Title 40 — Public Buildings, Property, and WorksRelease 119-73not60
§3174 Operation of Public Utility Communications Services Serving Governmental Activities
Title 40 › Subtitle SUBTITLE II— PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND WORKS › Part A— GENERAL › Chapter 31— GENERAL › Subchapter VI— MISCELLANEOUS › § 3174
Summary
The General Services Administration (GSA) can run public communications for government when it is cost-effective and in the federal interest, but not for secret or coded messages or U.S. Postal Service buildings unless asked.
Full Legal Text
Title 40, §3174
Public Buildings, Property, and Works — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Administrator of General Services may provide and operate public utility communications services serving any governmental activity when the services are economical and in the interest of the Federal Government. This section does not apply to communications systems for handling messages of a confidential or secret nature, the operation of cryptographic equipment or transmission of secret, security, or coded messages, or buildings operated or occupied by the United States Postal Service, except on request of the department or agency concerned.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 317440:295.June 14, 1946, ch. 404, § 7, 60 Stat. 258. The words “Administrator of General Services” are substituted for “Commissioner of Public Buildings” because of section 103(a) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (ch. 288, 63 Stat. 380), which is restated as section 303(c) [303(b)] of the revised title. The words “in and outside the District of Columbia” are omitted as unnecessary. The words “United States Postal Service” are substituted for “Post Office Department” because of section 6(o) of the Postal Reorganization Act (Public Law 91–375, 84 Stat. 783).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
40 U.S.C. § 3174
Title 40 — Public Buildings, Property, and Works
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60