Browse Arkansas Code titles and sections
47 U.S.C. § 396 — Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 235
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
facilities or equipment acquired or developed
with such funds, except that such funds may be
used for minor remodeling which is necessary
for and incidental to the installation of such fa-
cilities or equipment.
(e) ‘‘Nonbroadcast telecommunications facilities’’
defined
For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘non-
broadcast telecommunications facilities’’ in-
cludes, but is not limited to, cable television
systems, communications satellite systems and
related terminal equipment, and other modes of
transmitting, emitting, or receiving images and
sounds or intelligence by means of wire, radio,
optical, electromagnetic, or other means.
(f) Funding
The funding of any demonstration pursuant to
this subpart shall continue for not more than 3
years from the date of the original grant or con-
tract.
(g) Summary and evaluation
The Secretary shall require that the recipient
of a grant or contract under this subpart submit
a summary and evaluation of the results of the
demonstration at least annually for each year in
which funds are received pursuant to this sec-
tion.
(h) Recordkeeping requirements; accessibility
(1) Each recipient of assistance under this sub-
part shall keep such records as may be reason-
ably necessary to enable the Secretary to carry
out the Secretary’s functions under this sub-
part, including records which fully disclose the
amount and the disposition by such recipient of
the proceeds of such assistance, the total cost of
the project or undertaking in connection with
which such assistance is given or used, the
amount and nature of that portion of the cost of
the project or undertaking supplied by other
sources, and such other records as will facilitate
an effective audit.
(2) The S
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Page 235
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
facilities or equipment acquired or developed
with such funds, except that such funds may be
used for minor remodeling which is necessary
for and incidental to the installation of such fa-
cilities or equipment.
(e) ‘‘Nonbroadcast telecommunications facilities’’
defined
For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘non-
broadcast telecommunications facilities’’ in-
cludes, but is not limited to, cable television
systems, communications satellite systems and
related terminal equipment, and other modes of
transmitting, emitting, or receiving images and
sounds or intelligence by means of wire, radio,
optical, electromagnetic, or other means.
(f) Funding
The funding of any demonstration pursuant to
this subpart shall continue for not more than 3
years from the date of the original grant or con-
tract.
(g) Summary and evaluation
The Secretary shall require that the recipient
of a grant or contract under this subpart submit
a summary and evaluation of the results of the
demonstration at least annually for each year in
which funds are received pursuant to this sec-
tion.
(h) Recordkeeping requirements; accessibility
(1) Each recipient of assistance under this sub-
part shall keep such records as may be reason-
ably necessary to enable the Secretary to carry
out the Secretary’s functions under this sub-
part, including records which fully disclose the
amount and the disposition by such recipient of
the proceeds of such assistance, the total cost of
the project or undertaking in connection with
which such assistance is given or used, the
amount and nature of that portion of the cost of
the project or undertaking supplied by other
sources, and such other records as will facilitate
an effective audit.
(2) The Secretary and the Comptroller General
of the United States, or any of their duly au-
thorized representatives, shall have access for
the purposes of audit and examination to any
books, documents, papers, and records of the re-
cipient that are pertinent to assistance received
under this subpart.
(i) Rules and regulations
The Secretary is authorized to make such
rules and regulations as may be necessary to
carry out this subpart, including regulations re-
lating to the order of priority in approving ap-
plications for projects under this subpart or to
determining the amounts of grants for such
projects.
(j) Assistance
The Commission is authorized to provide such
assistance in carrying out the provisions of this
subpart as may be requested by the Secretary.
The Secretary shall provide for close coordina-
tion with the Commission in the administration
of the Secretary’s functions under this subpart
which are of interest to or affect the functions
of the Commission. The Secretary shall provide
for close coordination with the Corporation in
the administration of the Secretary’s functions
under this subpart which are of interest to or af-
fect the functions of the Corporation.
(k) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated
$1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1979, 1980,
and 1981, to be used by the Secretary to carry
out the provisions of this subpart. Sums appro-
priated under this subsection for any fiscal year
shall remain available for payment of grants or
contracts for projects for which applications ap-
proved under this subpart have been submitted
within one year after the last day of such fiscal
year.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 395, as added
Pub. L. 95–567, title II, § 201, Nov. 2, 1978, 92 Stat.
2409.)
Editorial Notes
PRIOR PROVISIONS
A prior section 395, act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III,
§ 395, as added May 1, 1962, Pub. L. 87–447, 76 Stat. 67;
amended Nov. 7, 1967, Pub. L. 90–129, title II, § 201(2), 81
Stat. 367; June 5, 1976, Pub. L. 94–309, § 5, 90 Stat. 684, re-
lated to assistance of the Secretary by the Commission,
prior to repeal by Pub. L. 95–567, § 201.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
EFFECTIVE DATE
Section effective Nov. 2, 1978, see section 403 of Pub.
L. 95–567, set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amend-
ment note under section 390 of this title.
SUBPART D—CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC
BROADCASTING
§ 396. Corporation for Public Broadcasting
(a) Congressional declaration of policy
The Congress hereby finds and declares that—
(1) it is in the public interest to encourage
the growth and development of public radio
and television broadcasting, including the use
of such media for instructional, educational,
and cultural purposes;
(2) it is in the public interest to encourage
the growth and development of nonbroadcast
telecommunications technologies for the de-
livery of public telecommunications services;
(3) expansion and development of public tele-
communications and of diversity of its pro-
gramming depend on freedom, imagination,
and initiative on both local and national lev-
els;
(4) the encouragement and support of public
telecommunications, while matters of impor-
tance for private and local development, are
also of appropriate and important concern to
the Federal Government;
(5) it furthers the general welfare to encour-
age public telecommunications services which
will be responsive to the interests of people
both in particular localities and throughout
the United States, which will constitute an ex-
pression of diversity and excellence, and which
will constitute a source of alternative tele-
communications services for all the citizens of
the Nation;
(6) it is in the public interest to encourage
the development of programming that in-
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TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
volves creative risks and that addresses the
needs of unserved and underserved audiences,
particularly children and minorities;
(7) it is necessary and appropriate for the
Federal Government to complement, assist,
and support a national policy that will most
effectively make public telecommunications
services available to all citizens of the United
States;
(8) public television and radio stations and
public telecommunications services constitute
valuable local community resources for uti-
lizing electronic media to address national
concerns and solve local problems through
community programs and outreach programs;
(9) it is in the public interest for the Federal
Government to ensure that all citizens of the
United States have access to public tele-
communications services through all appro-
priate available telecommunications distribu-
tion technologies; and
(10) a private corporation should be created
to facilitate the development of public tele-
communications and to afford maximum pro-
tection from extraneous interference and con-
trol.
(b) Establishment of Corporation; application of
District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation
Act
There is authorized to be established a non-
profit corporation, to be known as the ‘‘Corpora-
tion for Public Broadcasting’’, which will not be
an agency or establishment of the United States
Government. The Corporation shall be subject
to the provisions of this section, and, to the ex-
tent consistent with this section, to the District
of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act.
(c) Board of Directors; functions, duties, etc.
(1) The Corporation for Public Broadcasting
shall have a Board of Directors (hereinafter in
this section referred to as the ‘‘Board’’), con-
sisting of 9 members appointed by the President,
by and with the advice and consent of the Sen-
ate. No more than 5 members of the Board ap-
pointed by the President may be members of the
same political party.
(2) The 9 members of the Board appointed by
the President (A) shall be selected from among
citizens of the United States (not regular full-
time employees of the United States) who are
eminent in such fields as education, cultural and
civic affairs, or the arts, including radio and tel-
evision; and (B) shall be selected so as to provide
as nearly as practicable a broad representation
of various regions of the Nation, various profes-
sions and occupations, and various kinds of tal-
ent and experience appropriate to the functions
and responsibilities of the Corporation.
(3) Of the members of the Board appointed by
the President under paragraph (1), one member
shall be selected from among individuals who
represent the licensees and permittees of public
television stations, and one member shall be se-
lected from among individuals who represent
the licensees and permittees of public radio sta-
tions.
(4) The members of the initial Board of Direc-
tors shall serve as incorporators and shall take
whatever actions are necessary to establish the
Corporation under the District of Columbia Non-
profit Corporation Act.
(5) The term of office of each member of the
Board appointed by the President shall be 6
years, except as provided in section 5(c) of the
Public Telecommunications Act of 1992. Any
member whose term has expired may serve until
such member’s successor has taken office, or
until the end of the calendar year in which such
member’s term has expired, whichever is earlier.
Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occur-
ring prior to the expiration of the term for
which such member’s predecessor was appointed
shall be appointed for the remainder of such
term. No member of the Board shall be eligible
to serve in excess of 2 consecutive full terms.
(6) Any vacancy in the Board shall not affect
its power, but shall be filled in the manner con-
sistent with this chapter.
(7) Members of the Board shall attend not less
than 50 percent of all duly convened meetings of
the Board in any calendar year. A member who
fails to meet the requirement of the preceding
sentence shall forfeit membership and the Presi-
dent shall appoint a new member to fill such va-
cancy not later than 30 days after such vacancy
is determined by the Chairman of the Board.
(d) Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman;
compensation of Board members
(1) Members of the Board shall annually elect
one of their members to be Chairman and elect
one or more of their members as a Vice Chair-
man or Vice Chairmen.
(2) The members of the Board shall not, by
reason of such membership, be deemed to be offi-
cers or employees of the United States. They
shall, while attending meetings of the Board or
while engaged in duties related to such meetings
or other activities of the Board pursuant to this
subpart, be entitled to receive compensation at
the rate of $150 per day, including traveltime.
No Board member shall receive compensation of
more than $10,000 in any fiscal year. While away
from their homes or regular places of business,
Board members shall be allowed travel and ac-
tual, reasonable, and necessary expenses.
(e) Officers and employees; term of office, com-
pensation, qualifications, and removal; polit-
ical party affiliation, political test or quali-
fication when taking personnel actions
(1) The Corporation shall have a President,
and such other officers as may be named and ap-
pointed by the Board for terms and at rates of
compensation fixed by the Board. No officer or
employee of the Corporation may be com-
pensated by the Corporation at an annual rate of
pay which exceeds the rate of basic pay in effect
from time to time for level I of the Executive
Schedule under section 5312 of title 5. No indi-
vidual other than a citizen of the United States
may be an officer of the Corporation. No officer
of the Corporation, other than the Chairman or
a Vice Chairman, may receive any salary or
other compensation (except for compensation
for services on boards of directors of other orga-
nizations that do not receive funds from the
Corporation, on committees of such boards, and
in similar activities for such organizations)
from any sources other than the Corporation for
services rendered during the period of his or her
employment by the Corporation. Service by any
officer on boards of directors of other organiza-
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TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
tions, on committees of such boards, and in
similar activities for such organizations shall be
subject to annual advance approval by the Board
and subject to the provisions of the Corpora-
tion’s Statement of Ethical Conduct. All officers
shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.
