47 U.S.C. § 215 : US Code - Section 215: Examination of transactions relating to furnishing of services, equipment, etc.; reports to Congress

Search 47 U.S.C. § 215 : US Code - Section 215: Examination of transactions relating to furnishing of services, equipment, etc.; reports to Congress

(a) Access to records and documents
The Commission shall examine into transactions entered into by
any common carrier which relate to the furnishing of equipment,
supplies, research, services, finances, credit, or personnel to
such carrier and/or which may affect the charges made or to be made
and/or the services rendered or to be rendered by such carrier, in
wire or radio communication subject to this chapter, and shall
report to the Congress whether any such transactions have affected
or are likely to affect adversely the ability of the carrier to
render adequate service to the public, or may result in any undue
or unreasonable increase in charges or in the maintenance of undue
or unreasonable charges for such service; and in order to fully
examine into such transactions the Commission shall have access to
and the right of inspection and examination of all accounts,
records, and memoranda, including all documents, papers, and
correspondence now or hereafter existing, of persons furnishing
such equipment, supplies, research, services, finances, credit, or
personnel. The Commission shall include in its report its
recommendations for necessary legislation in connection with such
transactions, and shall report specifically whether in its opinion
legislation should be enacted (1) authorizing the Commission to
declare any such transactions void or to permit such transactions
to be carried out subject to such modification of their terms and
conditions as the Commission shall deem desirable in the public
interest; and/or (2) subjecting such transactions to the approval
of the Commission where the person furnishing or seeking to furnish
the equipment, supplies, research, services, finances, credit, or
personnel is a person directly or indirectly controlling or
controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with,
such carrier; and/or (3) authorizing the Commission to require that
all or any transactions of carriers involving the furnishing of
equipment, supplies, research, services, finances, credit, or
personnel to such carrier be upon competitive bids on such terms
and conditions and subject to such regulations as it shall
prescribe as necessary in the public interest.
(b) Wire telephone and telegraph services
The Commission shall investigate the methods by which and the
extent to which wire telephone companies are furnishing wire
telegraph service and wire telegraph companies are furnishing wire
telephone service, and shall report its findings to Congress,
together with its recommendations as to whether additional
legislation on this subject is desirable.
(c) Exclusive dealing contracts
The Commission shall examine all contracts of common carriers
subject to this chapter which prevent the other party thereto from
dealing with another common carrier subject to this chapter, and
shall report its findings to Congress, together with its
recommendations as to whether additional legislation on this
subject is desirable.