Title 47Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73

§10 Equal facilities to connecting lines; discrimination in rates

Title 47 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - TELEGRAPHS › § 10

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If a telegraph company had agreed to earlier rules before those rules were repealed and then extends its line to meet a railroad or another telegraph company's office, it has the right to connect there and the other company must let it connect so they can quickly exchange messages. The railroad and telegraph companies must run their lines to give everyone the same access and service, and they must accept and exchange messages with connecting lines on fair terms without favoring or hurting anyone.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §10

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whenever any telegraph company which shall have accepted the provisions of sections 1 to 6 and 8 11 See References in Text note below. of this title, prior to the effective date of the repeal of such sections, shall extend its line to any station or office of a telegraph line belonging to any one of said railroad or telegraph companies, referred to in section 9 of this title, said telegraph company so extending its line shall have the right and said railroad or telegraph company shall allow the line of said telegraph company so extending its line to connect with the telegraph line of said railroad or telegraph company to which it is extended at the place where their lines may meet, for the prompt and convenient interchange of telegraph business between said companies; and such railroad and telegraph companies, referred to in section 9 of this title, shall so operate their respective telegraph lines as to afford equal facilities to all, without discrimination in favor of or against any person, company, or corporation whatever, and shall receive, deliver, and exchange business with connecting telegraph lines on equal terms, and affording equal facilities, and without discrimination for or against any one of such connecting lines; and such exchange of business shall be on terms just and equitable.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Sections 1 to 6 and 8 of this title, referred to in text, were repealed by act July 16, 1947, ch. 256, § 1, 61 Stat. 327.

Amendments

1954—Act Sept. 3, 1954, amended section to make it clear that the rights and obligations of companies which accepted benefits under former sections 1 to 6 and 8 of this title, which have been repealed, continue irrespective of the repeal.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 10

Title 47Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73