(2) Except as provided in the second sentence
of subsection (c)(1) of this section, no political
test or qualification shall be used in selecting,
appointing, promoting, or taking other per-
sonnel actions with respect to officers, agents,
and employees of the Corporation.
(f) Nonprofit and nonpolitical nature of Corpora-
tion
(1) The Corporation shall have no power to
issue any shares of stock, or to declare or pay
any dividends.
(2) No part of the income or assets of the Cor-
poration shall inure to the benefit of any direc-
tor, officer, employee, or any other individual
except as salary or reasonable compensation for
services.
(3) The Corporation may not contribute to or
otherwise support any political party or can-
didate for elective public office.
(g) Purposes and activities of Corporation; pow-
ers under District of Columbia Nonprofit
Corporation Act
(1) In order to achieve the objectives and to
carry out the purposes of this subpart, as set out
in subsection (a), the Corporation is authorized
to—
(A) facilitate the full development of public
telecommunications in which programs of
high quality, diversity, creativity, excellence,
and innovation, which are obtained from di-
verse sources, will be made available to public
telecommunications entities, with strict ad-
herence to objectivity and balance in all pro-
grams or series of programs of a controversial
nature;
(B) assist in the establishment and develop-
ment of one or more interconnection systems
to be used for the distribution of public tele-
communications services so that all public
telecommunications entities may disseminate
such services at times chosen by the entities;
(C) assist in the establishment and develop-
ment of one or more systems of public tele-
communications
entities
throughout
the
United States; and
(D) carry out its purposes and functions and
engage in its activities in ways that will most
effectively assure the maximum freedom of
the public telecommunications entities and
systems from interference with, or control of,
program content or other activities.
(2) In order to carry out the purposes set forth
in subsection (a), the Corporation is authorized
to—
(A) obtain grants from and make contracts
with individuals and with private, State, and
Federal agencies, organizations, and institu-
tions;
(B) contract with or make grants to public
telecommunications entities, national, re-
gional, and other systems of public tele-
communications entities, and independent
producers and production entities, for the pro-
duction or acquisition of public telecommuni-
cations services to be made available for use
by public telecommunications entities, except
that—
(i) to the extent practicable, proposals for
the provision of assistance by the Corpora-
tion in the production or acquisition of pro-
grams or series of programs shall be evalu-
ated on the basis of comparative merit by
panels of outside experts, representing di-
verse interests and perspectives, appointed
by the Corporation; and
(ii) nothing in this subparagraph shall be
construed to prohibit the exercise by the
Corporation of its prudent business judge-
ment with respect to any grant to assist in
the production or acquisition of any pro-
gram or series of programs recommended by
any such panel;
(C) make payments to existing and new pub-
lic telecommunications entities to aid in fi-
nancing the production or acquisition of pub-
lic telecommunications services by such enti-
ties, particularly innovative approaches to
such services, and other costs of operation of
such entities;
(D) establish and maintain, or contribute to,
a library and archives of noncommercial edu-
cational and cultural radio and television pro-
grams and related materials and develop pub-
lic awareness of, and disseminate information
about, public telecommunications services by
various means, including the publication of a
journal;
(E) arrange, by grant to or contract with ap-
propriate public or private agencies, organiza-
tions, or institutions, for interconnection fa-
cilities suitable for distribution and trans-
mission of public telecommunications services
to public telecommunications entities;
(F) hire or accept the voluntary services of
consultants, experts, advisory boards, and pan-
els to aid the Corporation in carrying out the
purposes of this subpart;
(G) conduct (directly or through grants or
contracts) research, demonstrations, or train-
ing in matters related to public television or
radio broadcasting and the use of nonbroad-
cast communications technologies for the dis-
semination of noncommercial educational and
cultural television or radio programs;
(H) make grants or contracts for the use of
nonbroadcast
telecommunications
tech-
nologies for the dissemination to the public of
public telecommunications services; and
(I) take such other actions as may be nec-
essary to accomplish the purposes set forth in
subsection (a).
Nothing contained in this paragraph shall be
construed to commit the Federal Government to
provide any sums for the payment of any obliga-
tion of the Corporation which exceeds amounts
provided in advance in appropriation Acts.
(3) To carry out the foregoing purposes and en-
gage in the foregoing activities, the Corporation
shall have the usual powers conferred upon a
nonprofit corporation by the District of Colum-
bia Nonprofit Corporation Act, except that the
Corporation is prohibited from—
(A) owning or operating any television or
radio broadcast station, system, or network,
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TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
community antenna television system, inter-
connection system or facility, program pro-
duction facility, or any public telecommuni-
cations entity, system, or network; and
(B) producing programs, scheduling pro-
grams for dissemination, or disseminating pro-
grams to the public.
(4) All meetings of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation, including any committee of the
Board, shall be open to the public under such
terms, conditions, and exceptions as are set
forth in subsection (k)(4).
(5) The Corporation, in consultation with in-
terested parties, shall create a 5-year plan for
the development of public telecommunications
services. Such plan shall be updated annually by
the Corporation.
(h) Free or reduced rate interconnection service;
access to facilities
(1) Nothing in this chapter, or in any other
provision of law, shall be construed to prevent
United States communications common carriers
from rendering free or reduced rate communica-
tions interconnection services for public tele-
vision or radio services, subject to such rules
and regulations as the Commission may pre-
scribe.
(2) Subject to such terms and conditions as
may be established by public telecommuni-
cations entities receiving space satellite inter-
connection facilities or services purchased or ar-
ranged for, in whole or in part, with funds au-
thorized under this part, other public tele-
communications entities shall have reasonable
access to such facilities or services for the dis-
tribution of educational and cultural programs
to public telecommunications entities. Any re-
maining capacity shall be made available to
other persons for the transmission of non-
commercial educational and cultural programs
and program information relating to such pro-
grams, to public telecommunications entities,
at a charge or charges comparable to the charge
or charges, if any, imposed upon a public tele-
communications entity for the distribution of
noncommercial educational and cultural pro-
grams to public telecommunications entities.
No such person shall be denied such access
whenever sufficient capacity is available.
(i) Repealed. Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV,
§ 402(i)(8)(A), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1090
(j) Repeal, alteration, or amendment
The right to repeal, alter, or amend this sec-
tion at any time is expressly reserved.
(k) Financing restrictions
(1)(A) There is hereby established in the Treas-
ury a fund which shall be known as the Public
Broadcasting Fund (hereinafter in this sub-
section referred to as the ‘‘Fund’’), to be admin-
istered by the Secretary of the Treasury.
(B) There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Fund for each of the fiscal years 1978, 1979,
and 1980, an amount equal to 40 percent of the
total amount of non-Federal financial support
received by public broadcasting entities during
the fiscal year second preceding each such fiscal
year, except that the amount so appropriated
shall not exceed $121,000,000 for fiscal year 1978,
$140,000,000 for fiscal year 1979, and $160,000,000
for fiscal year 1980.
(C) There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Fund, for each of the fiscal years 1981, 1982,
1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991,
1992, and 1993, an amount equal to 40 percent of
the total amount of non-Federal financial sup-
port received by public broadcasting entities
during the fiscal year second preceding each
such fiscal year, except that the amount so ap-
propriated shall not exceed $265,000,000 for fiscal
year 1992, $285,000,000 for fiscal year 1993,
$310,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $375,000,000 for
fiscal year 1995, and $425,000,000 for fiscal year
1996.
(D) In addition to any amounts authorized
under any other provision of this or any other
Act to be appropriated to the Fund, $20,000,000
are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the
Fund (notwithstanding any other provision of
this subsection) specifically for transition from
the use of analog to digital technology for the
provision of public broadcasting services for fis-
cal year 2001.
(E) Funds appropriated under this subsection
shall remain available until expended.
(2)(A) The funds authorized to be appropriated
by this subsection shall be used by the Corpora-
tion, in a prudent and financially responsible
manner, solely for its grants, contracts, and ad-
ministrative costs, except that the Corporation
may not use any funds appropriated under this
subpart for purposes of conducting any recep-
tion, or providing any other entertainment, for
any officer or employee of the Federal Govern-
ment or any State or local government. The
Corporation shall determine the amount of non-
Federal financial support received by public
broadcasting entities during each of the fiscal
years referred to in paragraph (1) for the purpose
of determining the amount of each authoriza-
tion, and shall certify such amount to the Sec-
retary of the Treasury, except that the Corpora-
tion may include in its certification non-Federal
financial support received by a public broad-
casting entity during its most recent fiscal year
ending before September 30 of the year for which
certification is made. Upon receipt of such cer-
tification, the Secretary of the Treasury shall
make available to the Corporation, from such
funds as may be appropriated to the Fund, the
amount authorized for each of the fiscal years
pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
(B) Funds appropriated and made available
under this subsection shall be disbursed by the
Secretary of the Treasury on a fiscal year basis.
(3)(A)(i) The Corporation shall establish an an-
nual budget for use in allocating amounts from
the Fund. Of the amounts appropriated into the
Fund available for allocation for any fiscal
year—
(I) $10,200,000 shall be available for the ad-
ministrative expenses of the Corporation for
fiscal year 1989, and for each succeeding fiscal
year the amount which shall be available for
such administrative expenses shall be the sum
of the amount made available to the Corpora-
tion under this subclause for such expenses in
the preceding fiscal year plus the greater of 4
percent of such amount or a percentage of
such amount equal to the percentage change
Page 239
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
in the Consumer Price Index, except that none
of the amounts allocated under subclauses (II),
(III), and (IV) and clause (v) shall be used for
any administrative expenses of the Corpora-
tion and not more than 5 percent of all the
amounts appropriated into the Fund available
for allocation for any fiscal year shall be
available for such administrative expenses;
(II) 6 percent of such amounts shall be avail-
able for expenses incurred by the Corporation
for capital costs relating to telecommuni-
cations satellites, the payment of program-
ming royalties and other fees, the costs of
interconnection facilities and operations (as
provided in clause (iv)(I)), and grants which
the Corporation may make for assistance to
stations that broadcast programs in languages
other than English or for assistance in the
provision of affordable training programs for
employees at public broadcast stations, and if
the
available
funding
level
permits,
for
projects and activities that will enhance pub-
lic broadcasting;
(III) 75 percent of the remainder (after allo-
cations are made under subclause (I) and sub-
clause (II)) shall be allocated in accordance
with clause (ii); and
(IV) 25 percent of such remainder shall be al-
located in accordance with clause (iii).
