
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: 47USC203]

 
          TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
 
                 CHAPTER 5--WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION
 
                     SUBCHAPTER II--COMMON CARRIERS
 
                    Part I--Common Carrier Regulation
 
Sec. 203. Schedules of charges


(a) Filing; public display

    Every common carrier, except connecting carriers, shall, within such 
reasonable time as the Commission shall designate, file with the 
Commission and print and keep open for public inspection schedules 
showing all charges for itself and its connecting carriers for 
interstate and foreign wire or radio communication between the different 
points on its own system, and between points on its own system and 
points on the system of its connecting carriers or points on the system 
of any other carrier subject to this chapter when a through route has 
been established, whether such charges are joint or separate, and 
showing the classifications, practices, and regulations affecting such 
charges. Such schedules shall contain such other information, and be 
printed in such form, and be posted and kept open for public inspection 
in such places, as the Commission may by regulation require, and each 
such schedule shall give notice of its effective date; and such common 
carrier shall furnish such schedules to each of its connecting carriers, 
and such connecting carriers shall keep such schedules open for 
inspection in such public places as the Commission may require.

(b) Changes in schedule; discretion of Commission to modify requirements

    (1) No change shall be made in the charges, classifications, 
regulations, or practices which have been so filed and published except 
after one hundred and twenty days notice to the Commission and to the 
public, which shall be published in such form and contain such 
information as the Commission may by regulations prescribe.
    (2) The Commission may, in its discretion and for good cause shown, 
modify any requirement made by or under the authority of this section 
either in particular instances or by general order applicable to special 
circumstances or conditions except that the Commission may not require 
the notice period specified in paragraph (1) to be more than one hundred 
and twenty days.

(c) Overcharges and rebates

    No carrier, unless otherwise provided by or under authority of this 
chapter, shall engage or participate in such communication unless 
schedules have been filed and published in accordance with the 
provisions of this chapter and with the regulations made thereunder; and 
no carrier shall (1) charge, demand, collect, or receive a greater or 
less or different compensation for such communication, or for any 
service in connection therewith, between the points named in any such 
schedule than the charges specified in the schedule then in effect, or 
(2) refund or remit by any means or device any portion of the charges so 
specified, or (3) extend to any person any privileges or facilities in 
such communication, or employ or enforce any classifications, 
regulations, or practices affecting such charges, except as specified in 
such schedule.

(d) Rejection or refusal

    The Commission may reject and refuse to file any schedule entered 
for filing which does not provide and give lawful notice of its 
effective date. Any schedule so rejected by the Commission shall be void 
and its use shall be unlawful.

(e) Penalty for violations

    In case of failure or refusal on the part of any carrier to comply 
with the provisions of this section or of any regulation or order made 
by the Commission thereunder, such carrier shall forfeit to the United 
States the sum of $6,000 for each such offense, and $300 for each and 
every day of the continuance of such offense.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, Sec. 203, 48 Stat. 1070; Pub. L. 94-
376, Sec. 1, Aug. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1080; Pub. L. 101-239, title III, 
Sec. 3002(b), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2131; Pub. L. 101-396, Sec. 7, 
Sept. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 850.)


                               Amendments

    1990--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101-396 substituted ``one hundred and 
twenty days'' for ``ninety days'' in pars. (1) and (2).
    1989--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101-239 substituted ``$6,000'' for 
``$500'' and ``$300'' for ``$25''.
    1976--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94-376 designated existing provisions as 
par. (1), substituted ``after ninety days notice'' for ``after thirty 
days' notice'', and struck out provision that the Commission may, in its 
discretion and for good cause shown, modify the requirements made by or 
under authority of this section in particular instances or by a general 
order applicable to special circumstances or conditions, and added par. 
(2).

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 152 of this title.
