From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 47USC154]

 
          TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
 
                 CHAPTER 5--WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION
 
                    SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 154. Federal Communications Commission


(a) Number of commissioners; appointment

    The Federal Communications Commission (in this chapter referred to 
as the ``Commission'') shall be composed of five commissioners appointed 
by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, one 
of whom the President shall designate as chairman.

(b) Qualifications

    (1) Each member of the Commission shall be a citizen of the United 
States.
    (2)(A) No member of the Commission or person employed by the 
Commission shall--
        (i) be financially interested in any company or other entity 
    engaged in the manufacture or sale of telecommunications equipment 
    which is subject to regulation by the Commission;
        (ii) be financially interested in any company or other entity 
    engaged in the business of communication by wire or radio or in the 
    use of the electromagnetic spectrum;
        (iii) be financially interested in any company or other entity 
    which controls any company or other entity specified in clause (i) 
    or clause (ii), or which derives a significant portion of its total 
    income from ownership of stocks, bonds, or other securities of any 
    such company or other entity; or
        (iv) be employed by, hold any official relation to, or own any 
    stocks, bonds, or other securities of, any person significantly 
    regulated by the Commission under this chapter;

except that the prohibitions established in this subparagraph shall 
apply only to financial interests in any company or other entity which 
has a significant interest in communications, manufacturing, or sales 
activities which are subject to regulation by the Commission.
    (B)(i) The Commission shall have authority to waive, from time to 
time, the application of the prohibitions established in subparagraph 
(A) to persons employed by the Commission if the Commission determines 
that the financial interests of a person which are involved in a 
particular case are minimal, except that such waiver authority shall be 
subject to the provisions of section 208 of title 18. The waiver 
authority established in this subparagraph shall not apply with respect 
to members of the Commission.
    (ii) In any case in which the Commission exercises the waiver 
authority established in this subparagraph, the Commission shall publish 
notice of such action in the Federal Register and shall furnish notice 
of such action to the appropriate committees of each House of the 
Congress. Each such notice shall include information regarding the 
identity of the person receiving the waiver, the position held by such 
person, and the nature of the financial interests which are the subject 
of the waiver.
    (3) The Commission, in determining whether a company or other entity 
has a significant interest in communications, manufacturing, or sales 
activities which are subject to regulation by the Commission, shall 
consider (without excluding other relevant factors)--
        (A) the revenues, investments, profits, and managerial efforts 
    directed to the related communications, manufacturing, or sales 
    activities of the company or other entity involved, as compared to 
    the other aspects of the business of such company or other entity;
        (B) the extent to which the Commission regulates and oversees 
    the activities of such company or other entity;
        (C) the degree to which the economic interests of such company 
    or other entity may be affected by any action of the Commission; and
        (D) the perceptions held by the public regarding the business 
    activities of such company or other entity.

    (4) Members of the Commission shall not engage in any other 
business, vocation, profession, or employment while serving as such 
members.
    (5) The maximum number of commissioners who may be members of the 
same political party shall be a number equal to the least number of 
commissioners which constitutes a majority of the full membership of the 
Commission.

(c) Terms of office; vacancies

    commissioners \1\ shall be appointed for terms of five years and 
until their successors are appointed and have been confirmed and taken 
the oath of office, except that they shall not continue to serve beyond 
the expiration of the next session of Congress subsequent to the 
expiration of said fixed term of office; except that any person chosen 
to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term of the 
commissioner whom he succeeds. No vacancy in the Commission shall impair 
the right of the remaining commissioners to exercise all the powers of 
the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
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(d) Compensation of Commission members

    Each Commissioner shall receive an annual salary at the annual rate 
payable from time to time for level IV of the Executive Schedule, 
payable in monthly installments. The Chairman of the Commission, during 
the period of his service as Chairman, shall receive an annual salary at 
the annual rate payable from time to time for level III of the Executive 
Schedule.

(e) Principal office; special sessions

    The principal office of the Commission shall be in the District of 
Columbia, where its general sessions shall be held; but whenever the 
convenience of the public or of the parties may be promoted or delay or 
expense prevented thereby, the Commission may hold special sessions in 
any part of the United States.