(ii) Of the amounts allocated under clause
(i)(III) for any fiscal year—
(I) 75 percent of such amounts shall be avail-
able for distribution among the licensees and
permittees of public television stations pursu-
ant to paragraph (6)(B); and
(II) 25 percent of such amounts shall be
available for distribution under subparagraph
(B)(i), and in accordance with any plan imple-
mented under paragraph (6)(A), for national
public television programming.
(iii) Of the amounts allocated under clause
(i)(IV) for any fiscal year—
(I) 70 percent of such amounts shall be avail-
able for distribution among the licensees and
permittees of public radio stations pursuant to
paragraph (6)(B);
(II) 7 percent of such amounts shall be avail-
able for distribution under subparagraph (B)(i)
for public radio programming; and
(III) 23 percent of such amounts shall be
available for distribution among the licensees
and permittees of public radio stations pursu-
ant to paragraph (6)(B), solely to be used for
acquiring or producing programming that is to
be distributed nationally and is designed to
serve the needs of a national audience.
(iv)(I) From the amount provided pursuant to
clause (i)(II), the Corporation shall defray an
amount equal to 50 percent of the total costs of
interconnection facilities and operations to fa-
cilitate the availability of public television and
radio programs among public broadcast sta-
tions.
(II) Of the amounts received as the result of
any contract, lease agreement, or any other ar-
rangement under which the Corporation directly
or indirectly makes available interconnection
facilities, 50 percent of such amounts shall be
distributed to the licensees and permittees of
public television stations and public radio sta-
tions. The Corporation shall not have any au-
thority to establish any requirements, guide-
lines, or limitations with respect to the use of
such amounts by such licensees and permittees.
(v) Of the interest on the amounts appro-
priated into the Fund which is available for allo-
cation for any fiscal year—
(I) 75 percent shall be available for distribu-
tion for the purposes referred to in clause
(ii)(II); and
(II) 25 percent shall be available for distribu-
tion for the purposes referred to in clause
(iii)(II) and (III).
(B)(i) The Corporation shall utilize the funds
allocated pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii)(II)
and subparagraph (A)(iii)(II) to make grants for
production of public television or radio pro-
grams by independent producers and production
entities and public telecommunications entities,
producers of national children’s educational pro-
gramming, and producers of programs address-
ing the needs and interests of minorities, and for
acquisition of such programs by public tele-
communications entities. The Corporation may
make grants to public telecommunications enti-
ties and producers for the production of pro-
grams in languages other than English. Of the
funds utilized pursuant to this clause, a substan-
tial amount shall be distributed to independent
producers and production entities, producers of
national children’s educational programming,
and producers of programming addressing the
needs and interests of minorities for the produc-
tion of programs.
(ii) All funds available for distribution under
clause (i) shall be distributed to entities outside
the Corporation and shall not be used for the
general administrative costs of the Corporation,
the salaries or related expenses of Corporation
personnel and members of the Board, or for ex-
penses of consultants and advisers to the Cor-
poration.
(iii)(I) For fiscal year 1990 and succeeding fis-
cal years, the Corporation shall, in carrying out
its obligations under clause (i) with respect to
public television programming, provide ade-
quate funds for an independent production serv-
ice.
(II) Such independent production service shall
be separate from the Corporation and shall be
incorporated under the laws of the District of
Columbia for the purpose of contracting with
the Corporation for the expenditure of funds for
the production of public television programs by
independent producers and independent produc-
tion entities.
(III) The Corporation shall work with organi-
zations or associations of independent producers
or independent production entities to develop a
plan and budget for the operation of such service
that is acceptable to the Corporation.
(IV) The Corporation shall ensure that the
funds provided to such independent production
service shall be used exclusively in pursuit of
the Corporation’s obligation to expand the di-
versity and innovativeness of programming
available to public broadcasting.
(V) Repealed. Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV,
§ 402(i)(8)(B)(ii), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1090.
(VI) The Corporation shall not contract to pro-
vide funds to any such independent production
Page 240
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
1 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘(l)(3)(B).’’
2 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘is’’.
service, unless that service agrees to comply
with public inspection requirements established
by the Corporation within 3 months after Au-
gust 26, 1992. Under such requirements the serv-
ice shall maintain at its offices a public file, up-
dated regularly, containing information relating
to the service’s award of funds for the produc-
tion of programming. The information shall be
available for public inspection and copying for
at least 3 years and shall be of the same kind as
the information required to be maintained by
the Corporation under subsection (l)(4)(B).
(4) Funds may not be distributed pursuant to
this subsection to the Public Broadcasting Serv-
ice or National Public Radio (or any successor
organization), or to the licensee or permittee of
any public broadcast station, unless the gov-
erning body of any such organization, any com-
mittee of such governing body, or any advisory
body of any such organization, holds open meet-
ings preceded by reasonable notice to the public.
All persons shall be permitted to attend any
meeting of the board, or of any such committee
or body, and no person shall be required, as a
condition to attendance at any such meeting, to
register such person’s name or to provide any
other information. Nothing contained in this
paragraph shall be construed to prevent any
such board, committee, or body from holding
closed sessions to consider matters relating to
individual employees, proprietary information,
litigation and other matters requiring the con-
fidential advice of counsel, commercial or finan-
cial information obtained from a person on a
privileged or confidential basis, or the purchase
of property or services whenever the premature
exposure of such purchase would compromise
the business interests of any such organization.
If any such meeting is closed pursuant to the
provisions of this paragraph, the organization
involved shall thereafter (within a reasonable
period of time) make available to the public a
written statement containing an explanation of
the reasons for closing the meeting.
(5) Funds may not be distributed pursuant to
this subsection to any public telecommuni-
cations entity that does not maintain for public
examination copies of the annual financial and
audit reports, or other information regarding fi-
nances, submitted to the Corporation pursuant
to subsection (1)(3)(B).1
(6)(A) The Corporation shall conduct a study
and prepare a plan, in consultation with public
television licensees (or designated representa-
tives of those licensees) and the Public Broad-
casting Service, on how funds available to the
Corporation under paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(II) can be
best allocated to meet the objectives of this
chapter with regard to national public television
programming. The plan, which shall be based on
the conclusions resulting from the study, shall
be submitted by the Corporation to the Congress
not later than January 31, 1990. Unless directed
otherwise by an Act of Congress, the Corpora-
tion shall implement the plan during the first
fiscal year beginning after the fiscal year in
which the plan is submitted to Congress.
(B) The Corporation shall make a basic grant
from the portion reserved for television stations
under paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(I) to each licensee and
permittee of a public television station that is
on the air. The Corporation shall assist radio
stations to maintain and improve their service
where public radio is the only broadcast service
available. The balance of the portion reserved
for television stations and the total portion re-
served for radio stations under paragraph
(3)(A)(iii)(I) shall be distributed to licensees and
permittees of such stations in accordance with
eligibility criteria (which the Corporation shall
review periodically in consultation with public
radio and television licensees or permittees, or
their designated representatives) that promote
the public interest in public broadcasting, and
on the basis of a formula designed to—
(i) provide for the financial needs and re-
quirements of stations in relation to the com-
munities and audiences such stations under-
take to serve;
(ii) maintain existing, and stimulate new,
sources of non-Federal financial support for
stations by providing incentives for increases
in such support; and
(iii) assure that each eligible licensee and
permittee of a public radio station receives a
basic grant.
(7) The funds distributed pursuant to para-
graph (3)(A)(ii)(I) and (iii)(I) may be used at the
discretion of the recipient for purposes related
primarily to the production or acquisition of
programming.
(8)(A) Funds may not be distributed pursuant
to this subpart to any public broadcast station
(other than any station which is owned and op-
erated by a State, a political or special purpose
subdivision of a State, or a public agency) unless
such station establishes a community advisory
board. Any such station shall undertake good
faith efforts to assure that (i) its advisory board
meets at regular intervals; (ii) the members of
its advisory board regularly attend the meetings
of the advisory board; and (iii) the composition
of its advisory board are 2 reasonably representa-
tive of the diverse needs and interests of the
communities served by such station.
(B) The board shall be permitted to review the
programming goals established by the station,
the service provided by the station, and the sig-
nificant policy decisions rendered by the sta-
tion. The board may also be delegated any other
responsibilities, as determined by the governing
body of the station. The board shall advise the
governing body of the station with respect to
whether the programming and other policies of
such station are meeting the specialized edu-
cational and cultural needs of the communities
served by the station, and may make such rec-
ommendations as it considers appropriate to
meet such needs.
(C) The role of the board shall be solely advi-
sory in nature, except to the extent other re-
sponsibilities are delegated to the board by the
governing body of the station. In no case shall
the board have any authority to exercise any
control over the daily management or operation
of the station.
(D) In the case of any public broadcast station
(other than any station which is owned and op-
Page 241
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
3 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.
4 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘the organization,’’.
erated by a State, a political or special purpose
subdivision of a State, or a public agency) in ex-
istence on November 2, 1978, such station shall
comply with the requirements of this paragraph
with respect to the establishment of a commu-
nity advisory board not later than 180 days after
November 2, 1978.
(E) The provision of subparagraph (A) prohib-
iting the distribution of funds to any public
broadcast station (other than any station which
is owned and operated by a State, a political or
special purpose subdivision of a State, or a pub-
lic agency) unless such station establishes a
community advisory board shall be the exclu-
sive remedy for the enforcement of the provi-
sions of this paragraph.
(9) Funds may not be distributed pursuant to
this subsection to the Public Broadcasting Serv-
ice or National Public Radio (or any successor
organization) unless assurances are provided to
the Corporation that no officer or employee of
the Public Broadcasting Service or National
Public Radio (or any successor organization), as
the case may be, will be compensated in excess
of reasonable compensation as determined pur-
suant to Section 3 4958 of title 26 for services
that the officer or employee renders to organiza-
tion,4 and unless further assurances are provided
to the Corporation that no officer or employee
of such an entity will be loaned money by that
entity on an interest-free basis.
(10)(A) There is hereby established in the
Treasury a fund which shall be known as the
Public Broadcasting Satellite Interconnection
Fund (hereinafter in this subsection referred to
as the ‘‘Satellite Interconnection Fund’’), to be
administered by the Secretary of the Treasury.
