1. U.S. Code
  2. title 47
  3. chapter 5
  4. subchapter III
  5. part I
  6. § 320

Collapse to view only § 320. Stations liable to interfere with distress signals; designation and regulation

§ 301. License for radio communication or transmission of energy

It is the purpose of this chapter, among other things, to maintain the control of the United States over all the channels of radio transmission; and to provide for the use of such channels, but not the ownership thereof, by persons for limited periods of time, under licenses granted by Federal authority, and no such license shall be construed to create any right, beyond the terms, conditions, and periods of the license. No person shall use or operate any apparatus for the transmission of energy or communications or signals by radio (a) from one place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States or in the District of Columbia to another place in the same State, Territory, possession, or District; or (b) from any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or from the District of Columbia to any other State, Territory, or possession of the United States; or (c) from any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, to any place in any foreign country or to any vessel; or (d) within any State when the effects of such use extend beyond the borders of said State, or when interference is caused by such use or operation with the transmission of such energy, communications, or signals from within said State to any place beyond its borders, or from any place beyond its borders to any place within said State, or with the transmission or reception of such energy, communications, or signals from and/or to places beyond the borders of said State; or (e) upon any vessel or aircraft of the United States (except as provided in section 303(t) of this title); or (f) upon any other mobile stations within the jurisdiction of the United States, except under and in accordance with this chapter and with a license in that behalf granted under the provisions of this chapter.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 301, 48 Stat. 1081; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, §§ 107, 111(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1091, 1093.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 301

§ 302. Repealed. June 5, 1936, ch. 511, § 1, 49 Stat. 1475

CITE AS: 47 USC 302

§ 302a. Devices which interfere with radio reception
(a) Regulations
(b) Restrictions
(c) Exceptions
(d) Cellular telecommunications receivers
(1) Within 180 days after October 28, 1992, the Commission shall prescribe and make effective regulations denying equipment authorization (under part 15 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any other part of that title) for any scanning receiver that is capable of—
(A) receiving transmissions in the frequencies allocated to the domestic cellular radio telecommunications service,
(B) readily being altered by the user to receive transmissions in such frequencies, or
(C) being equipped with decoders that convert digital cellular transmissions to analog voice audio.
(2) Beginning 1 year after the effective date of the regulations adopted pursuant to paragraph (1), no receiver having the capabilities described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), as such capabilities are defined in such regulations, shall be manufactured in the United States or imported for use in the United States.
(e) Delegation of equipment testing and certification to private laboratoriesThe Commission may—
(1) authorize the use of private organizations for testing and certifying the compliance of devices or home electronic equipment and systems with regulations promulgated under this section;
(2) accept as prima facie evidence of such compliance the certification by any such organization; and
(3) establish such qualifications and standards as it deems appropriate for such private organizations, testing, and certification.
(f) State and local enforcement of FCC regulations on use of citizens band radio equipment
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a State or local government may enact a statute or ordinance that prohibits a violation of the following regulations of the Commission under this section:
(A) A regulation that prohibits a use of citizens band radio equipment not authorized by the Commission.
(B) A regulation that prohibits the unauthorized operation of citizens band radio equipment on a frequency between 24 MHz and 35 MHz.
(2) A station that is licensed by the Commission pursuant to section 301 of this title in any radio service for the operation at issue shall not be subject to action by a State or local government under this subsection. A State or local government statute or ordinance enacted for purposes of this subsection shall identify the exemption available under this paragraph.
(3) The Commission shall, to the extent practicable, provide technical guidance to State and local governments regarding the detection and determination of violations of the regulations specified in paragraph (1).
(4)
(A) In addition to any other remedy authorized by law, a person affected by the decision of a State or local government agency enforcing a statute or ordinance under paragraph (1) may submit to the Commission an appeal of the decision on the grounds that the State or local government, as the case may be, enacted a statute or ordinance outside the authority provided in this subsection.
(B) A person shall submit an appeal on a decision of a State or local government agency to the Commission under this paragraph, if at all, not later than 30 days after the date on which the decision by the State or local government agency becomes final, but prior to seeking judicial review of such decision.
(C) The Commission shall make a determination on an appeal submitted under subparagraph (B) not later than 180 days after its submittal.
(D) If the Commission determines under subparagraph (C) that a State or local government agency has acted outside its authority in enforcing a statute or ordinance, the Commission shall preempt the decision enforcing the statute or ordinance.
(5) The enforcement of statute or ordinance that prohibits a violation of a regulation by a State or local government under paragraph (1) in a particular case shall not preclude the Commission from enforcing the regulation in that case concurrently.
(6) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to diminish or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Commission under this section over devices capable of interfering with radio communications.
(7) The enforcement of a statute or ordinance by a State or local government under paragraph (1) with regard to citizens band radio equipment on board a “commercial motor vehicle”, as defined in section 31101 of title 49, shall require probable cause to find that the commercial motor vehicle or the individual operating the vehicle is in violation of the regulations described in paragraph (1).
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 302, as added Pub. L. 90–379, July 5, 1968, 82 Stat. 290; amended Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 108(a), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1091; Pub. L. 102–556, title IV, § 403(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4195; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(f), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 131; Pub. L. 106–521, § 1, Nov. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 2438.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 302a

§ 303. Powers and duties of CommissionExcept as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Commission from time to time, as public convenience, interest, or necessity requires, shall—
(a) Classify radio stations;
(b) Prescribe the nature of the service to be rendered by each class of licensed stations and each station within any class;
(c) Assign bands of frequencies to the various classes of stations, and assign frequencies for each individual station and determine the power which each station shall use and the time during which it may operate;
(d) Determine the location of classes of stations or individual stations;
(e) Regulate the kind of apparatus to be used with respect to its external effects and the purity and sharpness of the emissions from each station and from the apparatus therein;
(f) Make such regulations not inconsistent with law as it may deem necessary to prevent interference between stations and to carry out the provisions of this chapter: Provided, however, That changes in the frequencies, authorized power, or in the times of operation of any station, shall not be made without the consent of the station licensee unless the Commission shall determine that such changes will promote public convenience or interest or will serve public necessity, or the provisions of this chapter will be more fully complied with;
(g) Study new uses for radio, provide for experimental uses of frequencies, and generally encourage the larger and more effective use of radio in the public interest;
(h) Have authority to establish areas or zones to be served by any station;
(i) Have authority to make special regulations applicable to radio stations engaged in chain broadcasting;
(j) Have authority to make general rules and regulations requiring stations to keep such records of programs, transmissions of energy, communications, or signals as it may deem desirable;
(k) Have authority to exclude from the requirements of any regulations in whole or in part any radio station upon railroad rolling stock, or to modify such regulations in its discretion;
(l)
(1) Have authority to prescribe the qualifications of station operators, to classify them according to the duties to be performed, to fix the forms of such licenses, and to issue them to persons who are found to be qualified by the Commission and who otherwise are legally eligible for employment in the United States, except that such requirement relating to eligibility for employment in the United States shall not apply in the case of licenses issued by the Commission to (A) persons holding United States pilot certificates; or (B) persons holding foreign aircraft pilot certificates which are valid in the United States, if the foreign government involved has entered into a reciprocal agreement under which such foreign government does not impose any similar requirement relating to eligibility for employment upon citizens of the United States;
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, an individual to whom a radio station is licensed under the provisions of this chapter may be issued an operator’s license to operate that station.
(3) In addition to amateur operator licenses which the Commission may issue to aliens pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection, and notwithstanding section 301 of this title and paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commission may issue authorizations, under such conditions and terms as it may prescribe, to permit an alien licensed by his government as an amateur radio operator to operate his amateur radio station licensed by his government in the United States, its possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico provided there is in effect a multilateral or bilateral agreement, to which the United States and the alien’s government are parties, for such operation on a reciprocal basis by United States amateur radio operators. Other provisions of this chapter and of subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of title 5 shall not be applicable to any request or application for or modification, suspension, or cancellation of any such authorization.
(m)
(1) Have authority to suspend the license of any operator upon proof sufficient to satisfy the Commission that the licensee—
(A) has violated, or caused, aided, or abetted the violation of, any provision of any Act, treaty, or convention binding on the United States, which the Commission is authorized to administer, or any regulation made by the Commission under any such Act, treaty, or convention; or
(B) has failed to carry out a lawful order of the master or person lawfully in charge of the ship or aircraft on which he is employed; or
(C) has willfully damaged or permitted radio apparatus or installations to be damaged; or
(D) has transmitted superfluous radio communications or signals or communications containing profane or obscene words, language, or meaning, or has knowingly transmitted—
(1) false or deceptive signals or communications, or
(2) a call signal or letter which has not been assigned by proper authority to the station he is operating; or
(E) has willfully or maliciously interfered with any other radio communications or signals; or
(F) has obtained or attempted to obtain, or has assisted another to obtain or attempt to obtain, an operator’s license by fraudulent means.
(2) No order of suspension of any operator’s license shall take effect until fifteen days’ notice in writing thereof, stating the cause for the proposed suspension, has been given to the operator licensee who may make written application to the Commission at any time within said fifteen days for a hearing upon such order. The notice to the operator licensee shall not be effective until actually received by him, and from that time he shall have fifteen days in which to mail the said application. In the event that physical conditions prevent mailing of the application at the expiration of the fifteen-day period, the application shall then be mailed as soon as possible thereafter, accompanied by a satisfactory explanation of the delay. Upon receipt by the Commission of such application for hearing, said order of suspension shall be held in abeyance until the conclusion of the hearing which shall be conducted under such rules as the Commission may prescribe. Upon the conclusion of said hearing the Commission may affirm, modify, or revoke said order of suspension.
(n) Have authority to inspect all radio installations associated with stations required to be licensed by any Act, or which the Commission by rule has authorized to operate without a license under section 307(e)(1) of this title, or which are subject to the provisions of any Act, treaty, or convention binding on the United States, to ascertain whether in construction, installation, and operation they conform to the requirements of the rules and regulations of the Commission, the provisions of any Act, the terms of any treaty or convention binding on the United States, and the conditions of the license or other instrument of authorization under which they are constructed, installed, or operated.
(o) Have authority to designate call letters of all stations;
(p) Have authority to cause to be published such call letters and such other announcements and data as in the judgment of the Commission may be required for the efficient operation of radio stations subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and for the proper enforcement of this chapter;
(q) Have authority to require the painting and/or illumination of radio towers if and when in its judgment such towers constitute, or there is a reasonable possibility that they may constitute, a menace to air navigation. The permittee or licensee, and the tower owner in any case in which the owner is not the permittee or licensee, shall maintain the painting and/or illumination of the tower as prescribed by the Commission pursuant to this section. In the event that the tower ceases to be licensed by the Commission for the transmission of radio energy, the owner of the tower shall maintain the prescribed painting and/or illumination of such tower until it is dismantled, and the Commission may require the owner to dismantle and remove the tower when the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency determines that there is a reasonable possibility that it may constitute a menace to air navigation.
(r) Make such rules and regulations and prescribe such restrictions and conditions, not inconsistent with law, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, or any international radio or wire communications treaty or convention, or regulations annexed thereto, including any treaty or convention insofar as it relates to the use of radio, to which the United States is or may hereafter become a party.
(s) Have authority to require that apparatus designed to receive television pictures broadcast simultaneously with sound be capable of adequately receiving all frequencies allocated by the Commission to television broadcasting when such apparatus is shipped in interstate commerce, or is imported from any foreign country into the United States, for sale or resale to the public.
(t) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301(e) of this title, have authority, in any case in which an aircraft registered in the United States is operated (pursuant to a lease, charter, or similar arrangement) by an aircraft operator who is subject to regulation by the government of a foreign nation, to enter into an agreement with such government under which the Commission shall recognize and accept any radio station licenses and radio operator licenses issued by such government with respect to such aircraft.
(u) Require that, if technically feasible—
(1) apparatus designed to receive or play back video programming transmitted simultaneously with sound, if such apparatus is manufactured in the United States or imported for use in the United States and uses a picture screen of any size—
(A) be equipped with built-in closed caption decoder circuitry or capability designed to display closed-captioned video programming;
(B) have the capability to decode and make available the transmission and delivery of video description services as required by regulations reinstated and modified pursuant to section 613(f) of this title; and
(C) have the capability to decode and make available emergency information (as that term is defined in section 79.2 of the Commission’s regulations (47 CFR 79.2)) in a manner that is accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired; and
(2) notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection—
(A) apparatus described in such paragraph that use a picture screen that is less than 13 inches in size meet the requirements of subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of such paragraph only if the requirements of such subparagraphs are achievable (as defined in section 617 of this title);
(B) any apparatus or class of apparatus that are display-only video monitors with no playback capability are exempt from the requirements of such paragraph; and
(C) the Commission shall have the authority, on its own motion or in response to a petition by a manufacturer, to waive the requirements of this subsection for any apparatus or class of apparatus—
(i) primarily designed for activities other than receiving or playing back video programming transmitted simultaneously with sound; or
(ii) for equipment designed for multiple purposes, capable of receiving or playing video programming transmitted simultaneously with sound but whose essential utility is derived from other purposes.
(v) Have exclusive jurisdiction to regulate the provision of direct-to-home satellite services. As used in this subsection, the term “direct-to-home satellite services” means the distribution or broadcasting of programming or services by satellite directly to the subscriber’s premises without the use of ground receiving or distribution equipment, except at the subscriber’s premises or in the uplink process to the satellite.
(w) Omitted.
(x) Require, in the case of an apparatus designed to receive television signals that are shipped in interstate commerce or manufactured in the United States and that have a picture screen 13 inches or greater in size (measured diagonally), that such apparatus be equipped with a feature designed to enable viewers to block display of all programs with a common rating, except as otherwise permitted by regulations pursuant to section 330(c)(4) of this title.
(y) Have authority to allocate electromagnetic spectrum so as to provide flexibility of use, if—
(1) such use is consistent with international agreements to which the United States is a party; and
(2) the Commission finds, after notice and an opportunity for public comment, that—
(A) such an allocation would be in the public interest;
(B) such use would not deter investment in communications services and systems, or technology development; and
(C) such use would not result in harmful interference among users.
(z) Require that—
(1) if achievable (as defined in section 617 of this title), apparatus designed to record video programming transmitted simultaneously with sound, if such apparatus is manufactured in the United States or imported for use in the United States, enable the rendering or the pass through of closed captions, video description signals, and emergency information (as that term is defined in section 79.2 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations) such that viewers are able to activate and de-activate the closed captions and video description as the video programming is played back on a picture screen of any size; and
(2) interconnection mechanisms and standards for digital video source devices are available to carry from the source device to the consumer equipment the information necessary to permit or render the display of closed captions and to make encoded video description and emergency information audible.
(aa) Require—
(1) if achievable (as defined in section 617 of this title) that digital apparatus designed to receive or play back video programming transmitted in digital format simultaneously with sound, including apparatus designed to receive or display video programming transmitted in digital format using Internet protocol, be designed, developed, and fabricated so that control of appropriate built-in apparatus functions are accessible to and usable by individuals who are blind or visually impaired, except that the Commission may not specify the technical standards, protocols, procedures, and other technical requirements for meeting this requirement;
(2) that if on-screen text menus or other visual indicators built in to the digital apparatus are used to access the functions of the apparatus described in paragraph (1), such functions shall be accompanied by audio output that is either integrated or peripheral to the apparatus, so that such menus or indicators are accessible to and usable by individuals who are blind or visually impaired in real-time;
(3) that for such apparatus equipped with the functions described in paragraphs (1) and (2) built in access to those closed captioning and video description features through a mechanism that is reasonably comparable to a button, key, or icon designated for activating the closed captioning or accessibility features; and
(4) that in applying this subsection the term “apparatus” does not include a navigation device, as such term is defined in section 76.1200 of the Commission’s rules (47 CFR 76.1200).
(bb) Require—
(1) if achievable (as defined in section 617 of this title), that the on-screen text menus and guides provided by navigation devices (as such term is defined in section 76.1200 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations) for the display or selection of multichannel video programming are audibly accessible in real-time upon request by individuals who are blind or visually impaired, except that the Commission may not specify the technical standards, protocols, procedures, and other technical requirements for meeting this requirement;
(2) for navigation devices with built-in closed captioning capability, that access to that capability through a mechanism is reasonably comparable to a button, key, or icon designated for activating the closed captioning, or accessibility features; and
(3) that, with respect to navigation device features and functions—
(A) delivered in software, the requirements set forth in this subsection shall apply to the manufacturer of such software; and
(B) delivered in hardware, the requirements set forth in this subsection shall apply to the manufacturer of such hardware.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 303, 48 Stat. 1082; May 20, 1937, ch. 229, §§ 5, 6, 50 Stat. 190, 191; Pub. L. 85–817, § 1, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 981; Pub. L. 87–445, Apr. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 64; Pub. L. 87–529, § 1, July 10, 1962, 76 Stat. 150; Pub. L. 88–313, § 1, May 28, 1964, 78 Stat. 202; Pub. L. 88–487, § 2, Aug. 22, 1964, 78 Stat. 602; Pub. L. 89–268, Oct. 19, 1965, 79 Stat. 990; Pub. L. 92–81, § 1, Aug. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 302; Pub. L. 93–505, § 1, Nov. 30, 1974, 88 Stat. 1576; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, §§ 109–111(a), 113(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1092, 1093; Pub. L. 101–396, § 8(a), Sept. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 850; Pub. L. 101–431, § 3, Oct. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 960; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 210(a), Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3544; Pub. L. 104–104, title II, § 205(b), title IV, § 403(g), title V, § 551(b)(1), (c), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 114, 131, 140, 141; Pub. L. 105–33, title III, § 3005, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 268; Pub. L. 111–260, title II, §§ 203(a), (b), 204(a), 205(a), Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2772–2774; Pub. L. 111–265, § 2(12)–(15), Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2796.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 303

§ 303a. Standards for children’s television programming
(a) Establishment
(b) Advertising duration limitations
(c) Review of advertising duration limitations; modification
After January 1, 1993, the Commission—
(1) may review and evaluate the advertising duration limitations required by subsection (b); and
(2) may, after notice and public comment and a demonstration of the need for modification of such limitations, modify such limitations in accordance with the public interest.
(d) “Commercial television broadcast licensee” defined
(Pub. L. 101–437, title I, § 102, Oct. 17, 1990, 104 Stat. 996.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 303a

