47 U.S.C. § 203 : US Code - Section 203: Schedules of charges

Search 47 U.S.C. § 203 : US Code - Section 203: Schedules of charges

(a) Filing; public display
Every common carrier, except connecting carriers, shall, within
such reasonable time as the Commission shall designate, file with
the Commission and print and keep open for public inspection
schedules showing all charges for itself and its connecting
carriers for interstate and foreign wire or radio communication
between the different points on its own system, and between points
on its own system and points on the system of its connecting
carriers or points on the system of any other carrier subject to
this chapter when a through route has been established, whether
such charges are joint or separate, and showing the
classifications, practices, and regulations affecting such charges.
Such schedules shall contain such other information, and be printed
in such form, and be posted and kept open for public inspection in
such places, as the Commission may by regulation require, and each
such schedule shall give notice of its effective date; and such
common carrier shall furnish such schedules to each of its
connecting carriers, and such connecting carriers shall keep such
schedules open for inspection in such public places as the
Commission may require.
(b) Changes in schedule; discretion of Commission to modify
requirements
(1) No change shall be made in the charges, classifications,
regulations, or practices which have been so filed and published
except after one hundred and twenty days notice to the Commission
and to the public, which shall be published in such form and
contain such information as the Commission may by regulations
prescribe.
(2) The Commission may, in its discretion and for good cause
shown, modify any requirement made by or under the authority of
this section either in particular instances or by general order
applicable to special circumstances or conditions except that the
Commission may not require the notice period specified in paragraph
(1) to be more than one hundred and twenty days.
(c) Overcharges and rebates
No carrier, unless otherwise provided by or under authority of
this chapter, shall engage or participate in such communication
unless schedules have been filed and published in accordance with
the provisions of this chapter and with the regulations made
thereunder; and no carrier shall (1) charge, demand, collect, or
receive a greater or less or different compensation for such
communication, or for any service in connection therewith, between
the points named in any such schedule than the charges specified in
the schedule then in effect, or (2) refund or remit by any means or
device any portion of the charges so specified, or (3) extend to
any person any privileges or facilities in such communication, or
employ or enforce any classifications, regulations, or practices
affecting such charges, except as specified in such schedule.
(d) Rejection or refusal
The Commission may reject and refuse to file any schedule entered
for filing which does not provide and give lawful notice of its
effective date. Any schedule so rejected by the Commission shall be
void and its use shall be unlawful.
(e) Penalty for violations
In case of failure or refusal on the part of any carrier to
comply with the provisions of this section or of any regulation or
order made by the Commission thereunder, such carrier shall forfeit
to the United States the sum of $6,000 for each such offense, and
$300 for each and every day of the continuance of such offense.