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

§601 Interstate Commerce Commission and Postmaster General; Duties, Powers, and Functions Transferred to Commission

Title 47 › CHAPTER 5 — WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › SUBCHAPTER VI — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 601

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Gives the Commission all duties and powers the Interstate Commerce Commission had under sections 9 to 15 about running telegraph lines by railroad and telegraph companies that got government help to build their lines. Also gives the Commission whatever duties the Postmaster General had under any law over telegraph companies and lines. This change does not alter or interfere with the Commission’s duties under, or enforcement of, subtitle IV of title 49.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §601

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

(a)All duties, powers, and functions of the Interstate Commerce Commission under sections 9 to 15 of this title, relating to operation of telegraph lines by railroad and telegraph companies granted Government aid in the construction of their lines, are imposed upon and vested in the Commission: Provided, That such transfer of duties, powers, and functions shall not be construed to affect the duties, powers, functions, or jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission under, or to interfere with or prevent the enforcement of, subtitle IV of title 49.
(b)All duties, powers, and functions of the Postmaster General with respect to telegraph companies and telegraph lines under any existing provision of law are imposed upon and vested in the Commission.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification In subsec. (a), “subtitle IV of title 49” substituted for “the Interstate Commerce Act and all Acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto [49 U.S.C. 1 et seq.]” on authority of Pub. L. 95–473, § 3(b), Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1466, the first section of which enacted subtitle IV (§ 10101 et seq.) of Title 49, Transportation.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

Office of Postmaster General of Post Office Department abolished and functions, powers, and duties of Postmaster General transferred to United States Postal Service by Pub. L. 91–375, § 4(a), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 773, set out as a note under section 201 of Title 39, Postal Service. Abolition of Interstate Commerce Commission and

Transfer of Functions

Interstate Commerce Commission abolished and functions of Commission transferred, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, to Surface Transportation Board effective Jan. 1, 1996, by section 1302 of Title 49, Transportation, and section 101 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of Title 49. References to Interstate Commerce Commission deemed to refer to Surface Transportation Board, a member or employee of the Board, or Secretary of Transportation, as appropriate, see section 205 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of Title 49.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 601

Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102