§ 303b. Consideration of children’s television service in broadcast license renewal
(a) After the standards required by section 303a of this title are in effect, the Commission shall, in its review of any application for renewal of a commercial or noncommercial television broadcast license, consider the extent to which the licensee—
(1) has complied with such standards; and
(2) has served the educational and informational needs of children through the licensee’s overall programming, including programming specifically designed to serve such needs.
(b) In addition to consideration of the licensee’s programming as required under subsection (a), the Commission may consider—
(1) any special nonbroadcast efforts by the licensee which enhance the educational and informational value of such programming to children; and
(2) any special efforts by the licensee to produce or support programming broadcast by another station in the licensee’s marketplace which is specifically designed to serve the educational and informational needs of children.
(Pub. L. 101–437, title I, § 103, Oct. 17, 1990, 104 Stat. 997; Pub. L. 102–356, § 15, Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 954; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(c), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4296.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 303b

§ 303c. Television program improvement
(a) Short title
(b) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—
(1) the term “antitrust laws” has the meaning given it in subsection (a) of section 12 of title 15, except that such term includes section 45 of title 15 to the extent that section 45 of title 15 applies to unfair methods of competition;
(2) the term “person in the television industry” means a television network, any entity which produces programming (including theatrical motion pictures) for telecasting or telecasts programming, the National Cable Television Association, the Association of Independent Television Stations, Incorporated, the National Association of Broadcasters, the Motion Picture Association of America, the Community Antenna Television Association, and each of the networks’ affiliate organizations, and shall include any individual acting on behalf of such person; and
(3) the term “telecast” means—
(A) to broadcast by a television broadcast station; or
(B) to transmit by a cable television system or a satellite television distribution service.
(c) Exemption
(d) Limitations
(1) The exemption provided in subsection (c) shall not apply to any joint discussion, consideration, review, action, or agreement which results in a boycott of any person.
(2) The exemption provided in subsection (c) shall apply only to any joint discussion, consideration, review, action, or agreement engaged in only during the 3-year period beginning on December 1, 1990.
(Pub. L. 101–650, title V, § 501, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5127.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 303c

§ 304. Waiver by license of claims to particular frequency or of electromagnetic spectrum

No station license shall be granted by the Commission until the applicant therefor shall have waived any claim to the use of any particular frequency or of the electromagnetic spectrum as against the regulatory power of the United States because of the previous use of the same, whether by license or otherwise.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 304, 48 Stat. 1083; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 127(a), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1099; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 204(a), Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3543.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 304

§ 305. Government owned stations
(a) Frequencies; compliance with regulations; stations on vessels
(b) Call letters
(c) Stations operated by foreign governments
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 305, 48 Stat. 1083; Pub. L. 87–795, Oct. 11, 1962, 76 Stat. 903; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(150), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 167; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(h)(1), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 131.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 305

§ 306. Foreign ships; application of section 301

Section 301 of this title shall not apply to any person sending radio communications or signals on a foreign ship while the same is within the jurisdiction of the United States, but such communications or signals shall be transmitted only in accordance with such regulations designed to prevent interference as may be promulgated under the authority of this chapter.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 306, 48 Stat. 1083.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 306

§ 307. Licenses
(a) Grant
(b) Allocation of facilities
(c) Terms of licenses
(1) Initial and renewal licenses
(2) Materials in application
(3) Continuation pending decision
(d) Renewals
(e) Operation of certain radio stations without individual licenses
(1) Notwithstanding any license requirement established in this chapter, if the Commission determines that such authorization serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity, the Commission may by rule authorize the operation of radio stations without individual licenses in the following radio services: (A) the citizens band radio service; (B) the radio control service; (C) the aviation radio service for aircraft stations operated on domestic flights when such aircraft are not otherwise required to carry a radio station; and (D) the maritime radio service for ship stations navigated on domestic voyages when such ships are not otherwise required to carry a radio station.
(2) Any radio station operator who is authorized by the Commission to operate without an individual license shall comply with all other provisions of this chapter and with rules prescribed by the Commission under this chapter.
(3) For purposes of this subsection, the terms “citizens band radio service”, “radio control service”, “aircraft station” and “ship station” shall have the meanings given them by the Commission by rule.
(f) Areas in Alaska without access to over the air broadcasts
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 307, 48 Stat. 1083; June 5, 1936, ch. 511, § 2, 49 Stat. 1475; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 5, 66 Stat. 714; Pub. L. 86–752, § 3, Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 889; Pub. L. 87–439, Apr. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 58; Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1241(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 736; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, §§ 112, 113(a), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1093; Pub. L. 104–104, title II, § 203, title IV, § 403(i), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 112, 131; Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title II, § 213(1), (2)], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3431.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 307

§ 308. Requirements for license
(a) Writing; exceptions
(b) Conditions
(c) Commercial communication
(d) Summary of complaints
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 308, 48 Stat. 1084; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 6, 66 Stat. 714; Pub. L. 87–444, § 3, Apr. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 63; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 204(b), Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3543; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(a)(15), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4295; Pub. L. 104–104, title II, § 204(b), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 113.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 308

§ 309. Application for license
(a) Considerations in granting application
(b) Time of granting applicationExcept as provided in subsection (c) of this section, no such application—
(1) for an instrument of authorization in the case of a station in the broadcasting or common carrier services, or
(2) for an instrument of authorization in the case of a station in any of the following categories:
(A) industrial radio positioning stations for which frequencies are assigned on an exclusive basis,
(B) aeronautical en route stations,
(C) aeronautical advisory stations,
(D) airdrome control stations,
(E) aeronautical fixed stations, and
(F) such other stations or classes of stations, not in the broadcasting or common carrier services, as the Commission shall by rule prescribe,
shall be granted by the Commission earlier than thirty days following issuance of public notice by the Commission of the acceptance for filing of such application or of any substantial amendment thereof.
(c) Applications not affected by subsection (b)Subsection (b) of this section shall not apply—
(1) to any minor amendment of an application to which such subsection is applicable, or
(2) to any application for—
(A) a minor change in the facilities of an authorized station,
(B) consent to an involuntary assignment or transfer under section 310(b) of this title or to an assignment or transfer thereunder which does not involve a substantial change in ownership or control,
(C) a license under section 319(c) of this title or, pending application for or grant of such license, any special or temporary authorization to permit interim operation to facilitate completion of authorized construction or to provide substantially the same service as would be authorized by such license,
(D) extension of time to complete construction of authorized facilities,
(E) an authorization of facilities for remote pickups, studio links and similar facilities for use in the operation of a broadcast station,
(F) authorizations pursuant to section 325(c) of this title where the programs to be transmitted are special events not of a continuing nature,
(G) a special temporary authorization for nonbroadcast operation not to exceed thirty days where no application for regular operation is contemplated to be filed or not to exceed sixty days pending the filing of an application for such regular operation, or
(H) an authorization under any of the proviso clauses of section 308(a) of this title.
(d) Petition to deny application; time; contents; reply; findings
(1) Any party in interest may file with the Commission a petition to deny any application (whether as originally filed or as amended) to which subsection (b) of this section applies at any time prior to the day of Commission grant thereof without hearing or the day of formal designation thereof for hearing; except that with respect to any classification of applications, the Commission from time to time by rule may specify a shorter period (no less than thirty days following the issuance of public notice by the Commission of the acceptance for filing of such application or of any substantial amendment thereof), which shorter period shall be reasonably related to the time when the applications would normally be reached for processing. The petitioner shall serve a copy of such petition on the applicant. The petition shall contain specific allegations of fact sufficient to show that the petitioner is a party in interest and that a grant of the application would be prima facie inconsistent with subsection (a) (or subsection (k) in the case of renewal of any broadcast station license). Such allegations of fact shall, except for those of which official notice may be taken, be supported by affidavit of a person or persons with personal knowledge thereof. The applicant shall be given the opportunity to file a reply in which allegations of fact or denials thereof shall similarly be supported by affidavit.
(2) If the Commission finds on the basis of the application, the pleadings filed, or other matters which it may officially notice that there are no substantial and material questions of fact and that a grant of the application would be consistent with subsection (a) (or subsection (k) in the case of renewal of any broadcast station license), it shall make the grant, deny the petition, and issue a concise statement of the reasons for denying the petition, which statement shall dispose of all substantial issues raised by the petition. If a substantial and material question of fact is presented or if the Commission for any reason is unable to find that grant of the application would be consistent with subsection (a) (or subsection (k) in the case of renewal of any broadcast station license), it shall proceed as provided in subsection (e).
(e) Hearings; intervention; evidence; burden of proof
(f) Temporary authorization of temporary operations under subsection (b)
(g) Classification of applications
(h) Form and conditions of station licenses
(i) Random selection
(1)General authority.—Except as provided in paragraph (5), if there is more than one application for any initial license or construction permit, then the Commission shall have the authority to grant such license or permit to a qualified applicant through the use of a system of random selection.
(2) No license or construction permit shall be granted to an applicant selected pursuant to paragraph (1) unless the Commission determines the qualifications of such applicant pursuant to subsection (a) and section 308(b) of this title. When substantial and material questions of fact exist concerning such qualifications, the Commission shall conduct a hearing in order to make such determinations. For the purpose of making such determinations, the Commission may, by rule, and notwithstanding any other provision of law—
(A) adopt procedures for the submission of all or part of the evidence in written form;
(B) delegate the function of presiding at the taking of written evidence to Commission employees other than administrative law judges; and
(C) omit the determination required by subsection (a) with respect to any application other than the one selected pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3)
(A) The Commission shall establish rules and procedures to ensure that, in the administration of any system of random selection under this subsection used for granting licenses or construction permits for any media of mass communications, significant preferences will be granted to applicants or groups of applicants, the grant to which of the license or permit would increase the diversification of ownership of the media of mass communications. To further diversify the ownership of the media of mass communications, an additional significant preference shall be granted to any applicant controlled by a member or members of a minority group.
(B) The Commission shall have authority to require each qualified applicant seeking a significant preference under subparagraph (A) to submit to the Commission such information as may be necessary to enable the Commission to make a determination regarding whether such applicant shall be granted such preference. Such information shall be submitted in such form, at such times, and in accordance with such procedures, as the Commission may require.
(C) For purposes of this paragraph:
(i) The term “media of mass communications” includes television, radio, cable television, multipoint distribution service, direct broadcast satellite service, and other services, the licensed facilities of which may be substantially devoted toward providing programming or other information services within the editorial control of the licensee.
(ii) The term “minority group” includes Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, and Pacific Islanders.
(4)
(A) The Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, prescribe rules establishing a system of random selection for use by the Commission under this subsection in any instance in which the Commission, in its discretion, determines that such use is appropriate for the granting of any license or permit in accordance with paragraph (1).
(B) The Commission shall have authority to amend such rules from time to time to the extent necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection. Any such amendment shall be made after notice and opportunity for hearing.
(C) Not later than 180 days after August 10, 1993, the Commission shall prescribe such transfer disclosures and antitrafficking restrictions and payment schedules as are necessary to prevent the unjust enrichment of recipients of licenses or permits as a result of the methods employed to issue licenses under this subsection.
(5)Termination of authority.—
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Commission shall not issue any license or permit using a system of random selection under this subsection after July 1, 1997.
(B) Subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to licenses or permits for stations described in section 397(6) of this title.
(j) Use of competitive bidding
(1) General authority
(2) ExemptionsThe competitive bidding authority granted by this subsection shall not apply to licenses or construction permits issued by the Commission—
(A) for public safety radio services, including private internal radio services used by State and local governments and non-government entities and including emergency road services provided by not-for-profit organizations, that—
(i) are used to protect the safety of life, health, or property; and
(ii) are not made commercially available to the public;
(B) for initial licenses or construction permits for digital television service given to existing terrestrial broadcast licensees to replace their analog television service licenses; or
(C) for stations described in section 397(6) of this title.
(3) Design of systems of competitive biddingFor each class of licenses or permits that the Commission grants through the use of a competitive bidding system, the Commission shall, by regulation, establish a competitive bidding methodology. The Commission shall seek to design and test multiple alternative methodologies under appropriate circumstances. The Commission shall, directly or by contract, provide for the design and conduct (for purposes of testing) of competitive bidding using a contingent combinatorial bidding system that permits prospective bidders to bid on combinations or groups of licenses in a single bid and to enter multiple alternative bids within a single bidding round. In identifying classes of licenses and permits to be issued by competitive bidding, in specifying eligibility and other characteristics of such licenses and permits, and in designing the methodologies for use under this subsection, the Commission shall include safeguards to protect the public interest in the use of the spectrum and shall seek to promote the purposes specified in section 151 of this title and the following objectives:
(A) the development and rapid deployment of new technologies, products, and services for the benefit of the public, including those residing in rural areas, without administrative or judicial delays;
(B) promoting economic opportunity and competition and ensuring that new and innovative technologies are readily accessible to the American people by avoiding excessive concentration of licenses and by disseminating licenses among a wide variety of applicants, including small businesses, rural telephone companies, and businesses owned by members of minority groups and women;
(C) recovery for the public of a portion of the value of the public spectrum resource made available for commercial use and avoidance of unjust enrichment through the methods employed to award uses of that resource;
(D) efficient and intensive use of the electromagnetic spectrum;
(E) ensure that, in the scheduling of any competitive bidding under this subsection, an adequate period is allowed—
(i) before issuance of bidding rules, to permit notice and comment on proposed auction procedures; and
(ii) after issuance of bidding rules, to ensure that interested parties have a sufficient time to develop business plans, assess market conditions, and evaluate the availability of equipment for the relevant services; and
(F) for any auction of eligible frequencies described in section 113(g)(2) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 923(g)(2)), the recovery of 110 percent of estimated relocation or sharing costs as provided to the Commission pursuant to section 113(g)(4) of such Act.
(4) Contents of regulationsIn prescribing regulations pursuant to paragraph (3), the Commission shall—
(A) consider alternative payment schedules and methods of calculation, including lump sums or guaranteed installment payments, with or without royalty payments, or other schedules or methods that promote the objectives described in paragraph (3)(B), and combinations of such schedules and methods;
(B) include performance requirements, such as appropriate deadlines and penalties for performance failures, to ensure prompt delivery of service to rural areas, to prevent stockpiling or warehousing of spectrum by licensees or permittees, and to promote investment in and rapid deployment of new technologies and services;
(C) consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity, the purposes of this chapter, and the characteristics of the proposed service, prescribe area designations and bandwidth assignments that promote (i) an equitable distribution of licenses and services among geographic areas, (ii) economic opportunity for a wide variety of applicants, including small businesses, rural telephone companies, and businesses owned by members of minority groups and women, and (iii) investment in and rapid deployment of new technologies and services;
(D) ensure that small businesses, rural telephone companies, and businesses owned by members of minority groups and women are given the opportunity to participate in the provision of spectrum-based services, and, for such purposes, consider the use of tax certificates, bidding preferences, and other procedures;
(E) require such transfer disclosures and antitrafficking restrictions and payment schedules as may be necessary to prevent unjust enrichment as a result of the methods employed to issue licenses and permits; and
(F) prescribe methods by which a reasonable reserve price will be required, or a minimum bid will be established, to obtain any license or permit being assigned pursuant to the competitive bidding, unless the Commission determines that such a reserve price or minimum bid is not in the public interest.
(5) Bidder and licensee qualification
(6) Rules of constructionNothing in this subsection, or in the use of competitive bidding, shall—
(A) alter spectrum allocation criteria and procedures established by the other provisions of this chapter;
(B) limit or otherwise affect the requirements of subsection (h) of this section, section 301, 304, 307, 310, or 606 of this title, or any other provision of this chapter (other than subsections (d)(2) and (e) of this section);
(C) diminish the authority of the Commission under the other provisions of this chapter to regulate or reclaim spectrum licenses;
(D) be construed to convey any rights, including any expectation of renewal of a license, that differ from the rights that apply to other licenses within the same service that were not issued pursuant to this subsection;
(E) be construed to relieve the Commission of the obligation in the public interest to continue to use engineering solutions, negotiation, threshold qualifications, service regulations, and other means in order to avoid mutual exclusivity in application and licensing proceedings;
(F) be construed to prohibit the Commission from issuing nationwide, regional, or local licenses or permits;
(G) be construed to prevent the Commission from awarding licenses to those persons who make significant contributions to the development of a new telecommunications service or technology; or
(H) be construed to relieve any applicant for a license or permit of the obligation to pay charges imposed pursuant to section 158 of this title.
(7) Consideration of revenues in public interest determinations
(A) Consideration prohibited
(B) Consideration limited
(C) Consideration of demand for spectrum not affected
(8) Treatment of revenues
(A) General rule
(B) Retention of revenues
(C) Deposit and use of auction escrow accountsAny deposits the Commission may require for the qualification of any person to bid in a system of competitive bidding pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the Treasury. Within 45 days following the conclusion of the competitive bidding—
(i) the deposits of successful bidders shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury (where such deposits shall be used for the sole purpose of deficit reduction), except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (D)(ii), (E)(ii), (F), and (G); and
(ii) the deposits of unsuccessful bidders shall be returned to such bidders, and payments representing the return of such deposits shall not be subject to administrative offset under section 3716(c) of title 31.
(D) Proceeds from reallocated Federal spectrum
(i) In general
(ii) Certain other proceeds
(E) Transfer of receipts
(i) Establishment of Fund
(ii) Proceeds for funds
(iii) Transfer of amount to Treasury
(iv) Recovered analog spectrum
(F) Certain proceeds designated for Public Safety Trust Fund
(G) Incentive auctions
(i) In general
(ii) LimitationsThe Commission may not enter into an agreement for a licensee to relinquish spectrum usage rights in exchange for a share of auction proceeds under clause (i) unless—(I) the Commission conducts a reverse auction to determine the amount of compensation that licensees would accept in return for voluntarily relinquishing spectrum usage rights; and(II) at least two competing licensees participate in the reverse auction.
(iii) Treatment of revenuesNotwithstanding subparagraph (A) and except as provided in subparagraph (B), the proceeds (including deposits and upfront payments from successful bidders) from any auction, prior to the end of fiscal year 2022, of spectrum usage rights made available under clause (i) that are not shared with licensees under such clause shall be deposited as follows:(I) $1,750,000,000 of the proceeds from the incentive auction of broadcast television spectrum required by section 1452 of this title shall be deposited in the TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund established by subsection (d)(1) of such section.(II) All other proceeds shall be deposited—(aa) prior to the end of fiscal year 2022, in the Public Safety Trust Fund established by section 1457(a)(1) of this title; and(bb) after the end of fiscal year 2022, in the general fund of the Treasury, where such proceeds shall be dedicated for the sole purpose of deficit reduction.
(iv) Congressional notification
(v) DefinitionIn this subparagraph, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—(I) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;(II) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;(III) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and(IV) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(9) Use of former Government spectrumThe Commission shall, not later than 5 years after August 10, 1993, issue licenses and permits pursuant to this subsection for the use of bands of frequencies that—
(A) in the aggregate span not less than 10 megahertz; and
(B) have been reassigned from Government use pursuant to part B of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act [47 U.S.C. 921 et seq.].
(10) Authority contingent on availability of additional spectrum
(A) Initial conditionsThe Commission’s authority to issue licenses or permits under this subsection shall not take effect unless—
(i) the Secretary of Commerce has submitted to the Commission the report required by section 113(d)(1) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act [47 U.S.C. 923(d)(1)];
(ii) such report recommends for immediate reallocation bands of frequencies that, in the aggregate, span not less than 50 megahertz;
(iii) such bands of frequencies meet the criteria required by section 113(a) of such Act [47 U.S.C. 923(a)]; and
(iv) the Commission has completed the rulemaking required by section 332(c)(1)(D) of this title.
(B) Subsequent conditionsThe Commission’s authority to issue licenses or permits under this subsection on and after 2 years after August 10, 1993, shall cease to be effective if—
(i) the Secretary of Commerce has failed to submit the report required by section 113(a) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act [47 U.S.C. 923(a)];
(ii) the President has failed to withdraw and limit assignments of frequencies as required by paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 114(a) of such Act [47 U.S.C. 924(a)];
(iii) the Commission has failed to issue the regulations required by section 115(a) of such Act [47 U.S.C. 925(a)];
(iv) the Commission has failed to complete and submit to Congress, not later than 18 months after August 10, 1993, a study of current and future spectrum needs of State and local government public safety agencies through the year 2010, and a specific plan to ensure that adequate frequencies are made available to public safety licensees; or
(v) the Commission has failed under section 332(c)(3) of this title to grant or deny within the time required by such section any petition that a State has filed within 90 days after August 10, 1993;
until such failure has been corrected.
(11) Termination
(12) Repealed. Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, § 402(i)(4)(A), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1089
(13) Recovery of value of public spectrum in connection with pioneer preferences
(A) In general
(B) Recovery of valueThe Commission shall recover for the public a portion of the value of the public spectrum resource made available to such person by requiring such person, as a condition for receipt of the license, to agree to pay a sum determined by—
(i) identifying the winning bids for the licenses that the Commission determines are most reasonably comparable in terms of bandwidth, scope of service area, usage restrictions, and other technical characteristics to the license awarded to such person, and excluding licenses that the Commission determines are subject to bidding anomalies due to the award of preferential treatment;
(ii) dividing each such winning bid by the population of its service area (hereinafter referred to as the per capita bid amount);
(iii) computing the average of the per capita bid amounts for the licenses identified under clause (i);
(iv) reducing such average amount by 15 percent; and
(v) multiplying the amount determined under clause (iv) by the population of the service area of the license obtained by such person.
(C) Installments permitted
(D) Rulemaking on pioneer preferencesExcept with respect to pending applications described in clause (iv) of this subparagraph, the Commission shall prescribe regulations specifying the procedures and criteria by which the Commission will evaluate applications for preferential treatment in its licensing processes (by precluding the filing of mutually exclusive applications) for persons who make significant contributions to the development of a new service or to the development of new technologies that substantially enhance an existing service. Such regulations shall—
(i) specify the procedures and criteria by which the significance of such contributions will be determined, after an opportunity for review and verification by experts in the radio sciences drawn from among persons who are not employees of the Commission or by any applicant for such preferential treatment;
(ii) include such other procedures as may be necessary to prevent unjust enrichment by ensuring that the value of any such contribution justifies any reduction in the amounts paid for comparable licenses under this subsection;
(iii) be prescribed not later than 6 months after December 8, 1994;
(iv) not apply to applications that have been accepted for filing on or before September 1, 1994; and
(v) cease to be effective on the date of the expiration of the Commission’s authority under subparagraph (F).
(E) Implementation with respect to pending applicationsIn applying this paragraph to any broadband licenses in the personal communications service awarded pursuant to the preferential treatment accorded by the Federal Communications Commission in the Third Report and Order in General Docket 90–314 (FCC 93–550, released February 3, 1994)—
(i) the Commission shall not reconsider the award of preferences in such Third Report and Order, and the Commission shall not delay the grant of licenses based on such awards more than 15 days following December 8, 1994, and the award of such preferences and licenses shall not be subject to administrative or judicial review;
(ii) the Commission shall not alter the bandwidth or service areas designated for such licenses in such Third Report and Order;
(iii) except as provided in clause (v), the Commission shall use, as the most reasonably comparable licenses for purposes of subparagraph (B)(i), the broadband licenses in the personal communications service for blocks A and B for the 20 largest markets (ranked by population) in which no applicant has obtained preferential treatment;
(iv) for purposes of subparagraph (C), the Commission shall permit guaranteed installment payments over a period of 5 years, subject to—(I) the payment only of interest on unpaid balances during the first 2 years, commencing not later than 30 days after the award of the license (including any preferential treatment used in making such award) is final and no longer subject to administrative or judicial review, except that no such payment shall be required prior to the date of completion of the auction of the comparable licenses described in clause (iii); and(II) payment of the unpaid balance and interest thereon after the end of such 2 years in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Commission; and
(v) the Commission shall recover with respect to broadband licenses in the personal communications service an amount under this paragraph that is equal to not less than $400,000,000, and if such amount is less than $400,000,000, the Commission shall recover an amount equal to $400,000,000 by allocating such amount among the holders of such licenses based on the population of the license areas held by each licensee.
The Commission shall not include in any amounts required to be collected under clause (v) the interest on unpaid balances required to be collected under clause (iv).
(F) Expiration
(G) Effective date
(14) Auction of recaptured broadcast television spectrum
(A) Limitations on terms of terrestrial television broadcast licenses
(B) Spectrum reversion and resale
(i) The Commission shall—(I) ensure that, as licenses for analog television service expire pursuant to subparagraph (A), each licensee shall cease using electromagnetic spectrum assigned to such service according to the Commission’s direction; and(II) reclaim and organize the electromagnetic spectrum in a manner consistent with the objectives described in paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(ii) Licensees for new services occupying spectrum reclaimed pursuant to clause (i) shall be assigned in accordance with this subsection.
(C) Certain limitations on qualified bidders prohibitedIn prescribing any regulations relating to the qualification of bidders for spectrum reclaimed pursuant to subparagraph (B)(i), the Commission, for any license that may be used for any digital television service where the grade A contour of the station is projected to encompass the entirety of a city with a population in excess of 400,000 (as determined using the 1990 decennial census), shall not—
(i) preclude any party from being a qualified bidder for such spectrum on the basis of—(I) the Commission’s duopoly rule (47 C.F.R. 73.3555(b)); or(II) the Commission’s newspaper cross-ownership rule (47 C.F.R. 73.3555(d)); or
(ii) apply either such rule to preclude such a party that is a winning bidder in a competitive bidding for such spectrum from using such spectrum for digital television service.
(15) Commission to determine timing of auctions
(A) Commission authority
(B) Termination of portions of auctions 31 and 44
(C) Exception
(i) Blocks exceptedSubparagraph (B) shall not apply to the auction of—(I) the C-block of licenses on the bands of frequencies located at 710–716 megahertz, and 740–746 megahertz; or(II) the D-block of licenses on the bands of frequencies located at 716–722 megahertz.
(ii) Eligible bidders
(iii) Auction deadlines for excepted blocks
(iv) Repealed. Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, § 402(i)(4)(B), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1089
(v) Additional deadlines for recovered analog spectrum
(vi) Recovered analog spectrumFor purposes of clause (v), the term “recovered analog spectrum” means the spectrum between channels 52 and 69, inclusive (between frequencies 698 and 806 megahertz, inclusive) reclaimed from analog television service broadcasting under paragraph (14), other than—(I) the spectrum required by section 337 of this title to be made available for public safety services; and(II) the spectrum auctioned prior to February 8, 2006.
(D) Return of payments
(16) Special auction provisions for eligible frequencies
(A) Special regulations
(B) Conclusion of auctions contingent on minimum proceeds
(C) Authority to issue prior to deauthorization
(17) Certain conditions on auction participation prohibited
(A) In general
(i) complies with all the auction procedures and other requirements to protect the auction process established by the Commission; and
(ii) either—(I) meets the technical, financial, character, and citizenship qualifications that the Commission may require under section 303(l)(1), 308(b), or 310 of this title to hold a license; or(II) would meet such license qualifications by means approved by the Commission prior to the grant of the license.
(B) Clarification of authority
(18) Estimate of upcoming auctions
(A) Not later than September 30, 2018, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall make publicly available an estimate of what systems of competitive bidding authorized under this subsection may be initiated during the upcoming 12-month period.
(B) The estimate under subparagraph (A) shall, to the extent possible, identify the bands of frequencies the Commission expects to be included in each such system of competitive bidding.
(k) Broadcast station renewal procedures
(1) Standards for renewalIf the licensee of a broadcast station submits an application to the Commission for renewal of such license, the Commission shall grant the application if it finds, with respect to that station, during the preceding term of its license—
(A) the station has served the public interest, convenience, and necessity;
(B) there have been no serious violations by the licensee of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the Commission; and
(C) there have been no other violations by the licensee of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the Commission which, taken together, would constitute a pattern of abuse.
(2) Consequence of failure to meet standard
(3) Standards for denialIf the Commission determines, after notice and opportunity for a hearing as provided in subsection (e), that a licensee has failed to meet the requirements specified in paragraph (1) and that no mitigating factors justify the imposition of lesser sanctions, the Commission shall—
(A) issue an order denying the renewal application filed by such licensee under section 308 of this title; and
(B) only thereafter accept and consider such applications for a construction permit as may be filed under section 308 of this title specifying the channel or broadcasting facilities of the former licensee.
(4) Competitor consideration prohibited
(l) Applicability of competitive bidding to pending comparative licensing casesWith respect to competing applications for initial licenses or construction permits for commercial radio or television stations that were filed with the Commission before July 1, 1997, the Commission shall—
(1) have the authority to conduct a competitive bidding proceeding pursuant to subsection (j) to assign such license or permit;
(2) treat the persons filing such applications as the only persons eligible to be qualified bidders for purposes of such proceeding; and
(3) waive any provisions of its regulations necessary to permit such persons to enter an agreement to procure the removal of a conflict between their applications during the 180-day period beginning on August 5, 1997.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 309, 48 Stat. 1085; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 7, 66 Stat. 715; Mar. 26, 1954, ch. 110, 68 Stat. 35; Jan. 20, 1956, ch. 1, 70 Stat. 3; Pub. L. 86–752, § 4(a), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 889; Pub. L. 88–306, May 14, 1964, 78 Stat. 193; Pub. L. 88–307, May 14, 1964, 78 Stat. 194; Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1242(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 736; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, §§ 114, 115, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1094; Pub. L. 98–549, § 6(b)(1), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2804; Pub. L. 103–66, title VI, § 6002(a), (b)(1), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 387, 392; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, §§ 303(a)(16), (17), 304(a)(9), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4295, 4297; Pub. L. 103–465, title VIII, § 801, Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 5050; Pub. L. 104–104, title II, § 204(a), title IV, § 403(j), title VII, §§ 707(a), 710(c), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 112, 131, 154, 161; Pub. L. 105–33, title III, §§ 3002(a)(1)–(3), 3003, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 258, 260, 265; Pub. L. 107–195, § 3(a), (b)(1), June 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 716, 717; Pub. L. 108–494, title II, § 203, Dec. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 3993; Pub. L. 109–171, title III, §§ 3002(a), 3003, 3004, Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 21, 22; Pub. L. 111–4, §§ 2(b)(2), 5, Feb. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 112, 114; Pub. L. 112–96, title VI, §§ 6401(c), 6402, 6404, 6405, 6601, 6701(b), Feb. 22, 2012, 126 Stat. 223, 224, 230, 245, 252; Pub. L. 114–74, title X, § 1007, Nov. 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 624; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title I, § 101(b), title IV, § 402(h)(2), (i)(4), title V, § 512(a), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1081, 1089, 1097; Pub. L. 117–58, div. I, § 90008(c)(1), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1350; Pub. L. 117–180, div. C, title I, § 101, Sept. 30, 2022, 136 Stat. 2133; Pub. L. 117–229, div. B, title I, § 101, Dec. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2309; Pub. L. 117–328, div. O, title IX, § 901, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5232.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 309

