Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73not60
§1153 Rules, Regulations, and Fees
Title 15 › Chapter 23— DISSEMINATION OF TECHNICAL, SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING INFORMATION › § 1153
Summary
The Secretary can make, change, and cancel rules and set reasonable fees for services, documents, or publications under this chapter. The goal is that services should pay for themselves and the public should not fund things meant mainly for private groups. Fees are not required for federal agencies, for items exchanged by agreement, or for materials issued mainly for the general public.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §1153
Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Secretary is authorized to make, amend, and rescind such orders, rules, and regulations as he may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and to establish, from time to time, a schedule or schedules of reasonable fees or charges for services performed or for documents or other publications furnished under this chapter. It is the policy of this chapter, to the fullest extent feasible and consistent with the objectives of this chapter, that each of the services and functions provided herein shall be self-sustaining or self-liquidating and that the general public shall not bear the cost of publications and other services which are for the special use and benefit of private groups and individuals; but nothing herein shall be construed to require the levying of fees or charges for services performed or publications furnished to any agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government, or for publications which are distributed pursuant to reciprocal arrangements for the exchange of information or which are otherwise issued primarily for the general benefit of the public.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1970—Pub. L. 91–412 struck out provisos of first par. for deposit of moneys received for services and publications after Sept. 9, 1950, in a special account in the Treasury, to be available, subject to appropriation authorizations, for reimbursement of appropriations and for refunds to organizations and individuals entitled thereto, and making appropriations reimbursed by the special account available for original purposes. See section 1526 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 1153
Title 15 — Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60