(f) Employees and assistants; compensation of members of Field 
        Engineering and Monitoring Bureau; use of amateur volunteers for 
        certain purposes; commercial radio operator examinations

    (1) The Commission shall have authority, subject to the provisions 
of the civil-service laws and chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 
53 of title 5, to appoint such officers, engineers, accountants, 
attorneys, inspectors, examiners, and other employees as are necessary 
in the exercise of its functions.
    (2) Without regard to the civil-service laws, but subject to chapter 
51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, each commissioner may 
appoint three professional assistants and a secretary, each of whom 
shall perform such duties as such commissioner shall direct. In 
addition, the chairman of the Commission may appoint, without regard to 
the civil-service laws, but subject to chapter 51 and subchapter III of 
chapter 53 of title 5, and administrative assistant who shall perform 
such duties as the chairman shall direct.
    (3) The Commission shall fix a reasonable rate of extra compensation 
for overtime services of engineers in charge and radio engineers of the 
Field Engineering and Monitoring Bureau of the Federal Communications 
Commission, who may be required to remain on duty between the hours of 5 
o'clock postmeridian and 8 o'clock antemeridian or on Sundays or 
holidays to perform services in connection with the inspection of ship 
radio equipment and apparatus for the purposes of part II of subchapter 
III of this chapter or the Great Lakes Agreement, on the basis of one-
half day's additional pay for each two hours or fraction thereof of at 
least one hour that the overtime extends beyond 5 o'clock postmeridian 
(but not to exceed two and one-half days' pay for the full period from 5 
o'clock postmeridian to 8 o'clock antemeridian) and two additional days' 
pay for Sunday or holiday duty. The said extra compensation for overtime 
services shall be paid by the master, owner, or agent of such vessel to 
the local United States collector of customs or his representative, who 
shall deposit such collection into the Treasury of the United States to 
an appropriately designated receipt account: Provided, That the amounts 
of such collections received by the said collector of customs or his 
representatives shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous 
receipts; and the payments of such extra compensation to the several 
employees entitled thereto shall be made from the annual appropriations 
for salaries and expenses of the Commission: Provided further, That to 
the extent that the annual appropriations which are authorized to be 
made from the general fund of the Treasury are insufficient, there are 
authorized to be appropriated from the general fund of the Treasury such 
additional amounts as may be necessary to the extent that the amounts of 
such receipts are in excess of the amounts appropriated: Provided 
further, That such extra compensation shall be paid if such field 
employees have been ordered to report for duty and have so reported 
whether the actual inspection of the radio equipment or apparatus takes 
place or not: And provided further, That in those ports where customary 
working hours are other than those hereinabove mentioned, the engineers 
in charge are vested with authority to regulate the hours of such 
employees so as to agree with prevailing working hours in said ports 
where inspections are to be made, but nothing contained in this proviso 
shall be construed in any manner to alter the length of a working day 
for the engineers in charge and radio engineers or the overtime pay 
herein fixed: and Provided further, That, in the alternative, an entity 
designated by the Commission may make the inspections referred to in 
this paragraph.
    (4)(A) The Commission, for purposes of preparing or administering 
any examination for an amateur station operator license, may accept and 
employ the voluntary and uncompensated services of any individual who 
holds an amateur station operator license of a higher class than the 
class of license for which the examination is being prepared or 
administered. In the case of examinations for the highest class of 
amateur station operator license, the Commission may accept and employ 
such services of any individual who holds such class of license.
    (B)(i) The Commission, for purposes of monitoring violations of any 
provision of this chapter (and of any regulation prescribed by the 
Commission under this chapter) relating to the amateur radio service, 
may--
        (I) recruit and train any individual licensed by the Commission 
    to operate an amateur station; and
        (II) accept and employ the voluntary and uncompensated services 
    of such individual.

    (ii) The Commission, for purposes of recruiting and training 
individuals under clause (i) and for purposes of screening, annotating, 
and summarizing violation reports referred under clause (i), may accept 
and employ the voluntary and uncompensated services of any amateur 
station operator organization.
    (iii) The functions of individuals recruited and trained under this 
subparagraph shall be limited to--
        (I) the detection of improper amateur radio transmissions;
        (II) the conveyance to Commission personnel of information which 
    is essential to the enforcement of this chapter (or regulations 
    prescribed by the Commission under this chapter) relating to the 
    amateur radio service; and
        (III) issuing advisory notices, under the general direction of 
    the Commission, to persons who apparently have violated any 
    provision of this chapter (or regulations prescribed by the 
    Commission under this chapter) relating to the amateur radio 
    service.