§ 309a. Reports related to spectrum auctions
(a) Omitted
(b) Auction expenditure justification report
(c) Definition
For purposes of this section, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—
(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title V, § 512, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1097.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 309a

§ 310. License ownership restrictions
(a) Grant to or holding by foreign government or representative
(b) Grant to or holding by alien or representative, foreign corporation, etc.
No broadcast or common carrier or aeronautical en route or aeronautical fixed radio station license shall be granted to or held by—
(1) any alien or the representative of any alien;
(2) any corporation organized under the laws of any foreign government;
(3) any corporation of which more than one-fifth of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens or their representatives or by a foreign government or representative thereof or by any corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country;
(4) any corporation directly or indirectly controlled by any other corporation of which more than one-fourth of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens, their representatives, or by a foreign government or representative thereof, or by any corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country, if the Commission finds that the public interest will be served by the refusal or revocation of such license.
(c) Authorization for aliens licensed by foreign governments; multilateral or bilateral agreement to which United States and foreign country are parties as prerequisite
(d) Assignment and transfer of construction permit or station license
(e) Administration of regional concentration rules for broadcast stations
(1) In the case of any broadcast station, and any ownership interest therein, which is excluded from the regional concentration rules by reason of the savings provision for existing facilities provided by the First Report and Order adopted March 9, 1977 (docket No. 20548; 42 Fed. Reg. 16145), the exclusion shall not terminate solely by reason of changes made in the technical facilities of the station to improve its service.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term “regional concentration rules” means the provisions of sections 73.35, 73.240, and 73.636 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect June 1, 1983), which prohibit any party from directly or indirectly owning, operating, or controlling three broadcast stations in one or several services where any two of such stations are within 100 miles of the third (measured city-to-city), and where there is a primary service contour overlap of any of the stations.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 310, 48 Stat. 1086; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 8, 66 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 85–817, § 2, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 981; Pub. L. 88–313, § 2, May 28, 1964, 78 Stat. 202; Pub. L. 92–81, § 2, Aug. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 302; Pub. L. 93–505, § 2, Nov. 30, 1974, 88 Stat. 1576; Pub. L. 98–214, § 7, Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1469; Pub. L. 101–396, § 8(b), Sept. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 850; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(k), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 131.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 310

§ 311. Requirements as to certain applications in broadcasting service
(a) Notices of filing and hearing; form and contents
When there is filed with the Commission any application to which section 309(b)(1) of this title applies, for an instrument of authorization for a station in the broadcasting service, the applicant—
(1) shall give notice of such filing in the principal area which is served or is to be served by the station; and
(2) if the application is formally designated for hearing in accordance with section 309 of this title, shall give notice of such hearing in such area at least ten days before commencement of such hearing.
The Commission shall by rule prescribe the form and span of the notices to be given in compliance with this subsection, and the manner and frequency with which such notices shall be given.
(b) Place of hearing
(c) Agreement between two or more applicants; approval of Commission; pendency of application
(1) If there are pending before the Commission two or more applications for a permit for construction of a broadcasting station, only one of which can be granted, it shall be unlawful, without approval of the Commission, for the applicants or any of them to effectuate an agreement whereby one or more of such applicants withdraws his or their application or applications.
(2) The request for Commission approval in any such case shall be made in writing jointly by all the parties to the agreement. Such request shall contain or be accompanied by full information with respect to the agreement, set forth in such detail, form, and manner as the Commission shall by rule require.
(3) The Commission shall approve the agreement only if it determines that (A) the agreement is consistent with the public interest, convenience, or necessity; and (B) no party to the agreement filed its application for the purpose of reaching or carrying out such agreement.
(4) For the purposes of this subsection an application shall be deemed to be “pending” before the Commission from the time such application is filed with the Commission until an order of the Commission granting or denying it is no longer subject to rehearing by the Commission or to review by any court.
(d) License for operation of station; agreement to withdraw application; approval of Commission
(1) If there are pending before the Commission an application for the renewal of a license granted for the operation of a broadcasting station and one or more applications for a construction permit relating to such station, only one of which can be granted, it shall be unlawful, without approval of the Commission, for the applicants or any of them to effectuate an agreement whereby one or more of such applicants withdraws his or their application or applications in exchange for the payment of money, or the transfer of assets or any other thing of value by the remaining applicant or applicants.
(2) The request for Commission approval in any such case shall be made in writing jointly by all the parties to the agreement. Such request shall contain or be accompanied by full information with respect to the agreement, set forth in such detail, form, and manner as the Commission shall require.
(3) The Commission shall approve the agreement only if it determines that (A) the agreement is consistent with the public interest, convenience, or necessity; and (B) no party to the agreement filed its application for the purpose of reaching or carrying out such agreement.
(4) For purposes of this subsection, an application shall be deemed to be pending before the Commission from the time such application is filed with the Commission until an order of the Commission granting or denying it is no longer subject to rehearing by the Commission or to review by any court.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 311, 48 Stat. 1086; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 9, 66 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 86–752, § 5(a), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 892; Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1243, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 737; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 116, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1095.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 311

§ 312. Administrative sanctions
(a) Revocation of station license or construction permit
The Commission may revoke any station license or construction permit—
(1) for false statements knowingly made either in the application or in any statement of fact which may be required pursuant to section 308 of this title;
(2) because of conditions coming to the attention of the Commission which would warrant it in refusing to grant a license or permit on an original application;
(3) for willful or repeated failure to operate substantially as set forth in the license;
(4) for willful or repeated violation of, or willful or repeated failure to observe any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation of the Commission authorized by this chapter or by a treaty ratified by the United States;
(5) for violation of or failure to observe any final cease and desist order issued by the Commission under this section;
(6) for violation of section 1304, 1343, or 1464 of title 18; or
(7) for willful or repeated failure to allow reasonable access to or to permit purchase of reasonable amounts of time for the use of a broadcasting station, other than a non-commercial educational broadcast station, by a legally qualified candidate for Federal elective office on behalf of his candidacy.
(b) Cease and desist orders
(c) Order to show cause
(d) Burden of proof
(e) Procedure for issuance of cease and desist order
(f) “Willful” and “repeated” defined
For purposes of this section:
(1) The term “willful”, when used with reference to the commission or omission of any act, means the conscious and deliberate commission or omission of such act, irrespective of any intent to violate any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation of the Commission authorized by this chapter or by a treaty ratified by the United States.
(2) The term “repeated”, when used with reference to the commission or omission of any act, means the commission or omission of such act more than once or, if such commission or omission is continuous, for more than one day.
(g) Limitation on silent station authorizations
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 312, 48 Stat. 1086; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 10, 66 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 86–752, § 6, Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 893; Pub. L. 92–225, title I, § 103(a)(2)(A), Feb. 7, 1972, 86 Stat. 4; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 117, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1095; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(l), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 132; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title I, § 148(a)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–251; Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title II, § 213(3)], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3431.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 312

§ 312a. Revocation of operator’s license used in unlawful distribution of controlled substances

The Federal Communications Commission may revoke any private operator’s license issued to any person under the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) who is found to have willfully used said license for the purpose of distributing, or assisting in the distribution of, any controlled substance in violation of any provision of Federal law. In addition, the Federal Communications Commission may, upon the request of an appropriate Federal law enforcement agency, assist in the enforcement of Federal law prohibiting the use or distribution of any controlled substance where communications equipment within the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 is willfully being used for purposes of distributing, or assisting in the distribution of, any such substance.

(Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3451, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–103.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 312a

§ 313. Application of antitrust laws to manufacture, sale, and trade in radio apparatus
(a) Revocation of licenses
(b) Refusal of licenses and permits
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 313, 48 Stat. 1087; Pub. L. 86–752, § 5(b), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 893.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 313

§ 314. Competition in commerce; preservation

After the effective date of this chapter no person engaged directly, or indirectly through any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such person, or through an agent, or otherwise, in the business of transmitting and/or receiving for hire energy, communications, or signals by radio in accordance with the terms of the license issued under this chapter, shall by purchase, lease, construction, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, acquire, own, control, or operate any cable or wire telegraph or telephone line or system between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States or in the District of Columbia, and any place in any foreign country, or shall acquire, own, or control any part of the stock or other capital share or any interest in the physical property and/or other assets of any such cable, wire, telegraph, or telephone line or system, if in either case the purpose is and/or the effect thereof may be to substantially lessen competition or to restrain commerce between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, and any place in any foreign country, or unlawfully to create monopoly in any line of commerce; nor shall any person engaged directly, or indirectly through any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such person, or through an agent, or otherwise, in the business of transmitting and/or receiving for hire messages by any cable, wire, telegraph, or telephone line or system (a) between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, and any place in any other State, Territory, or possession of the United States; or (b) between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place in any foreign country, by purchase, lease, construction, or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquire, own, control, or operate any station or the apparatus therein, or any system for transmitting and/or receiving radio communications or signals between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, and any place in any foreign country, or shall acquire, own, or control any part of the stock or other capital share or any interest in the physical property and/or other assets of any such radio station, apparatus, or system, if in either case the purpose is and/or the effect thereof may be to substantially lessen competition or to restrain commerce between any place in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, and any place in any foreign country, or unlawfully to create monopoly in any line of commerce.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 314, 48 Stat. 1087.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 314

§ 315. Candidates for public office
(a) Equal opportunities requirement; censorship prohibition; allowance of station use; news appearances exception; public interest; public issues discussion opportunitiesIf any licensee shall permit any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station, he shall afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in the use of such broadcasting station: Provided, That such licensee shall have no power of censorship over the material broadcast under the provisions of this section. No obligation is imposed under this subsection upon any licensee to allow the use of its station by any such candidate. Appearance by a legally qualified candidate on any—
(1) bona fide newscast,
(2) bona fide news interview,
(3) bona fide news documentary (if the appearance of the candidate is incidental to the presentation of the subject or subjects covered by the news documentary), or
(4) on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events (including but not limited to political conventions and activities incidental thereto),
shall not be deemed to be use of a broadcasting station within the meaning of this subsection. Nothing in the foregoing sentence shall be construed as relieving broadcasters, in connection with the presentation of newscasts, news interviews, news documentaries, and on-the-spot coverage of news events, from the obligation imposed upon them under this chapter to operate in the public interest and to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance.
(b) Charges
(1) In generalThe charges made for the use of any broadcasting station by any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office in connection with his campaign for nomination for election, or election, to such office shall not exceed—
(A) subject to paragraph (2), during the forty-five days preceding the date of a primary or primary runoff election and during the sixty days preceding the date of a general or special election in which such person is a candidate, the lowest unit charge of the station for the same class and amount of time for the same period; and
(B) at any other time, the charges made for comparable use of such station by other users thereof.
(2) Content of broadcasts
(A) In general
(B) Limitation on charges
(C) Television broadcastsA candidate meets the requirements of this subparagraph if, in the case of a television broadcast, at the end of such broadcast there appears simultaneously, for a period no less than 4 seconds—
(i) a clearly identifiable photographic or similar image of the candidate; and
(ii) a clearly readable printed statement, identifying the candidate and stating that the candidate has approved the broadcast and that the candidate’s authorized committee paid for the broadcast.
(D) Radio broadcasts
(E) Certification
(F) Definitions
(c) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—
(1) the term “broadcasting station” includes a community antenna television system; and
(2) the terms “licensee” and “station licensee” when used with respect to a community antenna television system mean the operator of such system.
(d) Rules and regulations
(e) Political record
(1) In generalA licensee shall maintain, and make available for public inspection, a complete record of a request to purchase broadcast time that—
(A) is made by or on behalf of a legally qualified candidate for public office; or
(B) communicates a message relating to any political matter of national importance, including—
(i) a legally qualified candidate;
(ii) any election to Federal office; or
(iii) a national legislative issue of public importance.
(2) Contents of recordA record maintained under paragraph (1) shall contain information regarding—
(A) whether the request to purchase broadcast time is accepted or rejected by the licensee;
(B) the rate charged for the broadcast time;
(C) the date and time on which the communication is aired;
(D) the class of time that is purchased;
(E) the name of the candidate to which the communication refers and the office to which the candidate is seeking election, the election to which the communication refers, or the issue to which the communication refers (as applicable);
(F) in the case of a request made by, or on behalf of, a candidate, the name of the candidate, the authorized committee of the candidate, and the treasurer of such committee; and
(G) in the case of any other request, the name of the person purchasing the time, the name, address, and phone number of a contact person for such person, and a list of the chief executive officers or members of the executive committee or of the board of directors of such person.
(3) Time to maintain file
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 315, 48 Stat. 1088; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 11, 66 Stat. 717; Pub. L. 86–274, § 1, Sept. 14, 1959, 73 Stat. 557; Pub. L. 92–225, title I, §§ 103(a)(1), (2)(B), 104(c), Feb. 7, 1972, 86 Stat. 4, 7; Pub. L. 93–443, title IV, § 402, Oct. 15, 1974, 88 Stat. 1291; Pub. L. 107–155, title III, § 305(a), (b), title V, § 504, Mar. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 100, 101, 115.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 315

§ 316. Modification by Commission of station licenses or construction permits; burden of proof
(a)
(1) Any station license or construction permit may be modified by the Commission either for a limited time or for the duration of the term thereof, if in the judgment of the Commission such action will promote the public interest, convenience, and necessity, or the provisions of this chapter or of any treaty ratified by the United States will be more fully complied with. No such order of modification shall become final until the holder of the license or permit shall have been notified in writing of the proposed action and the grounds and reasons therefor, and shall be given reasonable opportunity, of at least thirty days, to protest such proposed order of modification; except that, where safety of life or property is involved, the Commission may by order provide, for a shorter period of notice.
(2) Any other licensee or permittee who believes its license or permit would be modified by the proposed action may also protest the proposed action before its effective date.
(3) A protest filed pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the requirements of section 309 of this title for petitions to deny.
(b) In any case where a hearing is conducted pursuant to the provisions of this section, both the burden of proceeding with the introduction of evidence and the burden of proof shall be upon the Commission; except that, with respect to any issue that addresses the question of whether the proposed action would modify the license or permit of a person described in subsection (a)(2), such burdens shall be as determined by the Commission.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 316, as added July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 12, 66 Stat. 717; amended Pub. L. 98–214, § 4(a), Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1467.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 316

§ 317. Announcement of payment for broadcast
(a) Disclosure of person furnishing
(1) All matter broadcast by any radio station for which any money, service or other valuable consideration is directly or indirectly paid, or promised to or charged or accepted by, the station so broadcasting, from any person, shall, at the time the same is so broadcast, be announced as paid for or furnished, as the case may be, by such person: Provided, That “service or other valuable consideration” shall not include any service or property furnished without charge or at a nominal charge for use on, or in connection with, a broadcast unless it is so furnished in consideration for an identification in a broadcast of any person, product, service, trademark, or brand name beyond an identification which is reasonably related to the use of such service or property on the broadcast.
(2) Nothing in this section shall preclude the Commission from requiring that an appropriate announcement shall be made at the time of the broadcast in the case of any political program or any program involving the discussion of any controversial issue for which any films, records, transcriptions, talent, scripts, or other material or service of any kind have been furnished, without charge or at a nominal charge, directly or indirectly, as an inducement to the broadcast of such program.
(b) Disclosure to station of payments
(c) Acquiring information from station employees
(d) Waiver of announcement
(e) Rules and regulations
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 317, 48 Stat. 1089; Pub. L. 86–752, § 8(a), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 895; Pub. L. 96–507, § 2(a), Dec. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 2747.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 317

§ 318. Transmitting apparatus; operator’s license

The actual operation of all transmitting apparatus in any radio station for which a station license is required by this chapter shall be carried on only by a person holding an operator’s license issued hereunder, and no person shall operate any such apparatus in such station except under and in accordance with an operator’s license issued to him by the Commission: Provided, however, That the Commission if it shall find that the public interest, convenience, or necessity will be served thereby may waive or modify the foregoing provisions of this section for the operation of any station except (1) stations for which licensed operators are required by international agreement, (2) stations for which licensed operators are required for safety purposes, and (3) stations operated as common carriers on frequencies below thirty thousand kilocycles: Provided further, That the Commission shall have power to make special regulations governing the granting of licenses for the use of automatic radio devices and for the operation of such devices.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 318, 48 Stat. 1089; Mar. 29, 1937, ch. 58, 50 Stat. 56; Pub. L. 86–609, § 1, July 7, 1960, 74 Stat. 363; Pub. L. 94–335, July 1, 1976, 90 Stat. 794; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 205, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3543; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(d), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4296.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 318

§ 319. Construction permits
(a) Requirements
(b) Time limitation; forfeiture
(c) Licenses for operation
(d) Government, amateur, or mobile station; waiver
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 319, 48 Stat. 1089; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, § 13, 66 Stat. 718; Mar. 26, 1954, ch. 111, 68 Stat. 35; Pub. L. 86–609, § 2, July 7, 1960, 74 Stat. 363; Pub. L. 86–752, § 4(b), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 892; Pub. L. 87–444, § 4, Apr. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 64; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, §§ 118, 119, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1095, 1096; Pub. L. 102–538, title II, § 204(c), Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3543; Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 403(m), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 132.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 319

§ 320. Stations liable to interfere with distress signals; designation and regulation

The Commission is authorized to designate from time to time radio stations the communications or signals of which, in its opinion, are liable to interfere with the transmission or reception of distress signals of ships. Such stations are required to keep a licensed radio operator listening in on the frequencies designated for signals of distress and radio communications relating thereto during the entire period the transmitter of such station is in operation.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 320, 48 Stat. 1090.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 320

§ 321. Distress signals and communications; equipment on vessels; regulations
(a) The transmitting set in a radio station on shipboard may be adjusted in such a manner as to produce a maximum of radiation, irrespective of the amount of interference which may thus be caused, when such station is sending radio communications or signals of distress and radio communications relating thereto.
(b) All radio stations, including Government stations and stations on board foreign vessels when within the territorial waters of the United States, shall give absolute priority to radio communications or signals relating to ships in distress; shall cease all sending on frequencies which will interfere with hearing a radio communication or signal of distress, and, except when engaged in answering or aiding the ship in distress, shall refrain from sending any radio communications or signals until there is assurance that no interference will be caused with the radio communications or signals relating thereto, and shall assist the vessel in distress, so far as possible, by complying with its instructions.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 321, 48 Stat. 1090; May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 7, 50 Stat. 191.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 321

§ 322. Exchanging radio communications between land and ship stations and from ship to ship

Every land station open to general public service between the coast and vessels or aircraft at sea shall, within the scope of its normal operations, be bound to exchange radio communications or signals with any ship or aircraft station at sea; and each station on shipboard or aircraft at sea shall, within the scope of its normal operations, be bound to exchange radio communications or signals with any other station on shipboard or aircraft at sea or with any land station open to general public service between the coast and vessels or aircraft at sea: Provided, That such exchange of radio communication shall be without distinction as to radio systems or instruments adopted by each station.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 322, 48 Stat. 1090; May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 8, 50 Stat. 191.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 322

§ 323. Interference between Government and commercial stations
(a) At all places where Government and private or commercial radio stations on land operate in such close proximity that interference with the work of Government stations cannot be avoided when they are operating simultaneously, such private or commercial stations as do interfere with the transmission or reception of radio communications or signals by the Government stations concerned shall not use their transmitters during the first fifteen minutes of each hour, local standard time.
(b) The Government stations for which the above-mentioned division of time is established shall transmit radio communications or signals only during the first fifteen minutes of each hour, local standard time, except in case of signals or radio communications relating to vessels in distress and vessel requests for information as to course, location, or compass direction.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 323, 48 Stat. 1090.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 323

§ 324. Use of minimum power

In all circumstances, except in case of radio communications or signals relating to vessels in distress, all radio stations, including those owned and operated by the United States, shall use the minimum amount of power necessary to carry out the communication desired.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 324, 48 Stat. 1091.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 324