(B) There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Satellite Interconnection Fund, for fiscal
year 1991, the amount of $200,000,000. If such
amount is not appropriated in full for fiscal year
1991, the portion of such amount not yet appro-
priated is authorized to be appropriated for fis-
cal years 1992 and 1993. Funds appropriated to
the Satellite Interconnection Fund shall remain
available until expended.
(C) The Secretary of the Treasury shall make
available and disburse to the Corporation, at the
beginning of fiscal year 1991 and of each suc-
ceeding fiscal year thereafter, such funds as
have been appropriated to the Satellite Inter-
connection Fund for the fiscal year in which
such disbursement is to be made.
(D) Notwithstanding any other provision of
this subsection except paragraphs (4), (5), (8),
and (9), all funds appropriated to the Satellite
Interconnection Fund and interest thereon—
(i) shall be distributed by the Corporation to
the licensees and permittees of noncommer-
cial educational television broadcast stations
providing public telecommunications services
or the national entity they designate for sat-
ellite interconnection purposes and to those
public telecommunications entities partici-
pating in the public radio satellite inter-
connection system or the national entity they
designate for satellite interconnection pur-
poses, exclusively for the capital costs of the
replacement, refurbishment, or upgrading of
their national satellite interconnection sys-
tems and associated maintenance of such sys-
tems; and
(ii) shall not be used for the administrative
costs of the Corporation, the salaries or re-
lated expenses of Corporation personnel and
members of the Board, or for expenses of con-
sultants and advisers to the Corporation.
(11)(A) Funds may not be distributed pursuant
to this subsection for any fiscal year to the li-
censee or permittee of any public broadcast sta-
tion if such licensee or permittee—
(i) fails to certify to the Corporation that
such licensee or permittee complies with the
Commission’s regulations concerning equal
employment opportunity as published under
section 73.2080 of title 47, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations, or any successor regulations thereto;
or
(ii) fails to submit to the Corporation the re-
port required by subparagraph (B) for the pre-
ceding calendar year.
(B) A licensee or permittee of any public
broadcast station with more than five full-time
employees to file annually with the Corporation
a statistical report, consistent with reports re-
quired by Commission regulation, identifying by
race and sex the number of employees in each of
the following full-time and part-time job cat-
egories:
(i) Officials and managers.
(ii) Professionals.
(iii) Technicians.
(iv) Semiskilled operatives.
(v) Skilled craft persons.
(vi) Clerical and office personnel.
(vii) Unskilled operatives.
(viii) Service workers.
(C) In addition, such report shall state the
number of job openings occurring during the
course of the year. Where the job openings were
filled in accordance with the regulations de-
scribed in subparagraph (A)(i), the report shall
so certify, and where the job openings were not
filled in accordance with such regulations, the
report shall contain a statement providing rea-
sons therefor. The statistical report shall be
available to the public at the central office and
at every location where more than five full-time
employees are regularly assigned to work.
(12) Funds may not be distributed under this
subsection to any public broadcasting entity
that directly or indirectly—
(A) rents contributor or donor names (or
other personally identifiable information) to
or from, or exchanges such names or informa-
tion with, any Federal, State, or local can-
didate, political party, or political committee;
or
(B) discloses contributor or donor names, or
other personally identifiable information, to
any nonaffiliated third party unless—
(i) such entity clearly and conspicuously
discloses to the contributor or donor that
such information may be disclosed to such
third party;
(ii) the contributor or donor is given the
opportunity, before the time that such infor-
mation is initially disclosed, to direct that
Page 242
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
such information not be disclosed to such
third party; and
(iii) the contributor or donor is given an
explanation of how the contributor or donor
may exercise that nondisclosure option.
(l) Financial management and records
(1)(A) The accounts of the Corporation shall be
audited annually in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards by independent cer-
tified public accountants or independent li-
censed public accountants certified or licensed
by a regulatory authority of a State or other po-
litical subdivision of the United States, except
that such requirement shall not preclude shared
auditing arrangements between any public tele-
communications entity and its licensee where
such licensee is a public or private institution.
The audits shall be conducted at the place or
places where the accounts of the Corporation
are normally kept. All books, accounts, finan-
cial records, reports, files, and all other papers,
things, or property belonging to or in use by the
Corporation and necessary to facilitate the au-
dits shall be made available to the person or per-
sons conducting the audits; and full facilities for
verifying transactions with the balances or se-
curities held by depositories, fiscal agents and
custodians shall be afforded to such person or
persons.
(B) The report of each such independent audit
shall set forth the scope of the audit and include
such statements as are necessary to present
fairly the Corporation’s assets and liabilities,
surplus or deficit, with an analysis of the
changes therein during the year, supplemented
in reasonable detail by a statement of the Cor-
poration’s income and expenses during the year,
and a statement of the sources and application
of funds, together with the independent audi-
tor’s opinion of those statements.
(2)(A) The financial transactions of the Cor-
poration for any fiscal year during which Fed-
eral funds are available to finance any portion
of its operations may be audited by the Govern-
ment Accountability Office in accordance with
the principles and procedures applicable to com-
mercial corporate transactions and under such
rules and regulations as may be prescribed by
the Comptroller General of the United States.
Any such audit shall be conducted at the place
or places where accounts of the Corporation are
normally kept. The representative of the Gov-
ernment Accountability Office shall have access
to all books, accounts, records, reports, files,
and all other papers, things, or property belong-
ing to or in use by the Corporation pertaining to
its financial transactions and necessary to fa-
cilitate the audit, and they shall be afforded full
facilities for verifying transactions with the bal-
ances or securities held by depositories, fiscal
agents, and custodians. All such books, ac-
counts, records, reports, files, papers and prop-
erty of the Corporation shall remain in posses-
sion and custody of the Corporation.
(B) A report of each such audit shall be made
by the Comptroller General to the Congress. The
report to the Congress shall contain such com-
ments and information as the Comptroller Gen-
eral may deem necessary to inform Congress of
the financial operations and condition of the
Corporation, together with such recommenda-
tions with respect thereto as he may deem ad-
visable. The report shall also show specifically
any program, expenditure, or other financial
transaction or undertaking observed in the
course of the audit, which, in the opinion of the
Comptroller General, has been carried on or
made without authority of law. A copy of each
report shall be furnished to the President, to the
Secretary, and to the Corporation at the time
submitted to the Congress.
(3)(A) Not later than 1 year after November 2,
1978, the Corporation, in consultation with the
Comptroller General, and as appropriate with
others,
shall
develop
accounting
principles
which shall be used uniformly by all public tele-
communications entities receiving funds under
this subpart, taking into account organizational
differences among various categories of such en-
tities. Such principles shall be designed to ac-
count fully for all funds received and expended
for public telecommunications purposes by such
entities.
(B) Each public telecommunications entity re-
ceiving funds under this subpart shall be re-
quired—
(i) to keep its books, records, and accounts
in such form as may be required by the Cor-
poration;
(ii)(I) to undergo a biennial audit by inde-
pendent certified public accountants or inde-
pendent licensed public accountants certified
or licensed by a regulatory authority of a
State, which audit shall be in accordance with
auditing standards developed by the Corpora-
tion, in consultation with the Comptroller
General; or
(II) to submit a financial statement in lieu
of the audit required by subclause (I) if the
Corporation determines that the cost burden
of such audit on such entity is excessive in
light of the financial condition of such entity;
and
(iii) to furnish biennially to the Corporation
a copy of the audit report required pursuant to
clause (ii), as well as such other information
regarding finances (including an annual finan-
cial report) as the Corporation may require.
(C) Any recipient of assistance by grant or
contract under this section, other than a fixed
price contract awarded pursuant to competitive
bidding procedures, shall keep such records as
may be reasonably necessary to disclose fully
the amount and the disposition by such recipi-
ent of such assistance, the total cost of the proj-
ect or undertaking in connection with which
such assistance is given or used, and the amount
and nature of that portion of the cost of the
project
or
undertaking
supplied
by
other
sources, and such other records as will facilitate
an effective audit.
(D) The Corporation or any of its duly author-
ized representatives shall have access to any
books, documents, papers, and records of any re-
cipient of assistance for the purpose of auditing
and examining all funds received or expended for
public telecommunications purposes by the re-
cipient. The Comptroller General of the United
States or any of his duly authorized representa-
tives also shall have access to such books, docu-
ments, papers, and records for the purpose of au-
Page 243
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
diting and examining all funds received or ex-
pended for public telecommunications purposes
during any fiscal year for which Federal funds
are available to the Corporation.
(4)(A) The Corporation shall maintain the in-
formation described in subparagraphs (B), (C),
and (D) at its offices for public inspection and
copying for at least 3 years, according to such
reasonable guidelines as the Corporation may
issue. This public file shall be updated regularly.
This paragraph shall be effective August 26, 1992,
and shall apply to all grants awarded after Janu-
ary 1, 1993.
(B) Subsequent to any award of funds by the
Corporation for the production or acquisition of
national broadcasting programming pursuant to
subsection (k)(3)(A)(ii)(II) or (iii)(II), the Cor-
poration shall make available for public inspec-
tion the following:
(i) Grant and solicitation guidelines for pro-
posals for such programming.
(ii) The reasons for selecting the proposal for
which the award was made.
(iii) Information on each program for which
the award was made, including the names of
the awardee and producer (and if the awardee
or producer is a corporation or partnership,
the principals of such corporation or partner-
ship), the monetary amount of the award, and
the title and description of the program (and
of each program in a series of programs).
(iv) A report based on the final audit find-
ings resulting from any audit of the award by
the Corporation or the Comptroller General.
(v) Reports which the Corporation shall re-
quire to be provided by the awardee relating
to national public broadcasting programming
funded, produced, or acquired by the awardee
with such funds. Such reports shall include,
where applicable, the information described in
clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), but shall exclude pro-
prietary, confidential, or privileged informa-
tion.
(C) The Corporation shall make available for
public inspection the final report required by
the Corporation on an annual basis from each
recipient
of
funds
under
subsection
(k)(3)(A)(iii)(III), excluding proprietary, con-
fidential, or privileged information.
(D) The Corporation shall make available for
public inspection an annual list of national pro-
grams distributed by public broadcasting enti-
ties
that
receive
funds
under
subsection
(k)(3)(A)(ii)(III) or (iii)(II) and are engaged pri-
marily in the national distribution of public tel-
evision or radio programs. Such list shall in-
clude the names of the programs (or program se-
ries), producers, and providers of funding.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 396, as added
Pub. L. 90–129, title II, § 201(9), Nov. 7, 1967, 81
Stat. 368; amended Pub. L. 90–294, Apr. 26, 1968,
82 Stat. 108; Pub. L. 91–97, § 3, Oct. 27, 1969, 83
Stat. 146; Pub. L. 91–437, § 2, Oct. 7, 1970, 84 Stat.