Nothing in this clause shall be construed to grant individuals recruited 
and trained under this subparagraph any authority to issue sanctions to 
violators or to take any enforcement action other than any action which 
the Commission may prescribe by rule.
    (C)(i) The Commission, for purposes of monitoring violations of any 
provision of this chapter (and of any regulation prescribed by the 
Commission under this chapter) relating to the citizens band radio 
service, may--
        (I) recruit and train any citizens band radio operator; and
        (II) accept and employ the voluntary and uncompensated services 
    of such operator.

    (ii) The Commission, for purposes of recruiting and training 
individuals under clause (i) and for purposes of screening, annotating, 
and summarizing violation reports referred under clause (i), may accept 
and employ the voluntary and uncompensated services of any citizens band 
radio operator organization. The Commission, in accepting and employing 
services of individuals under this subparagraph, shall seek to achieve a 
broad representation of individuals and organizations interested in 
citizens band radio operation.
    (iii) The functions of individuals recruited and trained under this 
subparagraph shall be limited to--
        (I) the detection of improper citizens band radio transmissions;
        (II) the conveyance to Commission personnel of information which 
    is essential to the enforcement of this chapter (or regulations 
    prescribed by the Commission under this chapter) relating to the 
    citizens band radio service; and
        (III) issuing advisory notices, under the general direction of 
    the Commission, to persons who apparently have violated any 
    provision of this chapter (or regulations prescribed by the 
    Commission under this chapter) relating to the citizens band radio 
    service.

Nothing in this clause shall be construed to grant individuals recruited 
and trained under this subparagraph any authority to issue sanctions to 
violators or to take any enforcement action other than any action which 
the Commission may prescribe by rule.
    (D) The Commission shall have the authority to endorse certification 
of individuals to perform transmitter installation, operation, 
maintenance, and repair duties in the private land mobile services and 
fixed services (as defined by the Commission by rule) if such 
certification programs are conducted by organizations or committees 
which are representative of the users in those services and which 
consist of individuals who are not officers or employees of the Federal 
Government.
    (E) The authority of the Commission established in this paragraph 
shall not be subject to or affected by the provisions of part III of 
title 5 or section 1342 of title 31.
    (F) Any person who provides services under this paragraph shall not 
be considered, by reason of having provided such services, a Federal 
employee.
    (G) The Commission, in accepting and employing services of 
individuals under subparagraphs (A) and (B), shall seek to achieve a 
broad representation of individuals and organizations interested in 
amateur station operation.
    (H) The Commission may establish rules of conduct and other 
regulations governing the service of individuals under this paragraph.
    (I) With respect to the acceptance of voluntary uncompensated 
services for the preparation, processing, or administration of 
examinations for amateur station operator licenses pursuant to 
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, individuals, or organizations which 
provide or coordinate such authorized volunteer services may recover 
from examinees reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs.
    (5)(A) The Commission, for purposes of preparing and administering 
any examination for a commercial radio operator license or endorsement, 
may accept and employ the services of persons that the Commission 
determines to be qualified. Any person so employed may not receive 
compensation for such services, but may recover from examinees such fees 
as the Commission permits, considering such factors as public service 
and cost estimates submitted by such person.
    (B) The Commission may prescribe regulations to select, oversee, 
sanction, and dismiss any person authorized under this paragraph to be 
employed by the Commission.
    (C) Any person who provides services under this paragraph or who 
provides goods in connection with such services shall not, by reason of 
having provided such service or goods, be considered a Federal or 
special government employee.

(g) Expenditures

    (1) The Commission may make such expenditures (including 
expenditures for rent and personal services at the seat of government 
and elsewhere, for office supplies, law books, periodicals, and books of 
reference, for printing and binding, for land for use as sites for radio 
monitoring stations and related facilities, including living quarters 
where necessary in remote areas, for the construction of such stations 
and facilities, and for the improvement, furnishing, equipping, and 
repairing of such stations and facilities and of laboratories and other 
related facilities (including construction of minor subsidiary buildings 
and structures not exceeding $25,000 in any one instance) used in 
connection with technical research activities), as may be necessary for 
the execution of the functions vested in the Commission and as may be 
appropriated for by the Congress in accordance with the authorizations 
of appropriations established in section 156 of this title. All 
expenditures of the Commission, including all necessary expenses for 
transportation incurred by the commissioners or by their employees, 
under their orders, in making any investigation or upon any official 
business in any other places than in the city of Washington, shall be 
allowed and paid on the presentation of itemized vouchers therefor 
approved by the chairman of the Commission or by such other member or 
officer thereof as may be designated by the Commission for that purpose.
    (2)(A) If--
        (i) the necessary expenses specified in the last sentence of 
    paragraph (1) have been incurred for the purpose of enabling 
    commissioners or employees of the Commission to attend and 
    participate in any convention, conference, or meeting;
        (ii) such attendance and participation are in furtherance of the 
    functions of the Commission; and
        (iii) such attendance and participation are requested by the 
    person sponsoring such convention, conference, or meeting;