§ 325. False, fraudulent, or unauthorized transmissions
(a) False distress signals; rebroadcasting programs
(b) Consent to retransmission of broadcasting station signals
(1) No cable system or other multichannel video programming distributor shall retransmit the signal of a broadcasting station, or any part thereof, except—
(A) with the express authority of the originating station;
(B) under section 534 of this title, in the case of a station electing, in accordance with this subsection, to assert the right to carriage under such section; or
(C) under section 338 of this title, in the case of a station electing, in accordance with this subsection, to assert the right to carriage under such section.
(2) This subsection shall not apply—
(A) to retransmission of the signal of a noncommercial television broadcast station;
(B) to retransmission of the signal of a television broadcast station outside the station’s local market by a satellite carrier directly to its subscribers, if—
(i) such station was a superstation on May 1, 1991;
(ii) as of July 1, 1998, such station was retransmitted by a satellite carrier under the statutory license of section 119 of title 17; and
(iii) the satellite carrier complies with any network nonduplication, syndicated exclusivity, and sports blackout rules adopted by the Commission under section 339(b) of this title;
(C) to retransmission of the signals of network stations directly to a home satellite antenna under the statutory license of section 119 of title 17;
(D) to retransmission by a cable operator or other multichannel video provider, other than a satellite carrier, of the signal of a television broadcast station outside the station’s local market if such signal was obtained from a satellite carrier and—
(i) the originating station was a superstation on May 1, 1991; and
(ii) as of July 1, 1998, such station was retransmitted by a satellite carrier under the statutory license of section 119 of title 17; or
(E) during the 6-month period beginning on November 29, 1999, to the retransmission of the signal of a television broadcast station within the station’s local market by a satellite carrier directly to its subscribers under the statutory license of section 122 of title 17.
For purposes of this paragraph, the terms “satellite carrier” and “superstation” have the meanings given those terms, respectively, in section 119(d) of title 17, as in effect on October 5, 1992.
(3)
(A) Within 45 days after October 5, 1992, the Commission shall commence a rulemaking proceeding to establish regulations to govern the exercise by television broadcast stations of the right to grant retransmission consent under this subsection and of the right to signal carriage under section 534 of this title, and such other regulations as are necessary to administer the limitations contained in paragraph (2). The Commission shall consider in such proceeding the impact that the grant of retransmission consent by television stations may have on the rates for the basic service tier and shall ensure that the regulations prescribed under this subsection do not conflict with the Commission’s obligation under section 543(b)(1) of this title to ensure that the rates for the basic service tier are reasonable. Such rulemaking proceeding shall be completed within 180 days after October 5, 1992.
(B) The regulations required by subparagraph (A) shall require that television stations, within one year after October 5, 1992, and every three years thereafter, make an election between the right to grant retransmission consent under this subsection and the right to signal carriage under section 534 of this title. If there is more than one cable system which services the same geographic area, a station’s election shall apply to all such cable systems.
(C) The Commission shall commence a rulemaking proceeding to revise the regulations governing the exercise by television broadcast stations of the right to grant retransmission consent under this subsection, and such other regulations as are necessary to administer the limitations contained in paragraph (2). Such regulations shall—
(i) establish election time periods that correspond with those regulations adopted under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph;
(ii) prohibit a television broadcast station that provides retransmission consent from engaging in exclusive contracts for carriage or failing to negotiate in good faith, and it shall not be a failure to negotiate in good faith if the television broadcast station enters into retransmission consent agreements containing different terms and conditions, including price terms, with different multichannel video programming distributors if such different terms and conditions are based on competitive marketplace considerations;
(iii) prohibit a multichannel video programming distributor from failing to negotiate in good faith for retransmission consent under this section, and it shall not be a failure to negotiate in good faith if the distributor enters into retransmission consent agreements containing different terms and conditions, including price terms, with different broadcast stations if such different terms and conditions are based on competitive marketplace considerations;
(iv) prohibit a television broadcast station from coordinating negotiations or negotiating on a joint basis with another television broadcast station in the same local market to grant retransmission consent under this section to a multichannel video programming distributor, unless such stations are directly or indirectly under common de jure control permitted under the regulations of the Commission;
(v) prohibit a television broadcast station from limiting the ability of a multichannel video programming distributor to carry into the local market of such station a television signal that has been deemed significantly viewed, within the meaning of section 76.54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, or any other television broadcast signal such distributor is authorized to carry under section 338, 339, 340, or 534 of this title, unless such stations are directly or indirectly under common de jure control permitted by the Commission; and
(vi) not later than 90 days after December 20, 2019, specify that—(I) a multichannel video programming distributor may satisfy its obligation to negotiate in good faith under clause (iii) with respect to a negotiation for retransmission consent under this section with a large station group by designating a qualified MVPD buying group to negotiate on its behalf, so long as the qualified MVPD buying group itself negotiates in good faith in accordance with such clause;(II) it is a violation of the obligation to negotiate in good faith under clause (iii) for the qualified MVPD buying group to disclose the prices, terms, or conditions of an ongoing negotiation or the final terms of a negotiation to a member of the qualified MVPD buying group that is not intending, or is unlikely, to enter into the final terms negotiated by the qualified MVPD buying group; and(III) a large station group has an obligation to negotiate in good faith under clause (ii) with respect to a negotiation for retransmission consent under this section with a qualified MVPD buying group.
(4) If an originating television station elects under paragraph (3)(B) to exercise its right to grant retransmission consent under this subsection with respect to a cable system, the provisions of section 534 of this title shall not apply to the carriage of the signal of such station by such cable system. If an originating television station elects under paragraph (3)(C) to exercise its right to grant retransmission consent under this subsection with respect to a satellite carrier, section 338 of this title shall not apply to the carriage of the signal of such station by such satellite carrier.
(5) The exercise by a television broadcast station of the right to grant retransmission consent under this subsection shall not interfere with or supersede the rights under section 338, 534, or 535 of this title of any station electing to assert the right to signal carriage under that section.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as modifying the compulsory copyright license established in section 111 of title 17 or as affecting existing or future video programming licensing agreements between broadcasting stations and video programmers.
(7) For purposes of this subsection, the term—
(A) “network station” has the meaning given such term under section 119(d) of title 17;
(B) “television broadcast station” means an over-the-air commercial or noncommercial television broadcast station licensed by the Commission under subpart E of part 73 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, except that such term does not include a low-power or translator television station;
(C) “qualified MVPD buying group” means an entity that, with respect to a negotiation with a large station group for retransmission consent under this section—
(i) negotiates on behalf of two or more multichannel video programming distributors—(I) none of which is a multichannel video programming distributor that serves more than 500,000 subscribers nationally; and(II) that do not collectively serve more than 25 percent of all households served by a multichannel video programming distributor in any single local market in which the applicable large station group operates; and
(ii) negotiates agreements for such retransmission consent—(I) that contain standardized contract provisions, including billing structures and technical quality standards, for each multichannel video programming distributor on behalf of which the entity negotiates; and(II) under which the entity assumes liability to remit to the applicable large station group all fees received from the multichannel video programming distributors on behalf of which the entity negotiates;
(D) “large station group” means a group of television broadcast stations that—
(i) are directly or indirectly under common de jure control permitted by the regulations of the Commission;
(ii) generally negotiate agreements for retransmission consent under this section as a single entity; and
(iii) include only television broadcast stations that have a national audience reach of more than 20 percent;
(E) “local market” has the meaning given such term in section 122(j) of title 17; and
(F) “multichannel video programming distributor” has the meaning given such term in section 522 of this title.
(c) Broadcast to foreign countries for rebroadcast to United States; permit
(d) Application for permit
(e) Enforcement proceedings against satellite carriers concerning retransmissions of television broadcast stations in the respective local markets of such carriers
(1) Complaints by television broadcast stationsIf after the expiration of the 6-month period described under subsection (b)(2)(E) a television broadcast station believes that a satellite carrier has retransmitted its signal to any person in the local market of such station in violation of subsection (b)(1), the station may file with the Commission a complaint providing—
(A) the name, address, and call letters of the station;
(B) the name and address of the satellite carrier;
(C) the dates on which the alleged retransmission occurred;
(D) the street address of at least one person in the local market of the station to whom the alleged retransmission was made;
(E) a statement that the retransmission was not expressly authorized by the television broadcast station; and
(F) the name and address of counsel for the station.
(2) Service of complaints on satellite carriers
(3) Answers by satellite carriers
(4) Defenses
(A) Exclusive defenses
(B) DefensesThe defenses referred to under subparagraph (A) are the defenses that—
(i) the satellite carrier did not retransmit the television broadcast station to any person in the local market of the station during the time period specified in the complaint;
(ii) the television broadcast station had, in a writing signed by an officer of the television broadcast station, expressly authorized the retransmission of the station by the satellite carrier to each person in the local market of the television broadcast station to which the satellite carrier made such retransmissions for the entire time period during which it is alleged that a violation of subsection (b)(1) has occurred;
(iii) the retransmission was made after January 1, 2002, and the television broadcast station had elected to assert the right to carriage under section 338 of this title as against the satellite carrier for the relevant period; or
(iv) the station being retransmitted is a noncommercial television broadcast station.
(5) Counting of violations
(6) Burden of proof
(7) Procedures
(A) Regulations
(B) Determinations
(i) In general
(ii) Discovery
(8) ReliefIf the Commission determines that a satellite carrier has retransmitted the television broadcast station to at least one person in the local market of such station and has failed to meet its burden of proving one of the defenses under paragraph (4) with respect to such retransmission, the Commission shall be required to—
(A) make a finding that the satellite carrier violated subsection (b)(1) with respect to that station; and
(B) issue an order, within 45 days after the filing of the complaint, containing—
(i) a cease-and-desist order directing the satellite carrier immediately to stop making any further retransmissions of the television broadcast station to any person within the local market of such station until such time as the Commission determines that the satellite carrier is in compliance with subsection (b)(1) with respect to such station;
(ii) if the satellite carrier is found to have violated subsection (b)(1) with respect to more than two television broadcast stations, a cease-and-desist order directing the satellite carrier to stop making any further retransmission of any television broadcast station to any person within the local market of such station, until such time as the Commission, after giving notice to the station, that the satellite carrier is in compliance with subsection (b)(1) with respect to such stations; and
(iii) an award to the complainant of that complainant’s costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
(9) Court proceedings on enforcement of Commission order
(A) In generalOn entry by the Commission of a final order granting relief under this subsection—
(i) a television broadcast station may apply within 30 days after such entry to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for a final judgment enforcing all relief granted by the Commission; and
(ii) the satellite carrier may apply within 30 days after such entry to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for a judgment reversing the Commission’s order.
(B) Appeal
(10) Civil action for statutory damages
(11) Appeals
(A) In general
(B) Appeal
(12) Sunset
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 325, 48 Stat. 1091; Pub. L. 102–385, § 6, Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1482; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title I, § 1009], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–537; Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title II, §§ 201, 207(a)], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3409, 3428; Pub. L. 111–118, div. B, § 1003(b), Dec. 19, 2009, 123 Stat. 3469; Pub. L. 111–144, § 10(b), Mar. 2, 2010, 124 Stat. 47; Pub. L. 111–151, § 2(b), Mar. 26, 2010, 124 Stat. 1027; Pub. L. 111–157, § 9(b), Apr. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 1119; Pub. L. 111–175, title II, § 202, May 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 1245; Pub. L. 113–200, title I, §§ 101, 103(a), (b), (d), Dec. 4, 2014, 128 Stat. 2060, 2062; Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title X, §§ 1002–1003(c), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3198, 3199.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 325

§ 326. Censorship

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 326, 48 Stat. 1091; June 25, 1948, ch. 645, § 21, 62 Stat. 862.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 326

§ 327. Naval stations; use for commercial messages; rates

The Secretary of the Navy is authorized, unless restrained by international agreement, under the terms and conditions and at rates prescribed by him, which rates shall be just and reasonable, and which, upon complaint, shall be subject to review and revision by the Commission, to use all radio stations and apparatus, wherever located, owned by the United States and under the control of the Navy Department, (a) for the reception and transmission of press messages offered by any newspaper published in the United States, its Territories or possessions, or published by citizens of the United States in foreign countries, or by any press association of the United States, and (b) for the reception and transmission of private commercial messages between ships, between ship and shore, between localities in Alaska and between Alaska and the continental United States: Provided, That the rates fixed for the reception and transmission of all such messages, other than press messages between the Pacific coast of the United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, the Philippine Islands, and the Orient, and between the United States and the Virgin Islands, shall not be less than the rates charged by privately owned and operated stations for like messages and service: Provided further, That the right to use such stations for any of the purposes named in this section shall terminate and cease as between any countries or localities or between any locality and privately operated ships whenever privately owned and operated stations are capable of meeting the normal communication requirements between such countries or localities or between any locality and privately operated ships, and the Commission shall have notified the Secretary of the Navy thereof.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 327, 48 Stat. 1091.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 327

§ 328. Repealed. Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 304(a)(10), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4297

CITE AS: 47 USC 328

§ 329. Administration of radio laws in Territories and possessions

The Commission is authorized to designate any officer or employee of any other department of the Government on duty in any Territory or possession of the United States to render therein such service in connection with the administration of this chapter as the Commission may prescribe and also to designate any officer or employee of any other department of the Government to render such services at any place within the United States in connection with the administration of this subchapter as may be necessary: Provided, That such designation shall be approved by the head of the department in which such person is employed.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 329, 48 Stat. 1092; May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 9, 50 Stat. 191.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 329

§ 330. Prohibition against shipment of certain television receivers
(a) No person shall ship in interstate commerce, or import from any foreign country into the United States, for sale or resale to the public, apparatus described in subsection (s) of section 303 of this title unless it complies with rules prescribed by the Commission pursuant to the authority granted by that subsection: Provided, That this section shall not apply to carriers transporting such apparatus without trading in it.
(b) No person shall ship in interstate commerce, manufacture, assemble, or import from any foreign country into the United States, any apparatus described in section 303(u) and (z) of this title except in accordance with rules prescribed by the Commission pursuant to the authority granted by that section. Such rules shall provide performance and display standards for such built-in decoder circuitry or capability designed to display closed captioned video programming, the transmission and delivery of video description services, and the conveyance of emergency information as required by section 303 of this title. Such rules shall further require that all such apparatus be able to receive and display closed captioning which have been transmitted by way of line 21 of the vertical blanking interval and which conform to the signal and display specifications set forth in the Public Broadcasting System engineering report numbered E–7709–C dated May 1980, as amended by the Telecaption II Decoder Module Performance Specification published by the National Captioning Institute, November 1985. As new video technology is developed, the Commission shall take such action as the Commission determines appropriate to ensure that closed-captioning service and video description service continue to be available to consumers. This subsection shall not apply to carriers transporting such apparatus without trading it.
(c)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no person shall ship in interstate commerce or manufacture in the United States any apparatus described in section 303(x) of this title except in accordance with rules prescribed by the Commission pursuant to the authority granted by that section.
(2) This subsection shall not apply to carriers transporting apparatus referred to in paragraph (1) without trading in it.
(3) The rules prescribed by the Commission under this subsection shall provide for the oversight by the Commission of the adoption of standards by industry for blocking technology. Such rules shall require that all such apparatus be able to receive the rating signals which have been transmitted by way of line 21 of the vertical blanking interval and which conform to the signal and blocking specifications established by industry under the supervision of the Commission.
(4) As new video technology is developed, the Commission shall take such action as the Commission determines appropriate to ensure that blocking service continues to be available to consumers. If the Commission determines that an alternative blocking technology exists that—
(A) enables parents to block programming based on identifying programs without ratings,
(B) is available to consumers at a cost which is comparable to the cost of technology that allows parents to block programming based on common ratings, and
(C) will allow parents to block a broad range of programs on a multichannel system as effectively and as easily as technology that allows parents to block programming based on common ratings,
the Commission shall amend the rules prescribed pursuant to section 303(x) of this title to require that the apparatus described in such section be equipped with either the blocking technology described in such section or the alternative blocking technology described in this paragraph.
(d) For the purposes of this section, and sections 303(s), 303(u), and 303(x) of this title—
(1) The term “interstate commerce” means (A) commerce between any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States and any place outside thereof which is within the United States, (B) commerce between points in the same State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or possession of the United States but through any place outside thereof, or (C) commerce wholly within the District of Columbia or any possession of the United States.
(2) The term “United States” means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the possessions of the United States, but does not include the Canal Zone.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 330, as added Pub. L. 87–529, § 2, July 10, 1962, 76 Stat. 151; amended Pub. L. 101–431, § 4, Oct. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 961; Pub. L. 104–104, title V, § 551(d), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 141; Pub. L. 111–260, title II, § 203(c), Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2773.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 330

§ 331. Very high frequency stations and AM radio stations
(a) Very high frequency stations
(b) AM radio stations
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 331, as added Pub. L. 97–248, title III, § 355, Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 641; amended Pub. L. 102–243, § 4, Dec. 20, 1991, 105 Stat. 2402; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(a)(18), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4295; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, § 402(i)(5), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1089.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 331

§ 332. Mobile services
(a) Factors which Commission must considerIn taking actions to manage the spectrum to be made available for use by the private mobile services, the Commission shall consider, consistent with section 151 of this title, whether such actions will—
(1) promote the safety of life and property;
(2) improve the efficiency of spectrum use and reduce the regulatory burden upon spectrum users, based upon sound engineering principles, user operational requirements, and marketplace demands;
(3) encourage competition and provide services to the largest feasible number of users; or
(4) increase interservice sharing opportunities between private mobile services and other services.
(b) Advisory coordinating committees
(1) The Commission, in coordinating the assignment of frequencies to stations in the private mobile services and in the fixed services (as defined by the Commission by rule), shall have authority to utilize assistance furnished by advisory coordinating committees consisting of individuals who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government.
(2) The authority of the Commission established in this subsection shall not be subject to or affected by the provisions of part III of title 5 or section 1342 of title 31.
(3) Any person who provides assistance to the Commission under this subsection shall not be considered, by reason of having provided such assistance, a Federal employee.
(4) Any advisory coordinating committee which furnishes assistance to the Commission under this subsection shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 10 of title 5.
(c) Regulatory treatment of mobile services
(1) Common carrier treatment of commercial mobile services
(A) A person engaged in the provision of a service that is a commercial mobile service shall, insofar as such person is so engaged, be treated as a common carrier for purposes of this chapter, except for such provisions of subchapter II as the Commission may specify by regulation as inapplicable to that service or person. In prescribing or amending any such regulation, the Commission may not specify any provision of section 201, 202, or 208 of this title, and may specify any other provision only if the Commission determines that—
(i) enforcement of such provision is not necessary in order to ensure that the charges, practices, classifications, or regulations for or in connection with that service are just and reasonable and are not unjustly or unreasonably discriminatory;
(ii) enforcement of such provision is not necessary for the protection of consumers; and
(iii) specifying such provision is consistent with the public interest.
(B) Upon reasonable request of any person providing commercial mobile service, the Commission shall order a common carrier to establish physical connections with such service pursuant to the provisions of section 201 of this title. Except to the extent that the Commission is required to respond to such a request, this subparagraph shall not be construed as a limitation or expansion of the Commission’s authority to order interconnection pursuant to this chapter.
(C) As a part of making a determination with respect to the public interest under subparagraph (A)(iii), the Commission shall consider whether the proposed regulation (or amendment thereof) will promote competitive market conditions, including the extent to which such regulation (or amendment) will enhance competition among providers of commercial mobile services. If the Commission determines that such regulation (or amendment) will promote competition among providers of commercial mobile services, such determination may be the basis for a Commission finding that such regulation (or amendment) is in the public interest.
(D) The Commission shall, not later than 180 days after August 10, 1993, complete a rulemaking required to implement this paragraph with respect to the licensing of personal communications services, including making any determinations required by subparagraph (C).
(2) Non-common carrier treatment of private mobile services
(3) State preemption
(A) Notwithstanding sections 152(b) and 221(b) of this title, no State or local government shall have any authority to regulate the entry of or the rates charged by any commercial mobile service or any private mobile service, except that this paragraph shall not prohibit a State from regulating the other terms and conditions of commercial mobile services. Nothing in this subparagraph shall exempt providers of commercial mobile services (where such services are a substitute for land line telephone exchange service for a substantial portion of the communications within such State) from requirements imposed by a State commission on all providers of telecommunications services necessary to ensure the universal availability of telecommunications service at affordable rates. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this subparagraph, a State may petition the Commission for authority to regulate the rates for any commercial mobile service and the Commission shall grant such petition if such State demonstrates that—
(i) market conditions with respect to such services fail to protect subscribers adequately from unjust and unreasonable rates or rates that are unjustly or unreasonably discriminatory; or
(ii) such market conditions exist and such service is a replacement for land line telephone exchange service for a substantial portion of the telephone land line exchange service within such State.
The Commission shall provide reasonable opportunity for public comment in response to such petition, and shall, within 9 months after the date of its submission, grant or deny such petition. If the Commission grants such petition, the Commission shall authorize the State to exercise under State law such authority over rates, for such periods of time, as the Commission deems necessary to ensure that such rates are just and reasonable and not unjustly or unreasonably discriminatory.
(B) If a State has in effect on June 1, 1993, any regulation concerning the rates for any commercial mobile service offered in such State on such date, such State may, no later than 1 year after August 10, 1993, petition the Commission requesting that the State be authorized to continue exercising authority over such rates. If a State files such a petition, the State’s existing regulation shall, notwithstanding subparagraph (A), remain in effect until the Commission completes all action (including any reconsideration) on such petition. The Commission shall review such petition in accordance with the procedures established in such subparagraph, shall complete all action (including any reconsideration) within 12 months after such petition is filed, and shall grant such petition if the State satisfies the showing required under subparagraph (A)(i) or (A)(ii). If the Commission grants such petition, the Commission shall authorize the State to exercise under State law such authority over rates, for such period of time, as the Commission deems necessary to ensure that such rates are just and reasonable and not unjustly or unreasonably discriminatory. After a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Commission, has elapsed from the issuance of an order under subparagraph (A) or this subparagraph, any interested party may petition the Commission for an order that the exercise of authority by a State pursuant to such subparagraph is no longer necessary to ensure that the rates for commercial mobile services are just and reasonable and not unjustly or unreasonably discriminatory. The Commission shall provide reasonable opportunity for public comment in response to such petition, and shall, within 9 months after the date of its submission, grant or deny such petition in whole or in part.
(4) Regulatory treatment of communications satellite corporation
(5) Space segment capacity
(6) Foreign ownershipThe Commission, upon a petition for waiver filed within 6 months after August 10, 1993, may waive the application of section 310(b) of this title to any foreign ownership that lawfully existed before May 24, 1993, of any provider of a private land mobile service that will be treated as a common carrier as a result of the enactment of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, but only upon the following conditions:
(A) The extent of foreign ownership interest shall not be increased above the extent which existed on May 24, 1993.
(B) Such waiver shall not permit the subsequent transfer of ownership to any other person in violation of section 310(b) of this title.
(7) Preservation of local zoning authority
(A) General authority
(B) Limitations
(i) The regulation of the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities by any State or local government or instrumentality thereof—(I) shall not unreasonably discriminate among providers of functionally equivalent services; and(II) shall not prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting the provision of personal wireless services.
(ii) A State or local government or instrumentality thereof shall act on any request for authorization to place, construct, or modify personal wireless service facilities within a reasonable period of time after the request is duly filed with such government or instrumentality, taking into account the nature and scope of such request.
(iii) Any decision by a State or local government or instrumentality thereof to deny a request to place, construct, or modify personal wireless service facilities shall be in writing and supported by substantial evidence contained in a written record.
(iv) No State or local government or instrumentality thereof may regulate the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent that such facilities comply with the Commission’s regulations concerning such emissions.
(v) Any person adversely affected by any final action or failure to act by a State or local government or any instrumentality thereof that is inconsistent with this subparagraph may, within 30 days after such action or failure to act, commence an action in any court of competent jurisdiction. The court shall hear and decide such action on an expedited basis. Any person adversely affected by an act or failure to act by a State or local government or any instrumentality thereof that is inconsistent with clause (iv) may petition the Commission for relief.
(C) DefinitionsFor purposes of this paragraph—
(i) the term “personal wireless services” means commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common carrier wireless exchange access services;
(ii) the term “personal wireless service facilities” means facilities for the provision of personal wireless services; and
(iii) the term “unlicensed wireless service” means the offering of telecommunications services using duly authorized devices which do not require individual licenses, but does not mean the provision of direct-to-home satellite services (as defined in section 303(v) of this title).
(8) Mobile services access
(d) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—
(1) the term “commercial mobile service” means any mobile service (as defined in section 153 of this title) that is provided for profit and makes interconnected service available (A) to the public or (B) to such classes of eligible users as to be effectively available to a substantial portion of the public, as specified by regulation by the Commission;
(2) the term “interconnected service” means service that is interconnected with the public switched network (as such terms are defined by regulation by the Commission) or service for which a request for interconnection is pending pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(B); and
(3) the term “private mobile service” means any mobile service (as defined in section 153 of this title) that is not a commercial mobile service or the functional equivalent of a commercial mobile service, as specified by regulation by the Commission.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 332, formerly § 331, as added Pub. L. 97–259, title I, § 120(a), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1096; renumbered § 332, Pub. L. 102–385, § 25(b), Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1502; amended Pub. L. 103–66, title VI, § 6002(b)(2)(A), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 392; Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(d)(2), title VII, §§ 704(a), 705, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 61, 151, 153; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, § 402(g), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1089; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(296), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4338.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 332

