Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73not60
§157 New Technologies and Services
Title 47 › Chapter 5— WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › Subchapter I— GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 157
Summary
U.S. policy encourages new technologies and services. Anyone except the Commission who opposes a proposal must prove it harms the public interest. The Commission must decide petitions or applications within one year and complete any proceedings it starts within 12 months.
Full Legal Text
Title 47, §157
Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)It shall be the policy of the United States to encourage the provision of new technologies and services to the public. Any person or party (other than the Commission) who opposes a new technology or service proposed to be permitted under this chapter shall have the burden to demonstrate that such proposal is inconsistent with the public interest.
(b)The Commission shall determine whether any new technology or service proposed in a petition or application is in the public interest within one year after such petition or application is filed. If the Commission initiates its own proceeding for a new technology or service, such proceeding shall be completed within 12 months after it is initiated.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–414 struck out “or twelve months after December 8, 1983, if later” after “petition or application is filed” and after “12 months after it is initiated”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Advanced Telecommunications Incentives Pub. L. 104–104, title VII, § 706, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 153, as amended by Pub. L. 107–110, title X, § 1076(gg), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2093; Pub. L. 110–385, title I, § 103(a), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4096, was transferred and is classified to section 1302 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
47 U.S.C. § 157
Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60