then the Commission shall have authority to accept direct reimbursement 
from such sponsor for such necessary expenses.
    (B) The total amount of unreimbursed expenditures made by the 
Commission for travel for any fiscal year, together with the total 
amount of reimbursements which the Commission accepts under subparagraph 
(A) for such fiscal year, shall not exceed the level of travel expenses 
appropriated to the Commission for such fiscal year.
    (C) The Commission shall submit to the appropriate committees of the 
Congress, and publish in the Federal Register, quarterly reports 
specifying reimbursements which the Commission has accepted under this 
paragraph.
    (D) The provisions of this paragraph shall cease to have any force 
or effect at the end of fiscal year 1994.
    (E) Funds which are received by the Commission as reimbursements 
under the provisions of this paragraph after the close of a fiscal year 
shall remain available for obligation.
    (3)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in furtherance of 
its functions the Commission is authorized to accept, hold, administer, 
and use unconditional gifts, donations, and bequests of real, personal, 
and other property (including voluntary and uncompensated services, as 
authorized by section 3109 of title 5).
    (B) The Commission, for purposes of providing radio club and 
military-recreational call signs, may utilize the voluntary, 
uncompensated, and unreimbursed services of amateur radio organizations 
authorized by the Commission that have tax-exempt status under section 
501(c)(3) of title 26.
    (C) For the purpose of Federal law on income taxes, estate taxes, 
and gift taxes, property or services accepted under the authority of 
subparagraph (A) shall be deemed to be a gift, bequest, or devise to the 
United States.
    (D) The Commission shall promulgate regulations to carry out the 
provisions of this paragraph. Such regulations shall include provisions 
to preclude the acceptance of any gift, bequest, or donation that would 
create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of 
interest.

(h) Quorum; seal

    Three members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum thereof. 
The Commission shall have an official seal which shall be judicially 
noticed.

(i) Duties and powers

    The Commission may perform any and all acts, make such rules and 
regulations, and issue such orders, not inconsistent with this chapter, 
as may be necessary in the execution of its functions.

(j) Conduct of proceedings; hearings

    The Commission may conduct its proceedings in such manner as will 
best conduce to the proper dispatch of business and to the ends of 
justice. No commissioner shall participate in any hearing or proceeding 
in which he has a pecuniary interest. Any party may appear before the 
Commission and be heard in person or by attorney. Every vote and 
official act of the Commission shall be entered of record, and its 
proceedings shall be public upon the request of any party interested. 
The Commission is authorized to withhold publication of records or 
proceedings containing secret information affecting the national 
defense.

(k) Annual reports to Congress

    The Commission shall make an annual report to Congress, copies of 
which shall be distributed as are other reports transmitted to Congress. 
Such reports shall contain--
        (1) such information and data collected by the Commission as may 
    be considered of value in the determination of questions connected 
    with the regulation of interstate and foreign wire and radio 
    communication and radio transmission of energy;
        (2) such information and data concerning the functioning of the 
    Commission as will be of value to Congress in appraising the amount 
    and character of the work and accomplishments of the Commission and 
    the adequacy of its staff and equipment;
        (3) an itemized statement of all funds expended during the 
    preceding year by the Commission, of the sources of such funds, and 
    of the authority in this chapter or elsewhere under which such 
    expenditures were made; and
        (4) specific recommendations to Congress as to additional 
    legislation which the Commission deems necessary or desirable, 
    including all legislative proposals submitted for approval to the 
    Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

(l) Record of reports

    All reports of investigations made by the Commission shall be 
entered of record, and a copy thereof shall be furnished to the party 
who may have complained, and to any common carrier or licensee that may 
have been complained of.

