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Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-102

§210 Franks and Passes; Free Service to Governmental Agencies in Connection with National Defense

Title 47 › CHAPTER 5 — WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › SUBCHAPTER II — COMMON CARRIERS › Part I — Common Carrier Regulation › § 210

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows common carriers to give or trade franks and passes for use by their officers, agents, employees, and their families. They may also exchange franks and passes with other carriers not covered by this chapter, as long as the Commission sets any rules. "Employees" includes furloughed, pensioned, and superannuated workers. Carriers may provide free service to any government agency to help prepare for national defense, but only under rules the Commission makes.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §210

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

(a)Nothing in this chapter or in any other provision of law shall be construed to prohibit common carriers from issuing or giving franks to, or exchanging franks with each other for the use of, their officers, agents, employees, and their families, or, subject to such rules as the Commission may prescribe, from issuing, giving, or exchanging franks and passes to or with other common carriers not subject to the provisions of this chapter, for the use of their officers, agents, employees, and their families. The term “employees”, as used in this section, shall include furloughed, pensioned, and superannuated employees.
(b)Nothing in this chapter or in any other provision of law shall be construed to prohibit common carriers from rendering to any agency of the Government free service in connection with the preparation for the national defense: Provided, That such free service may be rendered only in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe therefor.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, 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

1940—Act June 25, 1940, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 210

Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102