WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 47, Telecommunications › Chapter 5

47 U.S.C. 155: Commission

Created in 1961 by Public Law 87-192. Changed by 7 later laws. No bill we track in this Congress changes it.

2 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 47 U.S.C. 405, 47 U.S.C. 610.

10 parts of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by Federal Communications Commission (10).

This Congress

No bill we track in the 119th Congress changes this section.

    How it got here

    1996

    • Pub. L. 104–104 inserted last sentence and struck out former last sentence which read as follows: "Nothing in this paragraph shall authorize the Commission to provide for the conduct, by any person or persons other than persons referred to in clauses (2) and (3) of section 556(b) of… (Telecommunications Act of 1996) Law text · (c)

    1994

    • Pub. L. 103–414 redesignated subsec. (f) as (e). · (e), (f)

    1988

    • Pub. L. 100–594, §8(a), inserted "and except any action referred to in sections 204(a)(2), 208(b), and 405(b) of this title" after "and (6) of this subsection" in first sentence. · (c)
    • Pub. L. 100–594, §4, struck out subsec. (g) which required an annual report to Congress and specified its contents. · (g)

    1986

    • Pub. L. 99–272 substituted "March 31" for "January 31". · (g)

    1982

    • Pub. L. 97–259, §105(a), substituted "From" for "Within six months after July 16, 1952, and from" at beginning of subsection, and struck out "thereafter" after "time to time". · (b)
    • Pub. L. 97–259, §105(b), (c), redesignated subsecs. (d) and (e) as (c) and (d), respectively, and in par. (1) of subsec. (c), as so redesignated, substituted "two" for "three" after "employee board consisting of". · (c), (d), (e)

    1981

    • Pub. L. 97–35 added subsecs. (f) and (g). · (f), (g)

    1980

    • Pub. L. 96–470 struck out "; and the Commission shall promptly report to the Congress each such case which has been pending before it more than such three- or six-month period, respectively, stating the reasons therefor" after "hearing cases". · (e)

    1961

    • Pub. L. 87–192, §1, repealed subsec. (c) which provided for establishment of review staff, its composition, responsibility and duties. · (c)
    • Pub. L. 87–192, §2, substituted provisions which authorized the delegation of functions by published rule or by order to a panel of commissioners, and individual commissioner, an employee board, or an individual employee, and of review functions to an employee board of three or more… · (d)
    • Pub. L. 87–192, §2, added par. (2). The subject matter was formerly covered by the introductory words of former par. (1) of this subsection which read "Except as provided in section 409 of this title." Sentences 1 and 2 of former par. (2) redesignated pars. (4) and (6), respectively. · (d)
    • Pub. L. 87–192, §2, redesignated second sentence of former par. (1) as par. (3) and substituted therein "report, or action made or taken pursuant to any such delegation, unless reviewed as provided in paragraph (4), shall have" and "other actions" for "report made, or other action t… · (d)
    • Pub. L. 87–192, §2, redesignated first sentence of former par. (2) as par. (4), included "action" in enumeration, and inserted provision for review on initiative of the Commission. · (d)
    • Pub. L. 87–192, §2, added par. (5). · (d)
    • Pub. L. 87–192, §2, redesignated second sentence of former par. (2) as par. (6), inserting "for review" after "applications" and substituting "the Commission", "the order", "it may order" and "in accordance with" for "it", "such order", "may order" and "under", respectively. · (d)
    • Pub. L. 87–192, §2, added pars. (7) and (8). · (d), (8)
    • Pub. L. 87–192, §2, redesignated former par. (3) as (9) and made it applicable to each panel of the Commission, each employee board instead of each board, and each individual employee. · (d)

    Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.