§ 333. Willful or malicious interference

No person shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under this chapter or operated by the United States Government.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 333, as added Pub. L. 101–396, § 9, Sept. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 850.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 333

§ 334. Limitation on revision of equal employment opportunity regulations
(a) Limitation
Except as specifically provided in this section, the Commission shall not revise—
(1) the regulations concerning equal employment opportunity as in effect on September 1, 1992 (47 C.F.R. 73.2080) as such regulations apply to television broadcast station licensees and permittees; or
(2) the forms used by such licensees and permittees to report pertinent employment data to the Commission.
(b) Midterm review
(c) Authority to make technical revisions
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 334, as added Pub. L. 102–385, § 22(f), Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1499.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 334

§ 335. Direct broadcast satellite service obligations
(a) Proceeding required to review DBS responsibilities
(b) Carriage obligations for noncommercial, educational, State public affairs, and informational programming
(1) Channel capacity required
(A) In general
(B) Requirement for qualified satellite provider
(2) Use of unused channel capacity
(3) Prices, terms, and conditions; editorial control
(4) LimitationsIn determining reasonable prices under paragraph (3)—
(A) the Commission shall take into account the nonprofit character of the programming provider and any Federal funds used to support such programming;
(B) the Commission shall not permit such prices to exceed, for any channel made available under this subsection, 50 percent of the total direct costs of making such channel available; and
(C) in the calculation of total direct costs, the Commission shall exclude—
(i) marketing costs, general administrative costs, and similar overhead costs of the provider of direct broadcast satellite service; and
(ii) the revenue that such provider might have obtained by making such channel available to a commercial provider of video programming.
(5) DefinitionsFor purposes of this subsection:
(A) The term “provider of direct broadcast satellite service” means—
(i) a licensee for a Ku-band satellite system under part 100 of title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations; or
(ii) any distributor who controls a minimum number of channels (as specified by Commission regulation) using a Ku-band fixed service satellite system for the provision of video programming directly to the home and licensed under part 25 of title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(B) The term “national educational programming supplier” includes any qualified noncommercial educational television station, other public telecommunications entities, and public or private educational institutions.
(C) The term “qualified satellite provider” means any provider of direct broadcast satellite service that—
(i) provides the retransmission of the State public affairs networks of at least 15 different States;
(ii) offers the programming of State public affairs networks upon reasonable prices, terms, and conditions as determined by the Commission under paragraph (4); and
(iii) does not delete any noncommercial programming of an educational or informational nature in connection with the carriage of a State public affairs network.
(D) The term “State public affairs network” means a non-commercial non-broadcast network or a noncommercial educational television station—
(i) whose programming consists of information about State government deliberations and public policy events; and
(ii) that is operated by—(I) a State government or subdivision thereof;(II) an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of title 26 that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such title and that is governed by an independent board of directors; or(III) a cable system.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 335, as added Pub. L. 102–385, § 25(a), Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1501; amended Pub. L. 111–175, title II, § 209, May 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 1254.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 335

§ 336. Broadcast spectrum flexibility
(a) Commission actionIf the Commission determines to issue additional licenses for advanced television services, the Commission—
(1) should limit the initial eligibility for such licenses to persons that, as of the date of such issuance, are licensed to operate a television broadcast station or hold a permit to construct such a station (or both); and
(2) shall adopt regulations that allow the holders of such licenses to offer such ancillary or supplementary services on designated frequencies as may be consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity.
(b) Contents of regulationsIn prescribing the regulations required by subsection (a), the Commission shall—
(1) only permit such licensee or permittee to offer ancillary or supplementary services if the use of a designated frequency for such services is consistent with the technology or method designated by the Commission for the provision of advanced television services;
(2) limit the broadcasting of ancillary or supplementary services on designated frequencies so as to avoid derogation of any advanced television services, including high definition television broadcasts, that the Commission may require using such frequencies;
(3) apply to any other ancillary or supplementary service such of the Commission’s regulations as are applicable to the offering of analogous services by any other person, except that no ancillary or supplementary service shall have any rights to carriage under section 534 or 535 of this title or be deemed a multichannel video programming distributor for purposes of section 548 of this title;
(4) adopt such technical and other requirements as may be necessary or appropriate to assure the quality of the signal used to provide advanced television services, and may adopt regulations that stipulate the minimum number of hours per day that such signal must be transmitted; and
(5) prescribe such other regulations as may be necessary for the protection of the public interest, convenience, and necessity.
(c) Recovery of license
(d) Public interest requirement
(e) Fees
(1) Services to which fees applyIf the regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (a) permit a licensee to offer ancillary or supplementary services on a designated frequency—
(A) for which the payment of a subscription fee is required in order to receive such services, or
(B) for which the licensee directly or indirectly receives compensation from a third party in return for transmitting material furnished by such third party (other than commercial advertisements used to support broadcasting for which a subscription fee is not required),
the Commission shall establish a program to assess and collect from the licensee for such designated frequency an annual fee or other schedule or method of payment that promotes the objectives described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2).
(2) Collection of feesThe program required by paragraph (1) shall—
(A) be designed (i) to recover for the public a portion of the value of the public spectrum resource made available for such commercial use, and (ii) to avoid unjust enrichment through the method employed to permit such uses of that resource;
(B) recover for the public an amount that, to the extent feasible, equals but does not exceed (over the term of the license) the amount that would have been recovered had such services been licensed pursuant to the provisions of section 309(j) of this title and the Commission’s regulations thereunder; and
(C) be adjusted by the Commission from time to time in order to continue to comply with the requirements of this paragraph.
(3) Treatment of revenues
(A) General rule
(B) Retention of revenues
(4) Report
(f) Preservation of low-power community television broadcasting
(1) Creation of class A licenses
(A) Rulemaking requiredWithin 120 days after November 29, 1999, the Commission shall prescribe regulations to establish a class A television license to be available to licensees of qualifying low-power television stations. Such regulations shall provide that—
(i) the license shall be subject to the same license terms and renewal standards as the licenses for full-power television stations except as provided in this subsection; and
(ii) each such class A licensee shall be accorded primary status as a television broadcaster as long as the station continues to meet the requirements for a qualifying low-power station in paragraph (2).
(B) Notice to and certification by licensees
(C) Application for and award of licenses
(D) Resolution of technical problemsThe Commission shall act to preserve the service areas of low-power television licensees pending the final resolution of a class A application. If, after granting certification of eligibility for a class A license, technical problems arise requiring an engineering solution to a full-power station’s allotted parameters or channel assignment in the digital television Table of Allotments, the Commission shall make such modifications as necessary—
(i) to ensure replication of the full-power digital television applicant’s service area, as provided for in sections 73.622 and 73.623 of the Commission’s regulations (47 CFR 73.622, 73.623); and
(ii) to permit maximization of a full-power digital television applicant’s service area consistent with such sections 73.622 and 73.623,
if such applicant has filed an application for maximization or a notice of its intent to seek such maximization by December 31, 1999, and filed a bona fide application for maximization by May 1, 2000. Any such applicant shall comply with all applicable Commission rules regarding the construction of digital television facilities.
(E) Change applications
(2) Qualifying low-power television stationsFor purposes of this subsection, a station is a qualifying low-power television station if—
(A)
(i) during the 90 days preceding November 29, 1999—(I) such station broadcast a minimum of 18 hours per day;(II) such station broadcast an average of at least 3 hours per week of programming that was produced within the market area served by such station, or the market area served by a group of commonly controlled low-power stations that carry common local programming produced within the market area served by such group; and(III) such station was in compliance with the Commission’s requirements applicable to low-power television stations; and
(ii) from and after the date of its application for a class A license, the station is in compliance with the Commission’s operating rules for full-power television stations; or
(B) the Commission determines that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served by treating the station as a qualifying low-power television station for purposes of this section, or for other reasons determined by the Commission.
(3) Common ownership
(4) Issuance of licenses for advanced television services to television translator stations and qualifying low-power television stations
(5) No preemption of section 337
(6) Interim qualification
(A) Stations operating within certain bandwidth
(B) Certain channels off-limits
(7) No interference requirementThe Commission may not grant a class A license, nor approve a modification of a class A license, unless the applicant or licensee shows that the class A station for which the license or modification is sought will not cause—
(A) interference within—
(i) the predicted Grade B contour (as of the date of the enactment of the Community Broadcasters Protection Act of 1999 [November 29, 1999], or November 1, 1999, whichever is later, or as proposed in a change application filed on or before such date) of any television station transmitting in analog format; or
(ii)(I) the digital television service areas provided in the DTV Table of Allotments; (II) the areas protected in the Commission’s digital television regulations (47 CFR 73.622(e) and (f)); (III) the digital television service areas of stations subsequently granted by the Commission prior to the filing of a class A application; and (IV) stations seeking to maximize power under the Commission’s rules, if such station has complied with the notification requirements in paragraph (1)(D);
(B) interference within the protected contour of any low-power television station or low-power television translator station that—
(i) was licensed prior to the date on which the application for a class A license, or for the modification of such a license, was filed;
(ii) was authorized by construction permit prior to such date; or
(iii) had a pending application that was submitted prior to such date; or
(C) interference within the protected contour of 80 miles from the geographic center of the areas listed in section 22.625(b)(1) or 90.303 of the Commission’s regulations (47 CFR 22.625(b)(1) and 90.303) for frequencies in—
(i) the 470–512 megahertz band identified in section 22.621 or 90.303 of such regulations; or
(ii) the 482–488 megahertz band in New York.
(8) Priority for displaced low-power stations
(g) EvaluationWithin 10 years after the date the Commission first issues additional licenses for advanced television services, the Commission shall conduct an evaluation of the advanced television services program. Such evaluation shall include—
(1) an assessment of the willingness of consumers to purchase the television receivers necessary to receive broadcasts of advanced television services;
(2) an assessment of alternative uses, including public safety use, of the frequencies used for such broadcasts; and
(3) the extent to which the Commission has been or will be able to reduce the amount of spectrum assigned to licensees.
(h) Provision of digital data service by low-power television stations
(1) Within 60 days after receiving a request (made in such form and manner and containing such information as the Commission may require) under this subsection from a low-power television station to which this subsection applies, the Commission shall authorize the licensee or permittee of that station to provide digital data service subject to the requirements of this subsection as a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of using low-power television stations to provide high-speed wireless digital data service, including Internet access to unserved areas.
(2) The low-power television stations to which this subsection applies are as follows:
(A) KHLM–LP, Houston, Texas.
(B) WTAM–LP, Tampa, Florida.
(C) WWRJ–LP, Jacksonville, Florida.
(D) WVBG–LP, Albany, New York.
(E) KHHI–LP, Honolulu, Hawaii.
(F) KPHE–LP (K19DD), Phoenix, Arizona.
(G) K34FI, Bozeman, Montana.
(H) K65GZ, Bozeman, Montana.
(I) WXOB–LP, Richmond, Virginia.
(J) WIIW–LP, Nashville, Tennessee.
(K) A station and repeaters to be determined by the Federal Communications Commission for the sole purpose of providing service to communities in the Kenai Peninsula Borough and Matanuska Susitna Borough.
(L) WSPY–LP, Plano, Illinois.
(M) W24AJ, Aurora, Illinois.
(3) Notwithstanding any requirement of section 553 of title 5, the Commission shall promulgate regulations establishing the procedures, consistent with the requirements of paragraphs (4) and (5), governing the pilot projects for the provision of digital data services by certain low power television licensees within 120 days after the date of enactment of LPTV Digital Data Services Act.1
1 See References in Text note below.
The regulations shall set forth—
(A) requirements as to the form, manner, and information required for submitting requests to the Commission to provide digital data service as a pilot project;
(B) procedures for testing interference to digital television receivers caused by any pilot project station or remote transmitter;
(C) procedures for terminating any pilot project station or remote transmitter or both that causes interference to any analog or digital full-power television stations, class A television station, television translators or any other users of the core television band;
(D) specifications for reports to be filed quarterly by each low power television licensee participating in a pilot project;
(E) procedures by which a low power television licensee participating in a pilot project shall notify television broadcast stations in the same market upon commencement of digital data services and for ongoing coordination with local broadcasters during the test period; and
(F) procedures for the receipt and review of interference complaints on an expedited basis consistent with paragraph (5)(D).
(4) A low-power television station to which this subsection applies may not provide digital data service unless—
(A) the provision of that service, including any remote return-path transmission in the case of 2-way digital data service, does not cause any interference in violation of the Commission’s existing rules, regarding interference caused by low power television stations to full-service analog or digital television stations, class A television stations, or television translator stations; and
(B) the station complies with the Commission’s regulations governing safety, environmental, and sound engineering practices, and any other Commission regulation under paragraph (3) governing pilot program operations.
(5)
(A) The Commission may limit the provision of digital data service by a low-power television station to which this subsection applies if the Commission finds that—
(i) the provision of 2-way digital data service by that station causes any interference that cannot otherwise be remedied; or
(ii) the provision of 1-way digital data service by that station causes any interference.
(B) The Commission shall grant any such station, upon application (made in such form and manner and containing such information as the Commission may require) by the licensee or permittee of that station, authority to move the station to another location, to modify its facilities to operate on a different channel, or to use booster or auxiliary transmitting locations, if the grant of authority will not cause interference to the allowable or protected service areas of full service digital television stations, National Television Standards Committee assignments, or television translator stations, and provided, however, no such authority shall be granted unless it is consistent with existing Commission regulations relating to the movement, modification, and use of non-class A low power television transmission facilities in order—
(i) to operate within television channels 2 through 51, inclusive; or
(ii) to demonstrate the utility of low-power television stations to provide high-speed 2-way wireless digital data service.
(C) The Commission shall require quarterly reports from each station authorized to provide digital data services under this subsection that include—
(i) information on the station’s experience with interference complaints and the resolution thereof;
(ii) information on the station’s market success in providing digital data service; and
(iii) such other information as the Commission may require in order to administer this subsection.
(D) The Commission shall resolve any complaints of interference with television reception caused by any station providing digital data service authorized under this subsection within 60 days after the complaint is received by the Commission.
(6) The Commission shall assess and collect from any low-power television station authorized to provide digital data service under this subsection an annual fee or other schedule or method of payment comparable to any fee imposed under the authority of this chapter on providers of similar services. Amounts received by the Commission under this paragraph may be retained by the Commission as an offsetting collection to the extent necessary to cover the costs of developing and implementing the pilot program authorized by this subsection, and regulating and supervising the provision of digital data service by low-power television stations under this subsection. Amounts received by the Commission under this paragraph in excess of any amount retained under the preceding sentence shall be deposited in the Treasury in accordance with chapter 33 of title 31.
(7) In this subsection, the term “digital data service” includes—
(A) digitally-based interactive broadcast service; and
(B) wireless Internet access, without regard to—
(i) whether such access is—(I) provided on a one-way or a two-way basis;(II) portable or fixed; or(III) connected to the Internet via a band allocated to Interactive Video and Data Service; and
(ii) the technology employed in delivering such service, including the delivery of such service via multiple transmitters at multiple locations.
(8) Nothing in this subsection limits the authority of the Commission under any other provision of law.
(i) DefinitionsAs used in this section:
(1) Advanced television services
(2) Designated frequencies
(3) High definition television
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 336, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title II, § 201, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 107; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title V, § 5008(c)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–595; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title I, § 143(a)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–235; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, § 402(i)(6), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1090.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 336