888; Pub. L. 92–411, § 1, Aug. 29, 1972, 86 Stat. 643;
Pub. L. 93–84, § 1(a), (b), Aug. 6, 1973, 87 Stat. 219;
Pub. L. 94–192, §§ 2–4, Dec. 31, 1975, 89 Stat. 1099,
1100; Pub. L. 95–567, title III, §§ 301–303(a),
304–307(a), 308, Nov. 2, 1978, 92 Stat. 2411, 2412,
2414, 2415, 2419; Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, §§ 1224,
1225(a)(1), (b), (c), 1226, 1227(a)–(c)(3), (d)(1), (2),
(e)–(g), 1228, 1234(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat.
725–730, 736; Pub. L. 98–214, §§ 3, 5, 6, Dec. 8, 1983,
97 Stat. 1467–1469; Pub. L. 99–272, title V, § 5001(c),
Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 117; Pub. L. 100–626, §§ 3,
4(a), 5–9(a), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3207–3211; Pub.
L. 102–356, §§ 4, 5(a), (b), 6–14, Aug. 26, 1992, 106
Stat. 949–953; Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(f) [title
VII, § 701], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–337,
2681–389; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title
V, § 5002(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536,
1501A–592; Pub. L. 107–20, title II, § 2702, July 24,
2001, 115 Stat. 182; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7,
2004, 118 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title
IV, § 402(i)(8), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1090.)
Editorial Notes
REFERENCES IN TEXT
The District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act,
referred to in subsecs. (b), (c)(4), and (g)(3), is Pub. L.
87–569, Aug. 6, 1962, 76 Stat. 265, which is not classified
to the Code.
Section 5(c) of the Public Telecommunications Act of
1992, referred to in subsec. (c)(5), is section 5(c) of Pub.
L. 102–356, which is set out below.
This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (c)(6), (h)(1), and
(k)(6)(A), was in the original ‘‘this Act’’, meaning act
June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Com-
munications Act of 1934, which is classified principally
to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act
to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.
PRIOR PROVISIONS
A prior section 396, act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III,
§ 396, as added May 1, 1962, Pub. L. 87–447, 76 Stat. 67,
was renumbered section 394 by Pub. L. 90–129, and sub-
sequently renumbered section 393A by Pub. L. 101–437,
and is classified to section 393a of this title.
AMENDMENTS
2018—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(i)(8)(A), struck
out subsec. (i) which required the Corporation for Pub-
lic Broadcasting to submit to Congress a comprehen-
sive annual report.
Subsec. (k)(1)(F). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(i)(8)(B)(i),
struck out subpar. (F) which read as follows: ‘‘In rec-
ognition of the importance of educational programs
and services, and the expansion of public radio services,
to unserved and underserved audiences, the Corpora-
tion, after consultation with the system of public tele-
communications entities, shall prepare and submit to
the Congress an annual report for each of the fiscal
years 1994, 1995, and 1996 on the Corporation’s activities
and expenditures relating to those programs and serv-
ices.’’
Subsec.
(k)(3)(B)(iii)(V).
Pub.
L.
115–141,
§ 402(i)(8)(B)(ii), struck out subcl. (V) which read as fol-
lows: ‘‘The Corporation shall report annually to Con-
gress regarding the activities and expenditures of the
independent production service, including carriage and
viewing information for programs produced or acquired
with funds provided pursuant to subclause (I). At the
end of fiscal years 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995, the Corpora-
tion shall submit a report to Congress evaluating the
performance of the independent production service in
light of its mission to expand the diversity and innova-
tiveness of programming available to public broad-
casting.’’
Subsec. (l)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(i)(8)(C), struck
out ‘‘shall be included in the annual report required by
subsection (i) of this section. The audit report’’ after
‘‘each such independent audit’’.
Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(i)(8)(D), struck out
subsec. (m). Text read as follows:
‘‘(1) Prior to July 1, 1989, and every three years there-
after, the Corporation shall compile an assessment of
the needs of minority and diverse audiences, the plans
Page 244
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
of
public
broadcasting
entities
and
public
tele-
communications entities to address such needs, the
ways radio and television can be used to help these
underrepresented groups, and projections concerning
minority employment by public broadcasting entities
and public telecommunications entities. Such assess-
ment shall address the needs of racial and ethnic mi-
norities, new immigrant populations, people for whom
English is a second language, and adults who lack basic
reading skills.
‘‘(2) Commencing July 1, 1989, the Corporation shall
prepare an annual report on the provision by public
broadcasting entities and public telecommunications
entities of service to the audiences described in para-
graph (1). Such report shall address programming (in-
cluding that which is produced by minority producers),
training, minority employment, and efforts by the Cor-
poration to increase the number of minority public
radio and television stations eligible for financial sup-
port from the Corporation. Such report shall include a
summary of the statistical reports received by the Cor-
poration pursuant to subsection (k)(11), and a compari-
son of the information contained in those reports with
the information submitted by the Corporation in the
previous year’s annual report.
‘‘(3) As soon as they have been prepared, each assess-
ment and annual report required under paragraphs (1)
and (2) shall be submitted to Congress.’’
2004—Subsec. (l)(2)(A). Pub. L. 108–271 substituted
‘‘Government Accountability Office’’ for ‘‘General Ac-
counting Office’’ in two places.
2001—Subsec. (k)(1)(D) to (F). Pub. L. 107–20 added
subpar. (D) and redesignated former subpars. (D) and
(E) as (E) and (F), respectively.
1999—Subsec. (k)(12). Pub. L. 106–113 added par. (12).
1998—Subsec. (k)(9). Pub. L. 105–277, which directed
the amendment of section 396(k)(9) of Title 47, United
States Code, by substituting ‘‘in excess of reasonable
compensation as determined pursuant to Section 4958
of title 26 for services that the officer or employee ren-
ders to organization’’ for ‘‘at an annual rate of pay
which exceeds the rate of basic pay in effect from time
to time for level I of the Executive Schedule under 5312
of title 5,’’, was executed to subsec. (k)(9) of this sec-
tion, which is section 396 of the Communications Act of
1934, by making the substitution for text which con-
tained ‘‘under section 5312’’ rather than ‘‘under 5312’’,
to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
1992—Subsec. (a)(8) to (10). Pub. L. 102–356, § 4, added
pars. (8) and (9) and redesignated former par. (8) as (10).
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 102–356, § 5(a)(1), substituted
‘‘9’’ for ‘‘10’’ and ‘‘5’’ for ‘‘6’’.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 102–356, § 5(a)(2), substituted
‘‘9’’ for ‘‘10’’.
Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 102–356, § 5(b), amended par. (5)
generally. Prior to amendment, par. (5) read as follows:
‘‘The term of office of each member of the Board ap-
pointed by the President shall be 5 years, except that
any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior
to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor
was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of
such term. No member of the Board shall be eligible to
serve in excess of 2 consecutive terms of 5 years each.’’
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 102–356, § 6, inserted fourth sen-
tence and struck out former fourth sentence which read
as follows: ‘‘No officer of the Corporation, other than
the Chairman or a Vice Chairman, may receive any sal-
ary or other compensation from any source other than
the Corporation for services rendered during the period
of his employment by the Corporation.’’
Subsec. (i)(1)(C), (D). Pub. L. 102–356, § 7, added subpar.
(C) and redesignated former subpar. (C) as (D).
Subsec. (k)(1)(C). Pub. L. 102–356, § 8(a), inserted provi-
sions authorizing appropriations of $310,000,000 for fis-
cal year 1994, $375,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and
$425,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, and struck out provi-
sions authorizing appropriations of $180,000,000 for fis-
cal year 1981, $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, $220,000,000
for fiscal year 1983, $145,000,000 for fiscal year 1984,
$153,000,000 for fiscal year 1985, $162,000,000 for fiscal
year 1986, $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1987, $214,000,000 for
fiscal year 1988, $238,000,000 for fiscal year 1989,
$254,000,000 for fiscal year 1990, and $245,000,000 for fiscal
year 1991.
Subsec. (k)(1)(E). Pub. L. 102–356, § 8(b), added subpar.
(E).
Subsec. (k)(3)(A)(i)(II). Pub. L. 102–356, § 9, inserted
‘‘or for assistance in the provision of affordable train-
ing programs for employees at public broadcast sta-
tions’’ after ‘‘other than English’’.
Subsec. (k)(3)(B)(iii)(V). Pub. L. 102–356, § 10, inserted
before period at end of first sentence ‘‘, including car-
riage and viewing information for programs produced
or acquired with funds provided pursuant to subclause
(I)’’ and substituted ‘‘fiscal years 1992, 1993, 1994, and
1995’’ for ‘‘fiscal year 1992’’ in second sentence.
Subsec. (k)(3)(B)(iii)(VI). Pub. L. 102–356, § 14(b), added
subcl. (VI).
Subsec. (k)(6)(B). Pub. L. 102–356, § 11, inserted
‘‘(which the Corporation shall review periodically in
consultation with public radio and television licensees
or permittees, or their designated representatives)’’
after ‘‘eligibility criteria’’.
Subsec. (k)(11). Pub. L. 102–356, § 12(a), added par. (11).
Subsec. (l)(3)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 102–356, § 13(a), (b)(1), des-
ignated existing provisions as subcl. (I), substituted
‘‘biennial’’ for ‘‘biannual’’, substituted ‘‘or’’ for ‘‘and’’
after semicolon, and added subcl. (II).
Subsec. (l)(3)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 102–356, § 13(b)(2), sub-
stituted ‘‘biennially’’ for ‘‘biannually’’.
Subsec. (l)(4). Pub. L. 102–356, § 14(a), added par. (4)
and struck out former par. (4) which consisted of sub-
pars. (A) to (C) relating to National Public Radio’s sys-
tem of financial controls and budget and requiring Cor-
poration to report to Congress not later than 15 days
after Dec. 8, 1983, on actions taken by National Public
Radio with respect to deficits it accumulated before
Oct. 1, 1983.
Subsec. (m)(2). Pub. L. 102–356, § 12(b), inserted at end
‘‘Such report shall include a summary of the statistical
reports received by the Corporation pursuant to sub-
section (k)(11), and a comparison of the information
contained in those reports with the information sub-
mitted by the Corporation in the previous year’s an-
nual report.’’
