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Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73not60

§504 Forfeitures

Title 47 › Chapter 5— WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › Subchapter V— PENAL PROVISIONS; FORFEITURES › § 504

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Fines under this chapter must be paid into the U.S. Treasury. They can be collected in a civil lawsuit brought in the district where the person or carrier has its main operating office or where the carrier’s lines run. If the fine is against a ship, it can also be recovered where the ship arrives or leaves. These fines are in addition to other penalties. United States attorneys, led by the Attorney General, must try to recover them, and the court expense appropriation pays the costs. Lawsuits to recover these fines are tried anew. Forfeitures in subchapter II, parts II and III of subchapter III, and sections 503(b) and 507 may be reduced or canceled by the Commission under its rules. If a suit has started, the Attorney General will stop it if the Commission asks. No reduction or cancellation is allowed after a court has decided. If the Commission issues a notice that a fine may be imposed, that notice cannot be used against the person in other Commission matters unless the fine was paid or a court has ordered payment and the order is final.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §504

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

(a)The forfeitures provided for in this chapter shall be payable into the Treasury of the United States, and shall be recoverable, except as otherwise provided with respect to a forfeiture penalty determined under section 503(b)(3) of this title, in a civil suit in the name of the United States brought in the district where the person or carrier has its principal operating office or in any district through which the line or system of the carrier runs: Provided, That any suit for the recovery of a forfeiture imposed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be a trial de novo: Provided further, That in the case of forfeiture by a ship, said forfeiture may also be recoverable by way of libel in any district in which such ship shall arrive or depart. Such forfeitures shall be in addition to any other general or specific penalties provided in this chapter. It shall be the duty of the various United States attorneys, under the direction of the Attorney General of the United States, to prosecute for the recovery of forfeitures under this chapter. The costs and expenses of such prosecutions shall be paid from the appropriation for the expenses of the courts of the United States.
(b)The forfeitures imposed by subchapter II, parts II and III of subchapter III, and section 503(b) and 507 of this title shall be subject to remission or mitigation by the Commission under such regulations and methods of ascertaining the facts as may seem to it advisable, and, if suit has been instituted, the Attorney General, upon request of the Commission, shall direct the discontinuance of any prosecution to recover such forfeitures: Provided, however, That no forfeiture shall be remitted or mitigated after determination by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c)In any case where the Commission issues a notice of apparent liability looking toward the imposition of a forfeiture under this chapter, that fact shall not be used, in any other proceeding before the Commission, to the prejudice of the person to whom such notice was issued, unless (i) the forfeiture has been paid, or (ii) a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered payment of such forfeiture, and such order has become final.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), 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. Parts II and III of subchapter III, referred to in subsec. (b), are classified to section 351 et seq. and 381 et seq., respectively, of this title.

Amendments

1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–507 conformed reference to section 507 of this title to reflect renumbering of that section which required no change in text. 1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–234, § 3(a), inserted in first sentence “, except as otherwise provided with respect to a forfeiture penalty determined under section 503(b)(3) of this title,” after “recoverable”. Such wording was inserted only after the first reference to “recoverable” as the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–234, § 3(b), inserted reference to subchapter II of this chapter and struck out reference to section 510 of this title and “, upon application therefor,” after “by the Commission”. 1962—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 87–448 empowered the Commission to remit or mitigate the forfeitures imposed by section 510 of this title. 1960—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 86–752, § 7(b), inserted proviso that any suit for recovery of a forfeiture shall be a trial de novo. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 86–752, § 7(c), substituted “section 503(b) and 507” for “section 507”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 86–752, § 7(d), added subsec. (c). 1956—Subsec. (b). Act Aug. 6, 1956, inserted reference to part III of subchapter III. 1954—Subsec. (b). Act Aug. 13, 1954, inserted reference to section 507 of this title. 1937—Act May 20, 1937, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted proviso as to recovery of forfeiture in any district where a ship may arrive or depart, and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Act June 25, 1948, eff. Sept. 1, 1948, substituted “United States attorneys” for “district attorneys”. See section 541 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and

Historical and Revision Notes

thereunder.

Effective Date

of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–234 effective on thirtieth day after Feb. 21, 1978, see section 7 of Pub. L. 95–234, set out as a note under section 152 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1962 Amendment Pub. L. 87–448, § 3, May 11, 1962, 76 Stat. 69, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this Act [enacting section 510 of this title and amending this section] shall take effect on the thirtieth day after the date of its enactment [May 11, 1962].”

Effective Date

of 1956 AmendmentAmendment by act Aug. 6, 1956, effective Mar. 1, 1957, see section 4 of act Aug. 6, 1956, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 381 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1954 AmendmentAmendment by act Aug. 13, 1954, effective Nov. 13, 1954, see section 6 of act Aug. 13, 1954, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 507 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 504

Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60