(m) Publication of reports; admissibility as evidence

    The Commission shall provide for the publication of its reports and 
decisions in such form and manner as may be best adapted for public 
information and use, and such authorized publications shall be competent 
evidence of the reports and decisions of the Commission therein 
contained in all courts of the United States and of the several States 
without any further proof or authentication thereof.

(n) Compensation of appointees

    Rates of compensation of persons appointed under this section shall 
be subject to the reduction applicable to officers and employees of the 
Federal Government generally.

(o) Use of communications in safety of life and property

    For the purpose of obtaining maximum effectiveness from the use of 
radio and wire communications in connection with safety of life and 
property, the Commission shall investigate and study all phases of the 
problem and the best methods of obtaining the cooperation and 
coordination of these systems.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, Sec. 4, 48 Stat. 1066; Jan. 22, 1936, 
ch. 25, 49 Stat. 1098; May 20, 1937, ch. 229, Secs. 3, 4, 50 Stat. 190; 
Mar. 23, 1941, ch. 24, 55 Stat. 46; July 16, 1952, ch. 879, Sec. 3, 66 
Stat. 711; Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 735, Sec. 2, 68 Stat. 729; Pub. L. 86-533, 
Sec. 1(24), June 29, 1960, 74 Stat. 249; Pub. L. 86-619, Sec. 2, July 
12, 1960, 74 Stat. 407; Pub. L. 86-752, Sec. 2, Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 
889; Pub. L. 97-35, title XII, Sec. 1251(b), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 
738; Pub. L. 97-253, title V, Sec. 501(b)(1)-(3), Sept. 8, 1982, 96 
Stat. 805, 806; Pub. L. 97-259, title I, Secs. 102-104, Sept. 13, 1982, 
96 Stat. 1087-1089; Pub. L. 98-214, Secs. 10, 11, Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 
1471; Pub. L. 99-272, title V, Sec. 5002(b), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 
118; Pub. L. 99-334, Sec. 1(a), June 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 513; Pub. L. 
100-594, Sec. 3, Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 3021; Pub. L. 101-396, Secs. 3, 
4, Sept. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 848, 849; Pub. L. 102-538, title II, 
Secs. 201, 208, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3542, 3543; Pub. L. 103-414, 
title III, Sec. 303(a)(1), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4294; Pub. L. 104-
66, title II, Sec. 2051(b), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 729; Pub. L. 104-
104, title IV, Sec. 403(a), (b), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 130.)

                       References in Text

    Level III and level IV of the Executive Schedule, referred to in 
subsec. (d), are set out in sections 5314 and 5315, respectively, of 
Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
    The civil-service laws, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), (2), are set 
forth in Title 5. See particularly, section 3301 et seq. of Title 5.
    Part II of subchapter III of this chapter, referred to in subsec. 
(f)(3), is classified to section 351 et seq. of this title.
    Provisions of part III of title 5, referred to in subsec. (f)(4)(E), 
are classified to section 2101 et seq. of Title 5, Government 
Organization and Employees.
    Federal law on income taxes, estate taxes, and gift taxes, referred 
to in subsec. (g)(3)(C), is classified generally to Title 26, Internal 
Revenue Code.

                          Codification

    In subsec. (f)(1), (2) ``chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 
of title 5'' substituted for ``the Classification of 1949'' on authority 
of Pub. L. 89-554, Sec. 7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first 
section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
    In subsec. (f)(4)(E), ``section 1342 of title 31'' substituted for 
``section 3679(b) of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 665(b))'' on 
authority of Pub. L. 97-258, Sec. 4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, 
the first section of which enacted Title 31, Money and Finance.