1988—Subsec. (a)(6) to (8). Pub. L. 100–626, § 5, added
par. (6) and redesignated former pars. (6) and (7) as (7)
and (8), respectively.
Subsec. (g)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 100–626, § 6, struck out
‘‘contract or’’ after ‘‘respect to any’’.
Subsec. (k)(1)(C). Pub. L. 100–626, § 3, substituted
‘‘1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993’’ for ‘‘and 1990’’ and ‘‘40 per-
cent’’ for ‘‘50 percent’’, struck out ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘fiscal
year 1989,’’, and inserted ‘‘, $245,000,000 for fiscal year
1991, $265,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, and $285,000,000 for
fiscal year 1993’’ after ‘‘fiscal year 1990’’.
Subsec. (k)(3)(A)(i)(I), (II). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(a)(1),
(2), amended subcls. (I) and (II) generally. Prior to
amendment, subcls. (I) and (II) read as follows:
‘‘(I) not more than 5 percent of such amounts shall
be available for the administrative expenses of the
Corporation;
‘‘(II) not less than 5 percent of such amounts shall
be available for other expenses incurred by the Cor-
poration, including capital costs relating to tele-
communications satellites, the payment of program-
ming royalties and other fees, and the costs of inter-
connection facilities and operations (as provided in
clause (iv)(I)), except that the total amount available
for obligation for any fiscal year under this subclause
and subclause (I) shall not exceed 10 percent of the
amounts appropriated into the Fund available for al-
location for such fiscal year;’’.
Subsec. (k)(3)(A)(i)(III). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(a)(3), sub-
stituted ‘‘clause (ii)’’ for ‘‘clause (ii)(I)’’.
Subsec. (k)(3)(A)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(b), sub-
stituted ‘‘, and in accordance with any plan imple-
mented under paragraph (6)(A), for national public’’ for
‘‘for public’’.
Subsec. (k)(3)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(c), amended
cl. (iii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (iii) read as
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TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
follows: ‘‘Of the amounts allocated under clause (i)(IV)
for any fiscal year—
‘‘(I) not less than 50 percent of such amounts (as de-
termined under paragraph (6)(A)) shall be available
for distribution among the licensees and permittees
of public radio stations pursuant to paragraph (6)(B);
and
‘‘(II) not more than 50 percent of such amounts (as
determined under paragraph (6)(A)) shall be available
for distribution under subparagraph (B)(i) for public
radio.’’
Subsec. (k)(3)(A)(iv)(I). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(e), sub-
stituted ‘‘From the amount provided pursuant to
clause (i)(II),’’ for ‘‘Subject to the provisions of clause
(v),’’.
Subsec. (k)(3)(A)(v). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(d), amended cl.
(v) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (v) read as fol-
lows: ‘‘If the expenses incurred by the Corporation
under clause (i)(II) for any fiscal year for—
‘‘(I) capital costs relating to telecommunications
satellites;
‘‘(II) the payment of programming royalties and
other fees; and
‘‘(III) the costs of interconnection facilities and op-
erations (as provided in clause (iv));
exceed 6 percent of the amounts appropriated into the
Fund available for allocation for such fiscal year, then
75 percent of such excess costs shall be defrayed by the
licensees and permittees of public television stations
from amounts available to such licensees and permit-
tees under clause (ii)(I) and 25 percent of such excess
costs shall be defrayed by the licensees and permittees
of public radio stations from amounts available to such
licensees and permittees under clause (iii)(I).’’
Subsec. (k)(3)(B)(i). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(f), amended cl.
(i) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (i) read as fol-
lows: ‘‘The Corporation shall utilize the funds allocated
pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) and subparagraph
(A)(iii)(II), and a significant portion of such other funds
as may be available to the Corporation, to make grants
and contracts for production of public television or
radio programs by independent producers and produc-
tion entities and public telecommunications entities,
and for acquisition of such programs by public tele-
communications entities. Of the funds utilized pursu-
ant to this clause, a substantial amount shall be re-
served for distribution to independent producers and
production entities for the production of programs.’’
Subsec. (k)(3)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 100–626, § 8, added cl.
(iii).
Subsec. (k)(3)(C). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(g), struck out
subpar. (C) which related to limit on expenditure by
Corporation in fiscal year 1981 of an amount equal to
not more than 5 percent of funds made available by
Secretary of the Treasury.
Subsec. (k)(3)(D). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(g), struck out
subpar. (D) which related to expenditure by Corpora-
tion of 105 percent of amount derived for preceding fis-
cal year, for activities authorized under subsection
(g)(2) of this section, in fiscal years 1982 and 1983.
Subsec. (k)(6)(A). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(h), amended sub-
par. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A)
read as follows: ‘‘The Corporation, in consultation with
public radio stations and with National Public Radio
(or any successor organization), shall determine the
percentage of funds allocated under subclause (I) and
subclause (II) of paragraph (3)(A)(iii) for each fiscal
year. The Corporation, in consultation with such orga-
nizations, also shall conduct an annual review of the
criteria and conditions applicable to such allocations.’’
Subsec. (k)(6)(B). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(i), inserted after
first sentence ‘‘The Corporation shall assist radio sta-
tions to maintain and improve their service where pub-
lic radio is the only broadcast service available.’’
Subsec. (k)(7). Pub. L. 100–626, § 7(j), inserted ‘‘(ii)(I)
and (iii)(I)’’ after ‘‘paragraph (3)(A)’’.
Subsec. (k)(10). Pub. L. 100–626, § 4(a), added par. (10).
Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 100–626, § 9(a), added subsec. (m).
1986—Subsec. (k)(1)(C). Pub. L. 99–272, § 5001(c)(1), sub-
stituted ‘‘1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990’’ for ‘‘and 1986’’,
struck out ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘fiscal year 1985,’’, and inserted
‘‘, $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1987, $214,000,000 for fiscal
year
1988,
$238,000,000
for
fiscal
year
1989,
and
$254,000,000 for fiscal year 1990’’ before period at end.
Subsec. (k)(3)(A)(i)(II). Pub. L. 99–272, § 5001(c)(2),
struck out ‘‘research, training, technical assistance,
engineering, instructional support, payment of interest
on indebtedness,’’ after ‘‘Corporation, including’’.
Subsec. (k)(8) to (10). Pub. L. 99–272, § 5001(c)(3), redes-
ignated paragraphs (9) and (10) as (8) and (9), respec-
tively. Former subsec. (8), which related to refunding
to the Corporation of an amount equal to the amount
of unrelated business income tax, was struck out.
1983—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 98–214, § 6(a), struck out
‘‘, and the President of the Corporation’’ after ‘‘advice
and consent of the Senate’’ and provision directing that
the President of the Corporation serve as the Chairman
of the Board.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 98–214, § 6(b)(1), inserted ‘‘elect
one of their members to be Chairman and’’ after ‘‘Mem-
bers of the Board shall annually’’.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 98–214, § 6(c), substituted ‘‘No
officer of the Corporation, other than the Chairman or
a Vice Chairman’’ for ‘‘No officer of the Corporation,
other than a Vice Chairman’’.
Subsec. (k)(1)(C). Pub. L. 98–214, § 3(a), substituted
‘‘, $145,000,000 for fiscal year 1984, $153,000,000 for fiscal
year 1985, and $162,000,000 for fiscal year 1986’’ for ‘‘, and
$130,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1984, 1985, and
1986’’.
Subsec. (k)(10). Pub. L. 98–214, § 3(b), inserted provi-
sion requiring assurances that no officer or employee of
such entity will be loaned money by that entity on an
interest-free basis.
Subsec. (l)(4). Pub. L. 98–214, § 5, added par. (4).
1981—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1224, inserted pro-
visions
respecting
alternative
telecommunications
services.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1225(a)(1), amended subsec.
(c) generally, substituting provisions respecting ap-
pointment, selection, service, etc., of the ten members
of the Board of Directors, for provisions respecting ap-
pointment, selection, service, etc., of the 15 members of
the Board of Directors.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1225(b), amended subsec.
(d) generally, substituting in par. (1) provisions re-
specting election, status, compensation, etc., of Vice
Chairman, for provisions respecting election, status,
compensation, etc., of Chairman and Vice Chairman.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1225(c), inserted ref-
erence to services rendered by a Vice Chairman, and
struck out reference to the Chairman.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1234(a), struck out par. (5)
relating to study and report concerning manner of in-
cluding personal services of volunteers in determining
non-Federal financial support, and redesignated par. (6)
as (5).
Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1226, substituted ‘‘May’’
for ‘‘February’’.
Subsec. (k)(1)(C). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(a), extended au-
thorization of appropriations through 1986.
Subsec. (k)(2)(B). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(b), substituted
fiscal year basis for disbursement for quarterly basis.
Subsec. (k)(3)(A). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(c)(1), amended
subpar. (A) generally, substituting provisions man-
dating the establishment by the Corporation of an an-
nual budget for use in allocating amounts from the
Fund, setting out the allocation and distribution for-
mulae, and providing for interconnecting facilities and
operations costs for making public television and radio
programs available to public broadcast stations for
former provisions which had directed the Corporation
to reserve for distribution among the licensees and per-
mittees of public television and radio stations an
amount equal to (i) not less than 40 percent of the
funds disbursed by the Corporation from the Fund
under this section in each fiscal year in which the
amount disbursed was $88,000,000 or more, but less than
$121,000,000; (ii) not less than 45 percent of such funds in
each fiscal year in which the amount disbursed was
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TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 396
$121,000,000 or more, but less than $160,000,000; and (iii)
not less than 50 percent of such funds in each fiscal
year in which the amount disbursed was $160,000,000 or
more.
Subsec. (k)(3)(B)(i). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(c)(2), amended
cl. (i) generally, substituting ‘‘The Corporation shall
utilize the funds allocated pursuant to subparagraph
(A)(ii)(II) and subparagraph (A)(iii)(II), and a signifi-
cant portion of such other funds as may be available to
the Corporation, to make grants and contracts for pro-
duction of public television or radio programs by inde-
pendent producers and production entities and public
telecommunications entities, and for acquisition of
such programs by public telecommunications entities.
