    Service or other valuable consideration as used in provisions 
relating to disclosure of payments to individuals connected with 
broadcasts, see section 508 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 224, 225, 271, 273, 274, 
332, 541, 556, 557, 741 of this title; title 7 section 924; title 15 
section 78c; title 17 section 1202; title 18 sections 1029, 2510; title 
22 section 1465ff.