§ 337. Allocation and assignment of new public safety services licenses and commercial licenses
(a) In generalNot later than January 1, 1998, the Commission shall allocate the electromagnetic spectrum between 746 megahertz and 806 megahertz, inclusive, as follows:
(1) 34 megahertz of that spectrum for public safety services according to the terms and conditions established by the Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Attorney General; and
(2) 26 megahertz of that spectrum for commercial use to be assigned by competitive bidding pursuant to section 309(j) of this title.
(b) Assignment
(c) Licensing of unused frequencies for public safety services
(1) Use of unused channels for public safety servicesUpon application by an entity seeking to provide public safety services, the Commission shall waive any requirement of this chapter or its regulations implementing this chapter (other than its regulations regarding harmful interference) to the extent necessary to permit the use of unassigned frequencies for the provision of public safety services by such entity. An application shall be granted under this subsection if the Commission finds that—
(A) no other spectrum allocated to public safety services is immediately available to satisfy the requested public safety service use;
(B) the requested use is technically feasible without causing harmful interference to other spectrum users entitled to protection from such interference under the Commission’s regulations;
(C) the use of the unassigned frequency for the provision of public safety services is consistent with other allocations for the provision of such services in the geographic area for which the application is made;
(D) the unassigned frequency was allocated for its present use not less than 2 years prior to the date on which the application is granted; and
(E) granting such application is consistent with the public interest.
(2) Applicability
(d) Conditions on licensesIn establishing service rules with respect to licenses granted pursuant to this section, the Commission—
(1) shall establish interference limits at the boundaries of the spectrum block and service area;
(2) shall establish any additional technical restrictions necessary to protect full-service analog television service and digital television service during a transition to digital television service;
(3) may permit public safety services licensees and commercial licensees—
(A) to aggregate multiple licenses to create larger spectrum blocks and service areas; and
(B) to disaggregate or partition licenses to create smaller spectrum blocks or service areas; and
(4) shall establish rules insuring that public safety services licensees using spectrum reallocated pursuant to subsection (a)(1) shall not be subject to harmful interference from television broadcast licensees.
(e) Removal and relocation of incumbent broadcast licensees
(1) Channels 52 to 69
(2) Incumbent qualifying low-power stations
(f) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section:
(1) Public safety servicesThe term “public safety services” means services—
(A) the sole or principal purpose of which is to protect the safety of life, health, or property;
(B) that are provided—
(i) by State or local government entities; or
(ii) by nongovernmental organizations that are authorized by a governmental entity whose primary mission is the provision of such services; and
(C) that are not made commercially available to the public by the provider.
(2) Qualifying low-power television stationsA station is a qualifying low-power television station if, during the 90 days preceding August 5, 1997—
(A) such station broadcast a minimum of 18 hours per day;
(B) such station broadcast an average of at least 3 hours per week of programming that was produced within the market area served by such station; and
(C) such station was in compliance with the requirements applicable to low-power television stations.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 337, as added Pub. L. 105–33, title III, § 3004, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 266; amended Pub. L. 106–79, title VIII, § 8124(a), Oct. 25, 1999, 113 Stat. 1262; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(5) [title II, § 213(a)(1), (d)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–295, 1501A–297; Pub. L. 109–171, title III, § 3002(c)(1), Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 21; Pub. L. 111–4, § 2(b)(3), Feb. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 112; Pub. L. 112–96, title VI, § 6101(b), Feb. 22, 2012, 126 Stat. 205.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 337

§ 338. Carriage of local television signals by satellite carriers
(a) Carriage obligations
(1) In general
(2) Remedies for failure to carry
(3) Low power station carriage optional
(4) Carriage of signals of local stations in certain markets
(5) Nondiscrimination in carriage of high definition signals of noncommercial educational television stations
(A) Existing carriage of high definition signalsIf, before the date of enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010, an eligible satellite carrier is providing, under section 122 of title 17, any secondary transmissions in high definition format to subscribers located within the local market of a television broadcast station of a primary transmission made by that station, then such satellite carrier shall carry the signals in high-definition format of qualified noncommercial educational television stations located within that local market in accordance with the following schedule:
(i) By December 31, 2010, in at least 50 percent of the markets in which such satellite carrier provides such secondary transmissions in high definition format.
(ii) By December 31, 2011, in every market in which such satellite carrier provides such secondary transmissions in high definition format.
(B) New initiation of service
(b) Good signal required
(1) Costs
(2) Regulations
(c) Duplication not required
(1) Commercial stations
(2) Noncommercial stations
(d) Channel positioning
(e) Compensation for carriage
(f) Remedies
(1) Complaints by broadcast stations
(2) Opportunity to respond
(3) Remedial actions; dismissal
(g) Carriage of local stations on a single reception antenna
(1) Single reception antenna
(2) Additional reception antenna
(h) Additional notices to subscribers, networks, and stations concerning signal carriage
(1) Notices to and elections by subscribers concerning grandfathered signalsAny carrier that provides a distant signal of a network station to a subscriber pursuant 2
2 So in original. Probably should be followed by “to”.
section 339(a)(2)(A) of this title shall—
(A) within 60 days after the local signal of a network station of the same television network is available pursuant to section 338 of this title, or within 60 days after December 8, 2004, whichever is later, send a notice to the subscriber—
(i) offering to substitute the local network signal for the duplicating distant network signal; and
(ii) informing the subscriber that, if the subscriber fails to respond in 60 days, the subscriber will lose the distant network signal but will be permitted to subscribe to the local network signal; and
(B) if the subscriber—
(i) elects to substitute such local network signal within such 60 days, switch such subscriber to such local network signal within 10 days after the end of such 60-day period; or
(ii) fails to respond within such 60 days, terminate the distant network signal within 10 days after the end of such 60-day period.
(2) Notice to station licensees of commencement of local-into-local service
(A) Notice required
(B) Contents of commencement noticeThe notice required by such regulations shall inform each television broadcast station licensee within any local market in which a satellite carrier proposes to commence carriage of signals of stations from that market, not later than 60 days prior to the commencement of such carriage—
(i) of the carrier’s intention to launch local-into-local service under this section in a local market, the identity of that local market, and the location of the carrier’s proposed local receive facility for that local market;
(ii) of the right of such licensee to elect carriage under this section or grant retransmission consent under section 325(b) of this title;
(iii) that such licensee has 30 days from the date of the receipt of such notice to make such election; and
(iv) that failure to make such election will result in the loss of the right to demand carriage under this section for the remainder of the 3-year cycle of carriage under section 325 of this title.
(C) Transmission of notices
(i) Privacy rights of satellite subscribers
(1) NoticeAt the time of entering into an agreement to provide any satellite service or other service to a subscriber and at least once a year thereafter, a satellite carrier shall provide notice in the form of a separate, written statement to such subscriber which clearly and conspicuously informs the subscriber of—
(A) the nature of personally identifiable information collected or to be collected with respect to the subscriber and the nature of the use of such information;
(B) the nature, frequency, and purpose of any disclosure which may be made of such information, including an identification of the types of persons to whom the disclosure may be made;
(C) the period during which such information will be maintained by the satellite carrier;
(D) the times and place at which the subscriber may have access to such information in accordance with paragraph (5); and
(E) the limitations provided by this section with respect to the collection and disclosure of information by a satellite carrier and the right of the subscriber under paragraphs (7) and (9) to enforce such limitations.
In the case of subscribers who have entered into such an agreement before the effective date of this subsection, such notice shall be provided within 180 days of such date and at least once a year thereafter.
(2) DefinitionsFor purposes of this subsection, other than paragraph (9)—
(A) the term “personally identifiable information” does not include any record of aggregate data which does not identify particular persons;
(B) the term “other service” includes any wire or radio communications service provided using any of the facilities of a satellite carrier that are used in the provision of satellite service; and
(C) the term “satellite carrier” includes, in addition to persons within the definition of satellite carrier, any person who—
(i) is owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or control with, a satellite carrier; and
(ii) provides any wire or radio communications service.
(3) Prohibitions
(A) Consent to collection
(B) ExceptionsA satellite carrier may use such facilities to collect such information in order to—
(i) obtain information necessary to render a satellite service or other service provided by the satellite carrier to the subscriber; or
(ii) detect unauthorized reception of satellite communications.
(4) Disclosure
(A) Consent to disclosure
(B) ExceptionsA satellite carrier may disclose such information if the disclosure is—
(i) necessary to render, or conduct a legitimate business activity related to, a satellite service or other service provided by the satellite carrier to the subscriber;
(ii) subject to paragraph (9), made pursuant to a court order authorizing such disclosure, if the subscriber is notified of such order by the person to whom the order is directed;
(iii) a disclosure of the names and addresses of subscribers to any satellite service or other service, if—(I) the satellite carrier has provided the subscriber the opportunity to prohibit or limit such disclosure; and(II) the disclosure does not reveal, directly or indirectly, the—(aa) extent of any viewing or other use by the subscriber of a satellite service or other service provided by the satellite carrier; or(bb) the nature of any transaction made by the subscriber over any facilities used by the satellite carrier; or
(iv) to a government entity as authorized under chapter 119, 121, or 206 of title 18, except that such disclosure shall not include records revealing satellite subscriber selection of video programming from a satellite carrier.
(5) Access by subscriber
(6) Destruction of information
(7) PenaltiesAny person aggrieved by any act of a satellite carrier in violation of this section may bring a civil action in a United States district court. The court may award—
(A) actual damages but not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $100 a day for each day of violation or $1,000, whichever is higher;
(B) punitive damages; and
(C) reasonable attorneys’ fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
The remedy provided by this subsection shall be in addition to any other lawful remedy available to a satellite subscriber.
(8) Rule of construction
(9) Court ordersExcept as provided in paragraph (4)(B)(iv), a governmental entity may obtain personally identifiable information concerning a satellite subscriber pursuant to a court order only if, in the court proceeding relevant to such court order—
(A) such entity offers clear and convincing evidence that the subject of the information is reasonably suspected of engaging in criminal activity and that the information sought would be material evidence in the case; and
(B) the subject of the information is afforded the opportunity to appear and contest such entity’s claim.
(j) Regulations by Commission
(k) DefinitionsAs used in this section:
(1) Distributor
(2) Eligible satellite carrierThe term “eligible satellite carrier” means any satellite carrier that is not a party to a carriage contract that—
(A) governs carriage of at least 30 qualified noncommercial educational television stations; and
(B) is in force and effect within 150 days after the date of enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010.
(3) Local receive facility
(4) Local market
(5) Low power television station
(6) Qualified noncommercial educational television stationThe term “qualified noncommercial educational television station” means any full-power television broadcast station that—
(A) under the rules and regulations of the Commission in effect on March 29, 1990, is licensed by the Commission as a noncommercial educational broadcast station and is owned and operated by a public agency, nonprofit foundation, nonprofit corporation, or nonprofit association; and
(B) has as its licensee an entity that is eligible to receive a community service grant, or any successor grant thereto, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or any successor organization thereto, on the basis of the formula set forth in section 396(k)(6)(B) of this title.
(7) Satellite carrier
(8) Secondary transmission
(9) Subscriber
(10) Television broadcast station
(l) Market determinations
(1) In general
(2) ConsiderationsIn considering requests filed under paragraph (1), the Commission—
(A) may determine that particular communities are part of more than one local market; and
(B) shall afford particular attention to the value of localism by taking into account such factors as—
(i) whether the station, or other stations located in the same area—(I) have been historically carried on the cable system or systems within such community; or(II) have been historically carried on the satellite carrier or carriers serving such community;
(ii) whether the television station provides coverage or other local service to such community;
(iii) whether modifying the local market of the television station would promote consumers’ access to television broadcast station signals that originate in their State of residence;
(iv) whether any other television station that is eligible to be carried by a satellite carrier in such community in fulfillment of the requirements of this section provides news coverage of issues of concern to such community or provides carriage or coverage of sporting and other events of interest to the community; and
(v) evidence of viewing patterns in households that subscribe and do not subscribe to the services offered by multichannel video programming distributors within the areas served by such multichannel video programming distributors in such community.
(3) Carriage of signals
(A) Carriage obligation
(B) Deletion of signals
(4) Determinations
(5) No effect on eligibility to receive distant signals
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 338, as added Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title I, § 1008(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–531; amended Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title II, §§ 203, 205, 206(a), 210], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3414, 3424, 3425, 3429; Pub. L. 111–175, title II, §§ 204(a), 207, May 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 1246, 1253; Pub. L. 113–200, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 4, 2014, 128 Stat. 2060.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 338

§ 339. Carriage of distant television stations by satellite carriers
(a) Provisions relating to carriage of distant signals
(1) Carriage permitted
(A) In general
(B) Additional service
(2) Replacement of distant signals with local signalsNotwithstanding any other provision of paragraph (1), the following rules shall apply after December 8, 2004:
(A) Rules for grandfathered subscribers
(i) For those receiving distant signalsIn the case of a subscriber of a satellite carrier who is eligible to receive the signal of a network station solely by reason of section 119(e) 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of title 17 (in this subparagraph referred to as a “distant signal”), and who, as of October 1, 2009, is receiving the distant signal of that network station, the following shall apply:(I) In a case in which the satellite carrier makes available to the subscriber the signal of a local network station affiliated with the same television network pursuant to section 338 of this title, the carrier may only provide the secondary transmissions of the distant signal of a station affiliated with the same network to that subscriber—(aa) if, within 60 days after receiving the notice of the satellite carrier under section 338(h)(1) of this title, the subscriber elects to retain the distant signal; but(bb) only until such time as the subscriber elects to receive such local signal.(II) Notwithstanding subclause (I), the carrier may not retransmit the distant signal to any subscriber who is eligible to receive the signal of a network station solely by reason of section 119(e) 1 of title 17, unless such carrier, within 60 days after December 8, 2004, submits to that television network the list and statement required by subparagraph (F)(i).
(ii) For those not receiving distant signals
(B) Rules for other subscribers
(i) In generalIn the case of a subscriber of a satellite carrier who is eligible to receive the signal of a network station under this section (in this subparagraph referred to as a “distant signal”), other than subscribers to whom subparagraph (A) applies, the following shall apply:(I) In a case in which the satellite carrier makes available to that subscriber, on January 1, 2005, the signal of a local network station affiliated with the same television network pursuant to section 338 of this title, the carrier may only provide the secondary transmissions of the distant signal of a station affiliated with the same network to that subscriber if the subscriber’s satellite carrier, not later than March 1, 2005, submits to that television network the list and statement required by subparagraph (F)(i).(II) In a case in which the satellite carrier does not make available to that subscriber, on January 1, 2005, the signal of a local network station pursuant to section 338 of this title, the carrier may only provide the secondary transmissions of the distant signal of a station affiliated with the same network to that subscriber if—(aa) that subscriber seeks to subscribe to such distant signal before the date on which such carrier commences to carry pursuant to section 338 of this title the signals of stations from the local market of such local network station; and(bb) the satellite carrier, within 60 days after such date, submits to each television network the list and statement required by subparagraph (F)(ii).
(ii) Special circumstances
(C) Future applicabilityA satellite carrier may not provide a distant signal (within the meaning of subparagraph (A) or (B)) to a person who—
(i) is not a subscriber lawfully receiving such secondary transmission as of the date of the enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 and, at the time such person seeks to subscribe to receive such secondary transmission, resides in a local market where the satellite carrier makes available to that person the signal of a local network station affiliated with the same television network pursuant to section 338 of this title (and the retransmission of such signal by such carrier can reach such subscriber); or
(ii) lawfully subscribes to and receives a distant signal on or after the date of enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010, and, subsequent to such subscription, the satellite carrier makes available to that subscriber the signal of a local network station affiliated with the same network as the distant signal (and the retransmission of such signal by such carrier can reach such subscriber), unless such person subscribes to the signal of the local network station within 60 days after such signal is made available.
(D) Special rules for distant signals
(i) Eligibility and signal testingA subscriber of a satellite carrier shall be eligible to receive a distant signal of a network station affiliated with the same network under this section if, with respect to a local network station, such subscriber—(I) is a subscriber whose household is not predicted by the model specified in subsection (c)(3) to receive the signal intensity required under section 73.622(e)(1) or, in the case of a low-power station or translator station transmitting an analog signal, section 73.683(a) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or a successor regulation;(II) is determined, based on a test conducted in accordance with section 73.686(d) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, not to be able to receive a signal that exceeds the signal intensity standard in section 73.622(e)(1) or, in the case of a low-power station or translator station transmitting an analog signal, section 73.683(a) of such title, or a successor regulation; or(III) is in an unserved household, as determined under section 119(d)(10)(A) 1 of title 17.
(ii) Pre-enactment distant signal subscribers
(iii) Time-shifting prohibited
(iv) Savings provision
(E) Authority to grant station-specific waivers
(F) Notices to networks of distant signal subscribers
(i) Within 60 days after December 8, 2004, each satellite carrier that provides a distant signal of a network station to a subscriber pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B)(i) of this paragraph shall submit to each network—(I) a list, aggregated by designated market area, identifying each subscriber provided such a signal by—(aa) name;(bb) address (street or rural route number, city, State, and zip code); and(cc) the distant network signal or signals received; and(II) a statement that, to the best of the carrier’s knowledge and belief after having made diligent and good faith inquiries, the subscriber is qualified under the existing law to receive the distant network signal or signals pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B)(i) of this paragraph.
(ii) Within 60 days after the date a satellite carrier commences to carry pursuant to section 338 of this title the signals of stations from a local market, such a satellite carrier that provides a distant signal of a network station to a subscriber pursuant to subparagraph (B)(ii) of this paragraph shall submit to each network—(I) a list identifying each subscriber in that local market provided such a signal by—(aa) name;(bb) address (street or rural route number, city, State, and zip code); and(cc) the distant network signal or signals received; and(II) a statement that, to the best of the carrier’s knowledge and belief after having made diligent and good faith inquiries, the subscriber is qualified under the existing law to receive the distant network signal or signals pursuant to subparagraph (B)(ii) of this paragraph.
(G) Other provisions not affected
(H) Available defined
(3) Penalty for violation
(b) Extension of network nonduplication, syndicated exclusivity, and sports blackout to satellite retransmission
(1) Extension of protectionsWithin 45 days after November 29, 1999, the Commission shall commence a single rulemaking proceeding to establish regulations that—
(A) apply network nonduplication protection (47 CFR 76.92) syndicated exclusivity protection (47 CFR 76.151), and sports blackout protection (47 CFR 76.67) to the retransmission of the signals of nationally distributed superstations by satellite carriers to subscribers; and
(B) to the extent technically feasible and not economically prohibitive, apply sports blackout protection (47 CFR 76.67) to the retransmission of the signals of network stations by satellite carriers to subscribers.
(2) Deadline for action
(c) Eligibility for retransmission
(1) Repealed. Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, § 402(i)(7), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1090
(2) Waivers
(3) Establishment of improved predictive model and on-location testing required
(A) Predictive model
(B) On-location testing
(4) Objective verification
(A) In general
(B) Designation of tester and allocation of costs
(C) Avoidance of undue burden
(D) Reduction of verification burdens
(E) Exception
(5) Definition
(d) DefinitionsFor the purposes of this section:
(1) Local market
(2) Nationally distributed superstationThe term “nationally distributed superstation” means a television broadcast station, licensed by the Commission, that—
(A) is not owned or operated by or affiliated with a television network that, as of January 1, 1995, offered interconnected program service on a regular basis for 15 or more hours per week to at least 25 affiliated television licensees in 10 or more States;
(B) on May 1, 1991, was retransmitted by a satellite carrier and was not a network station at that time; and
(C) was, as of July 1, 1998, retransmitted by a satellite carrier under the statutory license of section 119 of title 17.
(3) Network station
(4) Satellite carrier
(5) Television network
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 339, as added Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title I, § 1008(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–534; amended Pub. L. 106–553, § 1(a)(2) [title X, § 1001, formerly § 1008], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2762, 2762A–140, renumbered § 1001, Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6603(3), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4777; Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title II, §§ 204, 209], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3416, 3429; Pub. L. 111–175, title II, § 204(b), May 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 1246; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, § 402(i)(7), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1090.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 339

