
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: 49USC41903]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                     SUBTITLE VII--AVIATION PROGRAMS
 
                     PART A--AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY
 
                     subpart ii--economic regulation
 
                   CHAPTER 419--TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL
 
Sec. 41903. Duty to provide certain transportation of mail

    (a) Air Carriers.--Subject to subsection (b) of this section, an air 
carrier authorized by its certificate to transport mail by aircraft in 
foreign air transportation or between places in Alaska shall--
        (1) provide facilities and services necessary and adequate to 
    provide that transportation; and
        (2) transport mail between the places authorized in the 
    certificate for transportation of mail when required, and under 
    regulations prescribed, by the United States Postal Service.

    (b) Maximum Mail Load.--The Secretary of Transportation may 
prescribe the maximum mail load for a schedule or for an aircraft or 
type of aircraft for the transportation of mail by aircraft in foreign 
air transportation or between places in Alaska. If the Postal Service 
tenders to an air carrier mail exceeding the maximum load for 
transportation by the carrier under a schedule designated or required to 
be established for the transportation of mail under section 41902(c) of 
this title, the carrier, as nearly in accordance with the schedule as 
the Secretary decides is possible, shall--
        (1) provide facilities sufficient to transport the mail to the 
    extent the Secretary decides the carrier reasonably is able to do 
    so; and
        (2) transport that mail.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Secs. 1(e), 4(k)(1), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1154, 
1370; Pub. L. 106-31, title VI, Sec. 6003, May 21, 1999, 113 Stat. 113.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
                                           Pub. L. 103-272, Sec.  1(e)
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---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
41903(a)..............................  49 App.:1371(l).                 Aug. 2
3, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, Secs.
                                                                          401(l
), 405(c), (d), 72 Stat. 757,
                                                                          761.
                                        49 App.:1375(d).
                                        49 App.:1551(a)(4)(A) (related   Aug. 2
3, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, 72 Stat.
                                         to 49 App.:1371(l), 1375(d)).    731, 
Sec.  1601(a)(4)(A) (related to
                                                                          Secs.
  401(l), 405(c), (d)); added
                                                                          Oct. 
4, 1984, Pub. L. 98-443, Sec.
                                                                          3(c),
 98 Stat. 1703.
41903(b)..............................  49 App.:1375(c).
                                        49 App.:1551(a)(4)(A) (related
                                         to 49 App.:1375(c)).
                                        49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E).           Aug. 2
3, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, 72 Stat.
                                                                          731, 
Sec.  1601(b)(1)(E); added Oct.
                                                                          4, 19
84, Pub. L. 98-443, Sec.  3(e),
                                                                          98 St
at. 1704.
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---------------------------------

    In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words ``Subject to 
subsection (b) of this section'' are added for clarity because 
subsection (b) limits the effect of this section. The words ``transport 
mail by aircraft in foreign air transportation or between places in 
Alaska'' are substituted for ``the transportation of mail'' in 49 
App.:1371(l) and ``the transportation of mail by aircraft'' in 49 
App.:1375(d) because 49 App.:1551(a)(4)(A) provides that 49 App.:1371(l) 
and 1375(d) no longer apply to interstate or overseas air transportation 
(except transportation of mail between 2 places in Alaska). Clause (2) 
is substituted for ``shall transport mail whenever required by the 
United States Postal Service'' in 49 App.:1371(l) and the text of 49 
App.:1375(d) for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words. The text of 
49 App.:1371(l) (last sentence) is omitted as surplus because section 
41901 of the revised title specifies how the rates of compensation are 
determined.
    In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words ``transportation of 
mail by aircraft in foreign air transportation or between places in 
Alaska'' are added because 49 App.:1551(a)(4)(A) provides that 49 
App.:1375(c) no longer applies to interstate or overseas air 
transportation of mail (except transportation of mail between 2 places 
in Alaska).

                                         Pub. L. 103-272, Sec.  4(k)(1)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
41903.................................  49 App.:1551(a)(8).              Aug. 2
3, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, 72 Stat.
                                                                          731, 
Sec.  1601(a)(8); added Oct. 4,
                                                                          1984,
 Pub. L. 98-443, Sec.  3(c), 98
                                                                          Stat.
 1704; Sept. 30, 1988, Pub. L.
                                                                          100-4
57, Sec.  346 (related to Sec.
                                                                          1601(
a)(8) of Federal Aviation Act of
                                                                          1958)
, 102 Stat. 2155.
                                        49 App.:1551(b)(3).              Aug. 2
3, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, 72 Stat.
                                                                          731, 
Sec.  1601(b)(3); added Oct. 4,
                                                                          1984,
 Pub. L. 98-443, Sec.  3(f), 98
                                                                          Stat.
 1704; Sept. 30, 1988, Pub. L.
                                                                          100-4
57, Sec.  346 (related to Sec.
                                                                          1601(
b)(3) of Federal Aviation Act of
                                                                          1958)
, 102 Stat. 2155.
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---------------------------------

    Section 4(k) reflects amendments to the restatement required by 
section 1601(a)(8) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (Public Law 85-
726, 72 Stat. 731), as added by section 3(c) of the Civil Aeronautics 
Board Sunset Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-443, 98 Stat. 1704), and section 
1601(b)(3) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (Public Law 85-726, 72 
Stat. 731), as added by section 3(f) of the Civil Aeronautics Board 
Sunset Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-443, 98 Stat. 1704). Section 
1601(a)(8) provides that the authority under 49 App.:1371(l) and (m) and 
1375(b)-(d) as those sections relate to transportation of mail by 
aircraft between places in Alaska (restated in sections 41107 and 41901-
41903 of the revised title) ceases on January 1, 1999. Section 
1601(b)(3) transfers the authority for prescribing rates for 
transportation of mail between places in Alaska from the Secretary of 
Transportation to the Postal Service effective January 1, 1999.


                               Amendments

    1999--Pub. L. 106-31 repealed Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 4(k). See 1994 
Amendment note below.
    1994--Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 4(k)(1), which directed the amendment of 
this section by substituting ``foreign air transportation'' for 
``foreign air transportation or between places in Alaska'' in 
introductory provisions of subsecs. (a) and (b), effective Jan. 1, 1999, 
was repealed by Pub. L. 106-31, Sec. 6003, effective Dec. 31, 1998.


                    Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

    Pub. L. 106-31, title VI, Sec. 6003, May 21, 1999, 113 Stat. 113, 
provided that the amendment made by section 6003 is effective Dec. 31, 
1998.