Of the funds utilized pursuant to this clause, a substan-
tial amount shall be reserved for distribution to inde-
pendent producers and production entities for the pro-
duction of programs’’ for ‘‘The Corporation shall estab-
lish an annual budget according to which it shall made
grants and contracts for production of public television
or radio programs by independent producers and pro-
duction entities and public telecommunications enti-
ties, for acquisition of such programs by public tele-
communications entities, for interconnection facilities
and operations, for distribution of funds among public
telecommunications entities, and for engineering and
program-related research. A significant portion of
funds available under the budget established by the
Corporation under this subparagraph shall be used for
funding the production of television and radio pro-
grams. Of such portion, a substantial amount shall be
reserved for distribution to independent producers and
production entities for the production of programs’’.
Subsec. (k)(3)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(c)(3)(A),
amended cl. (ii) generally, substituting ‘‘available for
distribution under clause (i)’’ for ‘‘contained in the an-
nual budget established by the Corporation under
clause (i)’’.
Subsec. (k)(3)(B)(iii), (iv). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(c)(3)(B),
struck out cls. (iii) and (iv) which had provided, respec-
tively, that ‘‘During each of the fiscal years 1981, 1982,
and 1983, the annual budget established by the Corpora-
tion under clause (i) shall consist of not less than 95
percent of the funds made available by the Secretary of
the Treasury to the Corporation pursuant to paragraph
(2)(A)’’ and that ‘‘In determining the amount of funds
which shall be made available for radio programming
and operations under this subparagraph, the Corpora-
tion shall take into account the increased financial
needs relating to radio programming and operations re-
sulting from the expansion and development of non-
commercial radio broadcast station facilities through
the use of funds made available pursuant to section
393(d) of this title’’.
Subsec. (k)(6)(A). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(d)(1), amended
subpar. (A) generally, substituting ‘‘The Corporation,
in consultation with public radio stations and with Na-
tional Public Radio (or any successor organization),
shall determine the percentage of funds allocated under
subclause (I) and subclause (II) of paragraph (3)(A)(iii)
for each fiscal year. The Corporation, in consultation
with such organizations, also shall conduct an annual
review of the criteria and conditions applicable to such
allocations’’ for ‘‘The Corporation, in consultation with
public television and radio licensees, shall review annu-
ally the percentage of funds reserved pursuant to para-
graph (3)(A), and the criteria and conditions regarding
the division and distribution of such funds among pub-
lic television and radio stations’’.
Subsec. (k)(6)(B). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(d)(2), amended
subpar. (B) generally, striking out provision that the
funds reserved for public broadcast stations pursuant
to paragraph (3)(A) be divided into two portions, one to
be distributed among radio stations and one to be dis-
tributed among television stations in the provisions
preceding cl. (i) and inserting ‘‘under paragraph
(3)(A)(ii)(I)’’ and ‘‘under paragraph (3)(A)(iii)(I)’’.
Subsec. (k)(7). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(e), amended par. (7)
generally, substituting provisions relating to use of
funds distributed for provisions limiting amount of
funds distributed.
Subsec. (k)(8). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(f), amended par. (8)
generally, substituting provisions relating to refunding
funds to the Corporation for provisions relating to the
use of funds distributed.
Subsec. (k)(9). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1227(g), in subpar. (A)
substituted ‘‘to assure that (i) its advisory board meets
at regular intervals; (ii) the members of its advisory
board regularly attend the meetings of the advisory
board; and (iii) the composition of its advisory board
are reasonably representative of the diverse needs’’ for
‘‘to assure that the composition of its advisory board
reasonably reflects the diverse needs’’ and in subpars.
(A), (D), and (E) inserted provisions respecting stations
owned and operated by a State, a political or special
purpose subdivision of a State or a public agency.
Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1228, inserted provisions in
par. (1)(A) respecting shared auditing arrangements,
and substituted in par. (3)(B)(ii) and (iii) provisions re-
lating to biannual audits and accompanying report, for
provisions relating to annual audits and accompanying
report.
1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–567, § 301, substituted
‘‘public’’ for ‘‘noncommercial educational’’ and ‘‘tele-
communications’’ for ‘‘radio and television’’ wherever
appearing and inserted provisions relating to the
growth and development of nonbroadcast telecommuni-
cations technologies for the delivery of public tele-
communications services.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 95–567, § 302, struck out provi-
sion authorizing the President to designate one of the
members first appointed to the Board as Chairman.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 95–567, § 303(a), inserted provi-
sion which regulated the rate of compensation an offi-
cer or employee of the Corporation could receive.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 95–567, § 304, amended subsec. (g)
generally, substituting ‘‘public telecommunications’’
for ‘‘educational broadcasting’’, ‘‘noncommercial edu-
cational television or radio’’, or ‘‘program production’’
wherever appearing, authorizing panel of outside ex-
perts to evaluate programs, authorizing Corporation to
use its own judgment when dealing with programming,
and striking out provision dealing with the creation of
new noncommercial educational broadcast stations.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 95–567, § 305, designated existing
provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 95–567, § 306, revised and restruc-
tured subsection and, as so restructured, substituted
‘‘September 30’’ for ‘‘June 30’’, ‘‘15th day of February’’
for ‘‘31st day of December’’, and inserted provisions
comprising pars. (1)(B) and (C).
Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 95–567, § 307(a), completely revised
and restructured subsec. (k) and, in so doing, inserted
provisions establishing an annual budget, authorizing
funds for the fiscal years 1978 to 1983, requiring funds be
disbursed on a quarterly basis, requiring that all meet-
ings of entities receiving funds be open to the public,
and that the financial records of such entities be avail-
able for public examination.
Subsec. (l)(3). Pub. L. 95–567, § 308, completely revised
and restructured par. (3) and, in so doing, inserted pro-
visions requiring an annual audit, furnishing a copy of
the audit report, and use of uniform accounting prin-
cipals.
1975—Subsec. (g)(2)(H). Pub. L. 94–192, § 3, inserted
‘‘and the use of nonbroadcast communications tech-
nologies for the dissemination of educational television
or radio programs’’ after ‘‘broadcasting’’.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 94–192, § 4, directed that officers
and directors be available to testify before Congres-
sional committees concerning the annual fiscal report,
audit report, or any other matter.
Subsec. (k)(3) to (7). Pub. L. 94–192, § 2, added pars. (3)
to (7).
1973—Subsec. (k)(1). Pub. L. 93–84, § 1(a), substituted
authorization
of
appropriation
of
$50,000,000
and
$60,000,000 for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1974 and
June 30, 1975, respectively, for authorization of appro-
priation of $40,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1973.
Subsec. (k)(2). Pub. L. 93–84, § 1(b), substituted ‘‘1975’’
for ‘‘1973’’.
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TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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1972—Subsec. (k)(1). Pub. L. 92–411 struck out author-
ization of appropriation for fiscal years ending June 30,
1969, June 30, 1970, and the two succeeding fiscal years
and provided for an appropriation of $40,000 for fiscal
year ending June 30, 1973.
Subsec. (k)(2). Pub. L. 92–411 substituted ‘‘June 30,
1973’’ for ‘‘June 30, 1972’’.
1970—Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 91–437 authorized appropria-
tions of $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1970, and $30,000,000 for each of the two succeeding fiscal
years, and further authorized appropriation of amounts
equal to the amount of total grants, donations, be-
quests,
or
other
contributions
from
non-Federal
sources received by the Corporation during each fiscal
year with a maximum limit of $5,000,000 for any fiscal
year.
1969—Subsec. (k)(1). Pub. L. 91–97, § 3(a), inserted ‘‘and
for the next fiscal year the sum of $20,000,000’’ after
‘‘the sum of $9,000,000’’.
Subsec. (k)(2). Pub. L. 91–97, § 3(b), inserted ‘‘or the
next fiscal year’’ after ‘‘the fiscal year ending June 30,
1969,’’.
1968—Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 90–294 substituted ‘‘1969’’ for
‘‘1968’’.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1999 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title V, § 5002(b)],
Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–593, provided that:
‘‘The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending
this section] shall apply with respect to funds distrib-
uted on or after 6 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1999].’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1992 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 102–356, § 22, Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 957, pro-
vided that: ‘‘Section 5(a) [amending this section] shall
take effect on January 31, 1996. All other provisions of
this Act [amending this section and sections 303b, 391,
and 393 of this title, enacting provisions set out as
notes under this section and sections 303 and 609 of this
title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under
section 303 of this title] are effective on its date of en-
actment [Aug. 26, 1992].’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1988 AMENDMENT
Amendment by sections 6 and 7(d) of Pub. L. 100–626
effective Oct. 1, 1989, see section 12 of Pub. L. 100–626,
set out as a note under section 391 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1981 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1227(c)(4), Aug. 13, 1981, 95
Stat. 729, provided that: ‘‘The amendments made in
this subsection [amending this section] shall apply to
fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1983.’’
Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1227(d)(3), Aug. 13, 1981, 95
Stat. 729, provided that: ‘‘The amendments made in
this subsection [amending this section] shall apply to
fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1983.’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1978 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 95–567 effective Nov. 2, 1978,
see section 403 of Pub. L. 95–567, set out as a note under
section 390 of this title.
TERMINATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions
of law requiring submittal to Congress of any annual,
semiannual, or other regular periodic report listed in
House Document No. 103–7 (in which reports required
under subsecs. (i), (k)(3)(B)(iii)(V)(1st sentence), and
(m) of this section are listed as the 10th through 13th
items on page 199), see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as
amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title
31, Money and Finance.
TRANSITION RULES RELATING
TO TERM
OF OFFICE
OF
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
OF CORPORATION
FOR PUBLIC
BROADCASTING
Pub. L. 102–356, § 5(c), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 950, pro-
vided that:
‘‘(1) With respect to the three offices whose terms are
prescribed by law to expire on March 26, 1992, the term
for each such office immediately after that date shall
expire on January 31, 1998.
‘‘(2) With respect to the two offices whose terms are
prescribed by law to expire on March 1, 1994, the term
for each of such offices immediately after that date
shall expire on January 31, 2000.
‘‘(3) With respect to the five offices whose terms are
prescribed by law to expire on March 26, 1996—
‘‘(A) one such office, as selected by the President,
shall be abolished on January 31, 1996;
‘‘(B) the term immediately after March 26, 1996, for
another such office, as designated by the President,
shall expire on January 31, 2000; and
‘‘(C) the term for each of the remaining three such
offices immediately after March 26, 1996, shall expire
on January 31, 2002.
‘‘(4) As used in this subsection, the term ‘office’
means an office as a member of the Board of Directors
of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.’’