§ 340. Significantly viewed signals permitted to be carried
(a) Significantly viewed stationsIn addition to the broadcast signals that subscribers may receive under section 1
1 So in original. Probably should be “sections”.
338 and 339 of this title, a satellite carrier is also authorized to retransmit to a subscriber located in a community the signal of any station located outside the local market in which such subscriber is located, to the extent such signal—
(1) has, before December 8, 2004, been determined by the Federal Communications Commission to be a signal a cable operator may carry as significantly viewed in such community, except to the extent that such signal is prevented from being carried by a cable system in such community under the Commission’s network nonduplication and syndicated exclusivity rules; or
(2) is, after December 8, 2004, determined by the Commission to be significantly viewed in such community in accordance with the same standards and procedures concerning shares of viewing hours and audience surveys as are applicable under the rules, regulations, and authorizations of the Commission to determining with respect to a cable system whether signals are significantly viewed in a community.
(b) Limitations
(1) Service limited to subscribers taking local-into-local service
(2) Service limitations
(3) Limitation not applicable where no network affiliates
(4) Authority to grant station-specific waivers
(c) Publication and modifications of lists; regulations
(1) In generalThe Commission shall—
(A) within 60 days after December 8, 2004—
(i) publish a list of the stations that are eligible for retransmission under subsection (a)(1) and the communities in which such stations are eligible for such retransmission; and
(ii) commence a rulemaking proceeding to implement this section by publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking;
(B) adopt rules pursuant to such rulemaking within 1 year after December 8, 2004.
(2) Public availability of list
(3) ModificationsIn addition to cable operators and television broadcast station licensees, the Commission shall permit a satellite carrier to petition for decisions and orders—
(A) by which stations may be added to those that are eligible for retransmission under subsection (a), and by which communities may be added in which such stations are eligible for such retransmission; and
(B) by which network nonduplication or syndicated exclusivity regulations are applied to the retransmission in accordance with subsection (e).
(d) Effect on other obligations and rights
(1) No effect on carriage obligations
(2) Retransmission consent rights not affected
(e) Network nonduplication and syndicated exclusivity
(1) Not applicable except as provided by commission regulations
(2) Limitation
(f) Enforcement
(1) Orders and damagesUpon complaint, the Commission shall issue a cease and desist order to any satellite carrier found to have violated this section in carrying any television broadcast station. Such order may, if a complaining station requests damages—
(A) provide for the award of damages to a complaining station that establishes that the violation was committed in bad faith, in an amount up to $50 per subscriber, per station, per day of the violation; and
(B) provide for the award of damages to a prevailing satellite carrier if the Commission determines that the complaint was frivolous, in an amount up to $50 per subscriber alleged to be in violation, per station alleged, per day of the alleged violation.
(2) Commission decision
(3) Remedies in addition
(4) No effect on copyright proceedings
(g) Notices concerning significantly viewed stationsEach satellite carrier that proposes to commence the retransmission of a station pursuant to this section in any local market shall—
(1) not less than 60 days before commencing such retransmission, provide a written notice to any television broadcast station in such local market of such proposal; and
(2) designate on such carrier’s website all significantly viewed signals carried pursuant to section 340 of this title and the communities in which the signals are carried.
(h) Additional corresponding changes in regulations
(1) Community-by-community electionsThe Commission shall, no later than October 30, 2005, revise section 76.66 of its regulations (47 CFR 76.66), concerning satellite broadcast signal carriage, to permit (at the next cycle of elections under section 325 of this title) a television broadcast station that is located in a local market into which a satellite carrier retransmits a television broadcast station pursuant to section 338 of this title, to elect, with respect to such satellite carrier, between retransmission consent pursuant to such section 325 of this title and mandatory carriage pursuant to section 338 of this title separately for each county within such station’s local market, if—
(A) the satellite carrier has notified the station, pursuant to paragraph (3), that it intends to carry another affiliate of the same network pursuant to this section during the relevant election period in the station’s local market; or
(B) on the date notification under paragraph (3) was due, the satellite carrier was retransmitting into the station’s local market pursuant to this section an affiliate of the same television network.
(2) Unified negotiations
(3) Additional provisionsThe Commission shall, no later than October 30, 2005, revise its regulations to provide the following:
(A) Notifications by satellite carrierA satellite carrier’s retransmission of television broadcast stations pursuant to this section shall be subject to the following limitations:
(i) In any local market in which the satellite carrier provides service pursuant to section 338 of this title on December 8, 2004, the carrier may notify a television broadcast station in that market, at least 60 days prior to any date on which the station must thereafter make an election under section 76.66 of the Commission’s regulations (47 CFR 76.66), of—(I) each affiliate of the same television network that the carrier reserves the right to retransmit into that station’s local market pursuant to this section during the next election cycle under such section of such regulations; and(II) for each such affiliate, the communities into which the satellite carrier reserves the right to make such retransmissions.
(ii) In any local market in which the satellite carrier commences service pursuant to section 338 of this title after December 8, 2004, the carrier may notify a station in that market, at least 60 days prior to the introduction of such service in that market, and thereafter at least 60 days prior to any date on which the station must thereafter make an election under section 76.66 of the Commission’s regulations (47 CFR 76.66), of each affiliate of the same television network that the carrier reserves the right to retransmit into that station’s local market during the next election cycle under such section of such regulations.
(iii) Beginning with the 2005 election cycle, a satellite carrier may only retransmit pursuant to this section during the pertinent election period a signal—(I) as to which it has provided the notifications set forth in clauses (i) and (ii); or(II) that it was retransmitting into the local market under this section as of the date such notifications were due.
(B) Harmonization of elections and retransmission consent agreements
(i) DefinitionsAs used in this section:
(1) Local market; satellite carrier; subscriber; television broadcast station
(2) Network station; television network
(3) CommunityThe term “community” means—
(A) a county or a cable community, as determined under the rules, regulations, and authorizations of the Commission applicable to determining with respect to a cable system whether signals are significantly viewed; or
(B) a satellite community, as determined under such rules, regulations, and authorizations (or revisions thereof) as the Commission may prescribe in implementing the requirements of this section.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 340, as added Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title II, § 202(a)], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3409; amended Pub. L. 111–175, title II, §§ 203(a), 204(c), May 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 1245, 1250.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 340

§ 341. Carriage of television signals to certain subscribers
(a)
(1)In General.—A cable operator or satellite carrier may elect to retransmit, to subscribers in an eligible county—
(A) any television broadcast stations that are located in the State in which the county is located and that any cable operator or satellite carrier was retransmitting to subscribers in the county on January 1, 2004; or
(B) up to 2 television broadcast stations located in the State in which the county is located, if the number of television broadcast stations that the cable operator or satellite carrier is authorized to carry under paragraph (1) is less than 3.
(2)Deemed Significantly Viewed.—A station described in subsection (a) is deemed to be significantly viewed in the eligible county within the meaning of section 76.54 of the Commission’s regulations (47 CFR 76.54).
(3)Definition of Eligible County.—
(A) are all in a single State;
(B) on January 1, 2004, were each in designated market areas in which the majority of counties were located in another State or States; and
(C) as a group had a combined total of 41,340 television households according to the U.S. Television Household Estimates by Nielsen Media Research for 2003–2004.
(4)Limitation.—Carriage of a station under this section shall be at the option of the cable operator or satellite carrier.
(b)Certain Markets.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a satellite carrier may not carry the signal of a television station into an adjacent local market that is comprised of only a portion of a county, other than to unserved households located in that county.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 341, as added Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title II, § 211], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3430.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 341

§ 342. Process for issuing qualified carrier certification
(a) CertificationThe Commission shall issue a certification for the purposes of section 119(g)(3)(A)(iii) 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of title 17 if the Commission determines that—
(1) a satellite carrier is providing local service pursuant to the statutory license under section 122 of such title in each designated market area; and
(2) with respect to each designated market area in which such satellite carrier was not providing such local service as of the date of enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010—
(A) the satellite carrier’s satellite beams are designed, and predicted by the satellite manufacturer’s pre-launch test data, to provide a good quality satellite signal to at least 90 percent of the households in each such designated market area based on the most recent census data released by the United States Census Bureau; and
(B) there is no material evidence that there has been a satellite or sub-system failure subsequent to the satellite’s launch that precludes the ability of the satellite carrier to satisfy the requirements of subparagraph (A).
(b) Information requiredAny entity seeking the certification provided for in subsection (a) shall submit to the Commission the following information:
(1) An affidavit stating that, to the best of the affiant’s knowledge, the satellite carrier provides local service in all designated market areas pursuant to the statutory license provided for in section 122 of title 17 and listing those designated market areas in which local service was provided as of the date of enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010.
(2) For each designated market area not listed in paragraph (1):
(A) Identification of each such designated market area and the location of its local receive facility.
(B) Data showing the number of households, and maps showing the geographic distribution thereof, in each such designated market area based on the most recent census data released by the United States Census Bureau.
(C) Maps, with superimposed effective isotropically radiated power predictions obtained in the satellite manufacturer’s pre-launch tests, showing that the contours of the carrier’s satellite beams as designed and the geographic area that the carrier’s satellite beams are designed to cover are predicted to provide a good quality satellite signal to at least 90 percent of the households in such designated market area based on the most recent census data released by the United States Census Bureau.
(D) For any satellite relied upon for certification under this section, an affidavit stating that, to the best of the affiant’s knowledge, there have been no satellite or sub-system failures subsequent to the satellite’s launch that would degrade the design performance to such a degree that a satellite transponder used to provide local service to any such designated market area is precluded from delivering a good quality satellite signal to at least 90 percent of the households in such designated market area based on the most recent census data released by the United States Census Bureau.
(E) Any additional engineering, designated market area, or other information the Commission considers necessary to determine whether the Commission shall grant a certification under this section.
(c) Certification issuance
(1) Public comment
(2) Deadline for decision
(d) Subsequent affirmation
(e) DefinitionsFor the purposes of this section:
(1) Designated market area
(2) Good quality satellite signal
(A) In generalThe term “good quality satellite signal” means—
(i) a satellite signal whose power level as designed shall achieve reception and demodulation of the signal at an availability level of at least 99.7 percent using—(I) models of satellite antennas normally used by the satellite carrier’s subscribers; and(II) the same calculation methodology used by the satellite carrier to determine predicted signal availability in the top 100 designated market areas; and
(ii) taking into account whether a signal is in standard definition format or high definition format, compression methodology, modulation, error correction, power level, and utilization of advances in technology that do not circumvent the intent of this section to provide for non-discriminatory treatment with respect to any comparable television broadcast station signal, a video signal transmitted by a satellite carrier such that—(I) the satellite carrier treats all television broadcast stations’ signals the same with respect to statistical multiplexer prioritization; and(II) the number of video signals in the relevant satellite transponder is not more than the then current greatest number of video signals carried on any equivalent transponder serving the top 100 designated market areas.
(B) Determination
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 342, as added Pub. L. 111–175, title II, § 206, May 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 1250.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 342

§ 343. Conditions on commercial terrestrial operations
(a) In general
(b) Notice to Congress
(1) In general
(2) Congressional committees described
The congressional committees described in this paragraph are the following:
(A) The Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
(B) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.
(c) Covered GPS device defined
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 343, as added Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVI, § 1698(a), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2641.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 343

§ 344. Repealed. Pub. L. 117–58, div. F, title VI, § 60602(b), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1249

CITE AS: 47 USC 344

§ 345. Protection of survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related crimes
(a) DefinitionsIn this section:
(1) AbuserThe term “abuser” means an individual who has committed or allegedly committed a covered act against—
(A) an individual who seeks relief under subsection (b); or
(B) an individual in the care of an individual who seeks relief under subsection (b).
(2) Covered act
(A) In generalThe term “covered act” means conduct that constitutes—
(i) a crime described in section 12291(a)of title 34, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking;
(ii) an act or practice described in paragraph (11) or (12) of section 7102 of title 22 (relating to severe forms of trafficking in persons and sex trafficking, respectively); or
(iii) an act under State law, Tribal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that is similar to an offense described in clause (i) or (ii).
(B) Conviction not required
(3) Covered provider
(4) Primary account holder
(5) Shared mobile service contractThe term “shared mobile service contract”—
(A) means a mobile service contract for an account that includes not less than 2 consumers; and
(B) does not include enterprise services offered by a covered provider.
(6) SurvivorThe term “survivor” means an individual who is not less than 18 years old and—
(A) against whom a covered act has been committed or allegedly committed; or
(B) who cares for another individual against whom a covered act has been committed or allegedly committed (provided that the individual providing care did not commit or allegedly commit the covered act).
(b) Separation of lines from shared mobile service contract
(1) In generalNot later than 2 business days after receiving a completed line separation request from a survivor pursuant to subsection (c), a covered provider shall, as applicable, with respect to a shared mobile service contract under which the survivor and the abuser each use a line—
(A) separate the line of the survivor, and the line of any individual in the care of the survivor, from the shared mobile service contract; or
(B) separate the line of the abuser from the shared mobile service contract.
(2) Limitations on penalties, fees, and other requirementsExcept as provided in paragraphs (5) through (7), a covered provider may not make separation of a line from a shared mobile service contract under paragraph (1) contingent on any requirement other than the requirements under subsection (c), including—
(A) payment of a fee, penalty, or other charge;
(B) maintaining contractual or billing responsibility of a separated line with the provider;
(C) approval of separation by the primary account holder, if the primary account holder is not the survivor;
(D) a prohibition or limitation, including one described in subparagraph (A), on number portability, provided such portability is technically feasible, or a request to change phone numbers;
(E) a prohibition or limitation on the separation of lines as a result of arrears accrued by the account;
(F) an increase in the rate charged for the mobile service plan of the primary account holder with respect to service on any remaining line or lines; or
(G) any other limitation or requirement not listed under subsection (c).
(3) Rule of construction
(4) Remote option
(5) Responsibility for transferred telephone numbers
(6) Responsibility for transferred telephone numbers from a survivor’s account
(7) Responsibility for mobile device
(8) Notice to survivor
(c) Line separation request
(1) In generalIn the case of a survivor seeking to separate a line from a shared mobile service contract, the survivor shall submit to the covered provider a line separation request that—
(A) verifies that an individual who uses a line under the shared mobile service contract has committed or allegedly committed a covered act against the survivor or an individual in the survivor’s care, by providing—
(i) a copy of a signed affidavit from a licensed medical or mental health care provider, licensed military medical or mental health care provider, licensed social worker, victim services provider, or licensed military victim services provider, or an employee of a court, acting within the scope of that person’s employment; or
(ii) a copy of a police report, statements provided by police, including military police, to magistrates or judges, charging documents, protective or restraining orders, military protective orders, or any other official record that documents the covered act;
(B) in the case of relief sought under subsection (b)(1)(A), with respect to—
(i) a line used by the survivor that the survivor seeks to have separated, states that the survivor is the user of that specific line; and
(ii) a line used by an individual in the care of the survivor that the survivor seeks to have separated, includes an affidavit setting forth that the individual—(I) is in the care of the survivor; and(II) is the user of that specific line; and
(C) requests relief under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1) and identifies each line that should be separated.
(2) Communications from covered providers
(A) In general
(B) Remote means
(C) Election of manner of contactWhen completing a line separation request submitted by a survivor through remote means under paragraph (1), a covered provider shall allow the survivor to elect in the manner in which the covered provider may—
(i) contact the survivor, or designated representative of the survivor, in response to the request, if necessary; or
(ii) notify the survivor, or designated representative of the survivor, of the inability of the covered provider to complete the line separation.
(3) Enhanced protections under State law
(d) Confidential and secure treatment of personal information
(1) In general
(2) Rule of construction
(e) Availability of information to consumersA covered provider shall make information about the options and process described in subsections (b) and (c) readily available to consumers—
(1) on the website and the mobile application of the provider;
(2) in physical stores; and
(3) in other forms of public-facing consumer communication.
(f) Technical infeasibility
(1) In general
(2) NotificationIf a covered provider cannot operationally or technically effectuate a line separation request as described in paragraph (1), the covered provider shall—
(A) notify the survivor who submitted the request of that infeasibility—
(i) at the time of the request; or
(ii) in the case of a survivor who has submitted the request using remote means, not later than 2 business days after receiving the request; and
(B) provide the survivor with information about other alternatives to submitting a line separation request, including starting a new line of service.
(g) Liability protection
(1) In general
(2) Commission authority
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 345, as added Pub. L. 117–223, § 4, Dec. 7, 2022, 136 Stat. 2280.)

CITE AS: 47 USC 345