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 403(b), inserted before 
period at end ``: and Provided further, That, in the alternative, an 
entity designated by the Commission may make the inspections referred to 
in this paragraph''.
    Subsec. (f)(4)(A). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 403(a)(1), in first 
sentence, inserted ``or administering'' after ``for purposes of 
preparing'', ``of'' after ``than the class'', and ``or administered'' 
after ``being prepared''.
    Subsec. (f)(4)(B). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 403(a)(2), (5), 
redesignated subpar. (C) as (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which 
read as follows: ``The Commission, for purposes of administering any 
examination for an amateur station operator license, may accept and 
employ the voluntary and uncompensated services of any individual who 
holds an amateur station operator license of a higher class than the 
class license for which the examination is being conducted. In the case 
of examinations for the highest class of amateur station operator 
license, the Commission may accept and employ such services of any 
individual who holds such class of license. Any person who owns a 
significant interest in, or is an employee of, any company or other 
entity which is engaged in the manufacture or distribution of equipment 
used in connection with amateur radio transmissions, or in the 
preparation or distribution of any publication used in preparation for 
obtaining amateur station operator licenses, shall not be eligible to 
render any service under this subparagraph.''
    Subsec. (f)(4)(C) to (G). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 403(a)(5), 
redesignated subpars. (D) to (H) as (C) to (G), respectively. Former 
subpar. (C) redesignated (B).
    Subsec. (f)(4)(H). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 403(a)(5), redesignated 
subpar. (I) as (H). Former subpar. (H) redesignated (G).
    Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 403(a)(3), substituted ``subparagraphs (A) and 
(B)'' for ``subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C)''.
    Subsec. (f)(4)(I). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 403(a)(5), redesignated 
subpar. (J) as (I). Former subpar. (I) redesignated (H).
    Subsec. (f)(4)(J). Pub. L. 104-104, Sec. 403(a)(4), (5), 
redesignated subpar. (J) as (I) and substituted ``subparagraph (A) of 
this paragraph'' for ``subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph'' and 
struck out last sentence which read as follows: ``The total amount of 
allowable cost reimbursement per examinee shall not exceed $4, adjusted 
annually every January 1 for changes in the Department of Labor Consumer 
Price Index.''
    1995--Subsec. (f)(4)(J). Pub. L. 104-66 struck out at end ``Such 
individuals and organizations shall maintain records of out-of-pocket 
expenditures and shall certify annually to the Commission that all costs 
for which reimbursement was obtained were necessarily and prudently 
incurred.''
    1994--Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 103-414 substituted ``overtime extends 
beyond'' for ``overtime exceeds beyond''.
    1992--Subsec. (g)(2)(D). Pub. L. 102-538, Sec. 201, substituted 
``1994'' for ``1992''.
    Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 102-538, Sec. 208, added par. (3).
    1990--Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 101-396, Sec. 3, added par. (5).
    Subsec. (g)(2)(D). Pub. L. 101-396, Sec. 4, substituted ``1992'' for 
``1989''.
    1988--Subsec. (g)(2)(D). Pub. L. 100-594 substituted ``1989'' for 
``1987''.
    1986--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99-334 substituted ``five years'' for 
``seven years''.
    Subsec. (g)(2)(D). Pub. L. 99-272, Sec. 5002(b)(1), substituted 
``1987'' for ``1985''.
    Subsec. (g)(2)(E). Pub. L. 99-272, Sec. 5002(b)(2), added subpar. 
(E).
    1983--Subsec. (f)(4)(E) to (I). Pub. L. 98-214, Sec. 10, added 
subpar. (E) and redesignated existing subpars. (E) to (H) as (F) to (I), 
respectively.
    Subsec. (f)(4)(J). Pub. L. 98-214, Sec. 11, added subpar. (J).
    1982--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97-253, Sec. 501(b)(1), substituted 
``five'' for ``seven''.
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 102, amended subsec. (b) 
generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: ``Each 
member of the Commission shall be a citizen of the United States. No 
member of the Commission or person in its employ shall be financially 
interested in the manufacture or sale of radio apparatus or of apparatus 
for wire or radio communication; in communication by wire or radio or in 
radio transmission of energy; in any company furnishing services or such 
apparatus to any company engaged in communication by wire or radio or to 
any company manufacturing or selling apparatus used for communication by 
wire or radio; or in any company owning stocks, bonds, or other 
securities of any such company; nor be in the employ of or hold any 
official relation to any person subject to any of the provisions of this 
chapter, nor own stocks, bonds, or other securities of any corporation 
subject to any of the provisions of this chapter. Such commissioners 
shall not engage in any other business, vocation, profession, or 
