47 U.S.C. § 256 : US Code - Section 256: Coordination for interconnectivity

Search 47 U.S.C. § 256 : US Code - Section 256: Coordination for interconnectivity

(a) Purpose
It is the purpose of this section -
(1) to promote nondiscriminatory accessibility by the broadest
number of users and vendors of communications products and
services to public telecommunications networks used to provide
telecommunications service through -
(A) coordinated public telecommunications network planning
and design by telecommunications carriers and other providers
of telecommunications service; and
(B) public telecommunications network interconnectivity, and
interconnectivity of devices with such networks used to provide
telecommunications service; and
(2) to ensure the ability of users and information providers to
seamlessly and transparently transmit and receive information
between and across telecommunications networks.
(b) Commission functions
In carrying out the purposes of this section, the Commission -
(1) shall establish procedures for Commission oversight of
coordinated network planning by telecommunications carriers and
other providers of telecommunications service for the effective
and efficient interconnection of public telecommunications
networks used to provide telecommunications service; and
(2) may participate, in a manner consistent with its authority
and practice prior to February 8, 1996, in the development by
appropriate industry standards-setting organizations of public
telecommunications network interconnectivity standards that
promote access to -
(A) public telecommunications networks used to provide
telecommunications service;
(B) network capabilities and services by individuals with
disabilities; and
(C) information services by subscribers of rural telephone
companies.
(c) Commission's authority
Nothing in this section shall be construed as expanding or
limiting any authority that the Commission may have under law in
effect before February 8, 1996.
(d) "Public telecommunications network interconnectivity" defined
As used in this section, the term "public telecommunications
network interconnectivity" means the ability of two or more public
telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications
service to communicate and exchange information without
degeneration, and to interact in concert with one another.