
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: 47USC215]

 
          TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
 
                 CHAPTER 5--WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION
 
                     SUBCHAPTER II--COMMON CARRIERS
 
                    Part I--Common Carrier Regulation
 
Sec. 215. Examination of transactions relating to furnishing of 
        services, equipment, etc.; reports to Congress
        

(a) Access to records and documents

    The Commission shall examine into transactions entered into by any 
common carrier which relate to the furnishing of equipment, supplies, 
research, services, finances, credit, or personnel to such carrier and/
or which may affect the charges made or to be made and/or the services 
rendered or to be rendered by such carrier, in wire or radio 
communication subject to this chapter, and shall report to the Congress 
whether any such transactions have affected or are likely to affect 
adversely the ability of the carrier to render adequate service to the 
public, or may result in any undue or unreasonable increase in charges 
or in the maintenance of undue or unreasonable charges for such service; 
and in order to fully examine into such transactions the Commission 
shall have access to and the right of inspection and examination of all 
accounts, records, and memoranda, including all documents, papers, and 
correspondence now or hereafter existing, of persons furnishing such 
equipment, supplies, research, services, finances, credit, or personnel. 
The Commission shall include in its report its recommendations for 
necessary legislation in connection with such transactions, and shall 
report specifically whether in its opinion legislation should be enacted 
(1) authorizing the Commission to declare any such transactions void or 
to permit such transactions to be carried out subject to such 
modification of their terms and conditions as the Commission shall deem 
desirable in the public interest; and/or (2) subjecting such 
transactions to the approval of the Commission where the person 
furnishing or seeking to furnish the equipment, supplies, research, 
services, finances, credit, or personnel is a person directly or 
indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect 
common control with, such carrier; and/or (3) authorizing the Commission 
to require that all or any transactions of carriers involving the 
furnishing of equipment, supplies, research, services, finances, credit, 
or personnel to such carrier be upon competitive bids on such terms and 
conditions and subject to such regulations as it shall prescribe as 
necessary in the public interest.

(b) Wire telephone and telegraph services

    The Commission shall investigate the methods by which and the extent 
to which wire telephone companies are furnishing wire telegraph service 
and wire telegraph companies are furnishing wire telephone service, and 
shall report its findings to Congress, together with its recommendations 
as to whether additional legislation on this subject is desirable.

(c) Exclusive dealing contracts

    The Commission shall examine all contracts of common carriers 
subject to this chapter which prevent the other party thereto from 
dealing with another common carrier subject to this chapter, and shall 
report its findings to Congress, together with its recommendations as to 
whether additional legislation on this subject is desirable.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, Sec. 215, 48 Stat. 1076.)
