Title 47Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73

§646 Other provisions

Title 47 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VII— - BROADBAND DATA › § 646

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Commission’s first rule under section 642(a)(1) does not have to go through review by the Office of Management and Budget. The Paperwork Reduction Act (Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44) does not apply to any rule or action the Commission must take under this part of the law. Except for limited cases spelled out in sections 642(a)(2)(B), 642(b)(1)(A)(ii), and 644(c)–(e), the Commission itself must do the work required here and may not give those duties to a third party, including the Universal Service Administrative Company. Each year the Commission must send a report about how it carried out this law and enforcement actions to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. If the Commission already took actions before March 23, 2020 that fit this law, it does not have to redo them.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §646

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

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the initial rule making required under section 642(a)(1) of this title shall be exempt from review by the Office of Management and Budget.
(b)Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44 (commonly known as the “Paperwork Reduction Act”) shall not apply to any rule making or other action by the Commission required under this subchapter.
(c)Except, with respect to an entity that is not the Universal Service Administrative Company, as provided in section 642(a)(2)(B) of this title, section 642(b)(1)(A)(ii) of this title, and subsections (c), (d), and (e) of section 644 of this title, the Commission—
(1)including the offices of the Commission, shall carry out the responsibilities assigned to the Commission under this subchapter; and
(2)may not delegate any of the responsibilities assigned to the Commission under this subchapter to any third party, including the Universal Service Administrative Company.
(d)Each fiscal year, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that summarizes the implementation of this subchapter and associated enforcement activities conducted during the previous fiscal year.
(e)If the Commission, before March 23, 2020, has taken an action that, in whole or in part, implements this subchapter, the Commission shall not be required to revisit such action to the extent that such action is consistent with this subchapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–58 substituted “any rule making or other action by the Commission required under this subchapter” for “the initial rule making required under section 642(a)(1) of this title”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

ImplementationFor requirement to implement amendment made by section 60102(h)(2)(E)(ii) of Pub. L. 117–58 as soon as possible after Nov. 15, 2021, see section 1702(h)(2)(E)(iii) of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 646

Title 47Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73