employment. Any such commissioner serving as such after one year from 
July 16, 1952, shall not for a period of one year following the 
termination of his services as a commissioner represent any person 
before the Commission in a professional capacity, except that this 
restriction shall not apply to any commissioner who has served the full 
term for which he was appointed. Not more than four members of the 
Commission shall be members of the same political party.''
    Pub. L. 97-253, Sec. 501(b)(2), amended last sentence of subsec. 
(b), prior to the general amendment by Pub. L. 97-259, by substituting 
language identical to that contained in par. (5), as added by Pub. L. 
97-259.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 103(a), struck out ``The'' before 
``commissioners'' at beginning of subsection, immediately thereafter 
struck out ``first appointed under this chapter shall continue in office 
for the terms of one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven years, 
respectively, from the date of the taking effect of this chapter, the 
term of each to be designated by the President, but their successors'', 
and substituted ``been confirmed and taken the oath of office'' for 
``qualified''.
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 103(b), amended subsec. (d) 
generally, relating to the annual salary rate for the Chairman and 
Commissioners.
    Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 103(c), substituted ``three 
professional assistants'' for ``a legal assistant, an engineering 
assistant,''.
    Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 104, added par. (4).
    Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 103(d), designated existing 
provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
    Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 97-253, Sec. 501(b)(3), substituted ``Three'' 
for ``Four''.
    Subsec. (k)(2). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 103(e), struck out proviso 
after ``its staff and equipment'', relating to the content of first and 
second annual reports after the enactment of the Communications Act 
Amendments of 1952.
    Subsec. (k)(3). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 103(f), redesignated par. (4) 
as (3).
    Subsec. (k)(4), (5). Pub. L. 97-259, Sec. 103(f), (g), redesignated 
par. (5) as (4) and substituted ``Office of Management and Budget'' for 
``Bureau of the Budget''. Former par. (4) redesignated (3).
    1981--Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 97-35 substituted requirement respecting 
authorizations under section 156 of this title, for provisions 
respecting appropriations from time to time.
    1960--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 86-752 struck out provision that 
permitted commissioners to accept ``reasonable honorarium or 
compensation'' for ``the presentation or delivery of publications or 
papers''.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 86-619 provided for continuation in office of 
the commissioners upon termination of their term until their successors 
are appointed and have qualified, not beyond expiration of next session 
of Congress subsequent to the expiration of said fixed term of office.
    Subsec. (k)(3). Pub. L. 86-533 repealed par. (3) which required the 
report to contain information with respect to all persons taken into the 
employment of the Commission during the preceding year, together with 
the names of those persons who left the employ of the Commission during 
the year.
    1954--Subsec. (f)(3). Act Aug. 13, 1954, substituted ``engineers'' 
for ``inspectors'' and ``Field Engineering and Monitoring Bureau of the 
Federal Communications Commission'' for ``Field Division of the 
Engineering Department of the Federal Communications Commission'' and 
extended provisions to include inspections required pursuant to the 
Great Lakes Agreement.
    1952--Subsec. (b). Act July 16, 1952, Sec. 3(a), prohibited 
commissioners from engaging in any other work except that they may 
present or deliver papers for an honorarium, and prohibited any 
commissioner from appearing before the Commission in a professional 
capacity for 1 year after termination of his services except that this 
prohibition would not apply where commissioner has completed his full 
term.
    Subsec. (f). Act July 16, 1952, Sec. 3(b), authorized Commission to 
appoint employees, allowed each commissioner to appoint a legal 
assistant, and a secretary, and allowed the Chairman to appoint an 
administrative assistant.
    Subsec. (g). Act July 16, 1952, Sec. 3(c), authorized Commission to 
acquire land for monitoring stations and related facilities.
    Subsec. (k). Act July 16, 1952, Sec. 3(d), required Commission to 
make more detailed reports to Congress.
    1941--Subsec. (f). Act Mar. 23, 1941, designated existing provisions 
as par. (1) and added par. (2).
    1937--Subsec. (k). Act May 20, 1937, inserted provisions that the 
Commission report to Congress annually at the beginning session of the 
Congress whether new wire or radio communication legislation is 
necessary and make specific recommendations thereof to Congress.
    Subsec. (o). Act May 20, 1937, added subsec. (o).
    1936--Subsec. (f). Act Jan. 22, 1936, inserted references to a chief 
accountant and three assistants.


                    Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

    Section 1(b) of Pub. L. 99-334 provided that: ``The amendment made 
by subsection (a) of this section [amending this section] shall take 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act [June 6, 1986, except that--
        ``(1) upon the expiration of the term of office prescribed by 
    law to occur on June 30, 1986, any person appointed as a member of 
    the Federal Communications Commission to fill such office for the 
    term following such date shall be eligible to serve until June 30, 
    1990, and any person appointed as a member of the Federal 
    Communications Commission to the term of office prescribed by law to 
    expire on June 30, 1987, shall be eligible to serve until June 30, 
    1989; and
        ``(2) notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this 
    section [amending this section], persons appointed as members of the 
    Federal Communications Commission to terms of office prescribed by 
    law to expire on June 30, 1988, June 30, 1991, and June 30, 1992, 
    shall be eligible to serve until the expiration of the term of 
    office on June 30, 1988, June 30, 1991, and June 30, 1992, whichever 
    is applicable.''


                    Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

    Section 501(b)(4) of Pub. L. 97-253 provided that: ``The amendments 
made in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection [amending this 
section] shall take effect on July 1, 1983.''


                    Effective Date of 1954 Amendment

    Amendment 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.


                  Termination of Reporting Requirements

    For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsecs. 
(g)(2)(C) and (k) of this section relating to requirements to submit 
regular periodic reports to Congress, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104-
66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money 
and Finance, and the 5th and 9th items on page 167 of House Document No. 
103-7.

                          Transfer of Functions

    All offices of collector of customs, referred to in subsec. (f)(3), 
in Bureau of Customs of Department of the Treasury to which appointments 
were required to be made by President with advice and consent of Senate 
ordered abolished with such offices to be terminated not later than Dec. 
31, 1966, by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1965, eff. May 25, 1965, 30 F.R. 7035, 
79 Stat. 1317, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government 
Organization and Employees. All functions of offices eliminated were 
already vested in Secretary of the Treasury by Reorg. Plan No. 26 of 
1950, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, set out in the 
Appendix to Title 5.


                         Older Americans Program

    Section 6 of Pub. L. 100-594, as amended by Pub. L. 101-396, Sec. 5, 
Sept. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 849; Pub. L. 102-538, title II, Sec. 212, Oct. 
27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3545, provided that:
    ``(a) During fiscal years 1992 and 1993, the Federal Communications 
Commission is authorized to make grants to, or enter into cooperative 
agreements with, private nonprofit organizations designated by the 
Secretary of Labor under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3056 et seq.) to utilize the talents of older Americans in 
programs authorized by other provisions of law administered by the 
Commission (and consistent with such provisions of law) in providing 
technical and administrative assistance for projects related to the 
implementation, promotion, or enforcement of the regulations of the 
Commission.
    ``(b) Prior to awarding any grant or entering into any agreement 
under subsection (a), the Office of the Managing Director of the 
Commission shall certify to the Commission that such grant or agreement 
will not--
        ``(1) result in the displacement of individuals currently 
    employed by the Commission;
        ``(2) result in the employment of any individual when any other 
    individual is on layoff status from the same or a substantially 
    equivalent job within the jurisdiction of the Commission; or
        ``(3) affect existing contracts for services.
    ``(c) Participants in any program under a grant or cooperative 
agreement pursuant to this section shall--
        ``(1) execute a signed statement with the Commission in which 
    such participants certify that they will adhere to the standards of 
    conduct prescribed for regular employees of the Commission, as set 
    forth in part 19 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations; and
        ``(2) execute a confidential statement of employment and 
    financial interest (Federal Communications Commission Form A-54) 
    prior to commencement of work under the program.
Failure to comply with the terms of the signed statement described in 
paragraph (1) shall result in termination of the individual under the 
grant or agreement.
    ``(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit 
employment of any such participant in any decisionmaking or policymaking 
position.
    ``(e) Grants or agreements under this section shall be subject to 
prior appropriation Acts.''


                   Expiration of Commissioners' Terms

    Pub. L. 97-253, title V, Sec. 501(a), Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 805, 
provided that: ``Upon expiration of the term of office as a member of 
the Federal Communications Commission, which is prescribed by law to 
occur on June 30, 1982, any member appointed to fill such office after 
such date shall be appointed for a term which ends on June 30, 1983, and 
such office shall be abolished on July 1, 1983. Upon expiration of the 
term of office as a member of such Commission, which--
        ``(1) is prescribed by law;
        ``(2) is in effect before the date of the enactment of this Act 
    [Sept. 8, 1982]; and
        ``(3) is to occur on June 30, 1983;
no person shall be appointed to fill such office after such date, and 
such office shall be abolished on July 1, 1983.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 309, 607 of this title; 
title 5 section 5549.