OBJECTIVITY AND BALANCE POLICY, PROCEDURES, AND
REPORT
Pub. L. 102–356, § 19, Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 955, pro-
vided that: ‘‘Pursuant to the existing responsibility of
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under section
396(g)(1)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 396(g)(1)(A)) to facilitate the full development of
public telecommunications in which programs of high
quality, diversity, creativity, excellence, and innova-
tion, which are obtained from diverse sources, will be
made available to public telecommunications entities,
with strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all
programs or series of programs of a controversial na-
ture, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall—
‘‘(1) review the Corporation’s existing efforts to
meet its responsibility under section 396(g)(1)(A);
‘‘(2) after soliciting the views of the public, estab-
lish a comprehensive policy and set of procedures to—
‘‘(A) provide reasonable opportunity for members
of the public to present comments to the Board re-
garding the quality, diversity, creativity, excel-
lence, innovation, objectivity, and balance of public
broadcasting services, including all public broad-
casting programming of a controversial nature, as
well as any needs not met by those services;
‘‘(B) review, on a regular basis, national public
broadcasting programming for quality, diversity,
creativity, excellence, innovation, objectivity, and
balance, as well as for any needs not met by such
programming;
‘‘(C) on the basis of information received through
such comment and review, take such steps in
awarding programming grants pursuant to clauses
(ii)(II), (iii)(II), and (iii)(III) of section 396(k)(3)(A)
of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
396(k)(3)(A)) that it finds necessary to meet the Cor-
poration’s responsibility under section 396(g)(1)(A),
including facilitating objectivity and balance in
programming of a controversial nature; and
‘‘(D) disseminate among public broadcasting enti-
ties information about its efforts to address con-
cerns about objectivity and balance relating to pro-
gramming of a controversial nature so that such
entities can utilize the Corporation’s experience in
addressing such concerns within their own oper-
ations; and
‘‘(3) starting in 1993, by January 31 of each year,
prepare and submit to the President for transmittal
to the Congress a report summarizing its efforts pur-
suant to paragraphs (1) and (2).’’
Page 248
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 397
CONSUMER INFORMATION; DISCLOSURE OF FUNDING
Pub. L. 102–356, § 20, Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 956, pro-
vided that: ‘‘Prior to the expiration of the 90-day period
following the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug.
26, 1992], the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in
consultation with representatives of public broad-
casting entities, shall develop guidelines to assure that
program credits for public television programs that re-
ceive production funding directly from the Corporation
for Public Broadcasting adequately disclose that all or
a portion of the cost of producing such program was
paid for by funding from the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting, and that indicates in some manner that
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is partially
funded from Federal tax revenues.’’
INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION SERVICE FUNDING
Pub. L. 102–356, § 21, Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 956, pro-
vided that: ‘‘In making available funding pursuant to
authorizations under this Act [see Short Title of 1992
Amendment note set out under section 609 of this title],
any independent production service established under
section 396(k) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 396(k)) shall, to the maximum extent practicable
and consistent with the provisions of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 [47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.], provide such
funding to eligible recipients and projects representing
the widest possible geographic distribution, with the
objective of providing funding to eligible recipients and
projects in each State from which qualified proposals
are received over the course of such authorizations.’’
SATELLITE REPLACEMENT NEEDS; REPORT TO CONGRESS
Pub. L. 100–626, § 4(b), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3208, di-
rected Corporation for Public Broadcasting, on behalf
of the public radio and public television licensees and
permittees (or their designated representatives), to
submit to Congress on or before Mar. 1, 1990, a report
by such licensees or permittees (or their representa-
tives) detailing the satellite replacement needs of pub-
lic radio and public television, the difference in cost be-
tween leasing satellite transponder capacity and buy-
ing such capacity, and the availability of private sector
rather than Federal financing.
CONTINUATION OF INDIVIDUALS SERVING ON THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS; REDUCTION IN MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD;
POLITICAL AFFILIATION
OF BOARD APPOINTEES; ABO-
LITION OF FIVE OFFICES ON MARCH 1, 1984
Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1225(a)(2), Aug. 13, 1981, 95
Stat. 726, as amended by Pub. L. 97–410, § 4, Jan. 3, 1983,
96 Stat. 2044, provided that:
‘‘(A) The amendment made in paragraph (1) [amend-
ing this section] shall not affect the continuation in of-
fice of any individual serving on the Board of Directors
of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on the date
of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 1981].
‘‘(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c)
of section 396 of the Communications Act of 1934 [sub-
sec. (c) of this section], in the case of the offices of di-
rector the terms of which expired March 1982, persons
appointed to fill two of such vacancies existing as of
December 13, 1982, shall be appointed for terms which
shall expire on March 1, 1984 and shall not be
respresentative [sic] of the political party having a ma-
jority of the directors of the Board on December 13,
1982. Persons appointed for a term beginning March 1,
1984, to fill the vacancies occurring in such offices the
terms of which, by reason of the preceding sentence, ex-
pire on March 1, 1984, shall not be filled by persons rep-
resenting the political party having a majority of the
directors of the Board on March 1, 1984. Persons ap-
pointed on or after March 1, 1984, to fill vacancies in
the two such offices shall be appointed for terms of five
years. On March 1, 1984, there are abolished those five
offices of director the terms of which, without applica-
tion of the preceding provisions of this paragraph, ex-
pire on such date. In administering the provisions of
this paragraph a director is a minority member of the
Board if he is not a member of the political party to
which the majority of the directors of the Board are
members.’’
TEMPORARY
COMMISSION
ON
ALTERNATIVE
FINANCING
FOR PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS; COMPOSITION; PER-
SONNEL; FUNCTIONS; REPORT; DEMONSTRATION
PRO-
GRAMS FOR DETERMINING FEASIBILITY OF PERMITTING
PUBLIC
TELEVISION
STATIONS
AND
PUBLIC
RADIO
STATION LICENSEES TO BROADCAST ADVERTISING AN-
NOUNCEMENTS
Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, §§ 1232, 1233, Aug. 13, 1981, 95
Stat. 731, 733, established a Temporary Commission on
Alternative Financing for Public Telecommunications
for the purpose of conducting a study, to be submitted
to Congress not later than July 1, 1982, regarding op-
tions which may be available to public telecommuni-
cations entities, the Public Broadcasting Service, and
National Public Radio with respect to development of
sources of revenue in addition to sources available to
such entities on Aug. 13, 1981, further provided for
membership of the Temporary Commission as well as
other administrative matters, further authorized the
Temporary Commission to establish a demonstration
program to allow broadcast advertising announcements
on public radio and television stations, which would
run from Jan. 1, 1982, to June 30, 1983, further directed
the Temporary Commission to submit to Congress, not
later than Oct. 1, 1983, a report on the demonstration
program, and further provided for the termination of
the Temporary Commission 90 days after the submis-
sion of this report to Congress.
COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
Pub. L. 95–567, title III, § 303(b), Nov. 2, 1978, 92 Stat.
2412, provided that: ‘‘The amendment made by sub-
section (a) [amending this section] shall not be con-
strued to reduce the annual rate of pay of any officer
or employee of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
in any case in which (1) such officer or employee was
appointed or named to any position in the Corporation
before the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 2,
1978]; and (2) the annual rate of pay for such position,
as in effect on such date of enactment, exceeds the
maximum rate of pay established in section 396(e)(1) of
the Communications Act of 1934 [subsec. (e)(1) of this
section], as amended by subsection (a).’’
Pub. L. 95–567, title III, § 307(b), Nov. 2, 1978, 92 Stat.
2419, provided that: ‘‘Section 396(k)(10) of the Commu-
nications Act of 1934 [subsec. (k)(10) of this section], as
added by subsection (a), shall not be construed to re-
duce the annual rate of pay of any officer or employee
of the Public Broadcasting Service or National Public
Radio (or any successor organization) in any case in
which (1) such officer or employee was appointed or
named to any position in the Public Broadcasting Serv-
ice or National Public Radio (or any successor organi-
zation) before the date of the enactment of this Act
[Nov. 2, 1978]; and (2) the annual rate of pay for such po-
sition, as in effect on such date of enactment, exceeds
the maximum rate of pay established in section
396(k)(10) of the Communications Act of 1934 [subsec.
(k)(10) of this section], as added by subsection (a).’’
SUBPART E—GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 397. Definitions
For the purposes of this part—
(1) The term ‘‘construction’’ (as applied to
public telecommunications facilities) means ac-
quisition (including acquisition by lease), instal-
lation,
and
modernization
of
public
tele-
communications facilities and planning and pre-
paratory steps incidental to any such acquisi-
tion, installation, or modernization.
(2) The term ‘‘Corporation’’ means the Cor-
poration for Public Broadcasting authorized to
be established in subpart D.
Cross-references
Connections may be documented source relationships, shared citations or nearby passages. Each explains its basis; a connection alone does not establish applicability to your situation.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
For the purpose of regulating interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio so as to make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges, for the purpose of the national defense, for the purpose of promoting safety of life and property through the use of wire and radio communications, and for the purpose of securing a more effective execution of this policy by centralizing authority heretofore granted by law to several agencies and by granting additional authority with respect to interstate and foreign commerce in wire and radio communication, there is created a commission to be known as the “Federal Communications Commission”, which shall be constituted as hereinafter provided, and which shall execute and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 47 U.S.C. § 151
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. The source passage cites 47 U.S.C. § 151. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 12
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 151
Sec.
561.
Scrambling of sexually explicit adult video
service programming.
562.
Requirements relating to charges for covered
services.
PART V—VIDEO PROGRAMMING SERVICES PROVIDED BY
TELEPHONE COMPANIES
571.
Regulatory treatment of video programming
services.
572.
Prohibition on buy outs.
573.
Establishment of open video systems.
SUBCHAPTER VI—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
601.
Interstate Commerce Commission and Post-
master General; duties, powers, and func-
tions transferred to Commission.
602, 603.
Repealed.
604.
Effect of transfer.
605.
Unauthorized publication or use of commu-
nications.
606.
War powers of President.
607.
Effective date of chapter.
608.
Separability.
609.
Short title.
610.
Telephone service for disabled.
611.
Closed-captioning of public service announce-
ments.
612.
Syndicated exclusivity.
613.
Video programming accessibility.
614.
Telecommunications Development Fund.
615.
Support for universal emergency telephone
number.
615a.
Service provider parity of protection.
615a–1.
Duty to provide 9–1–1 and enhanced 9–1–1 serv-
ice.
615b.
Definitions.
615c.
Emergency Access Advisory Committee.
616.
Internet protocol-based relay services.
617.
Access to advanced communications services
and equipment.
618.
Enforcement and recordkeeping obligations.
619.
Internet browsers built into telephones used
with public mobile services.
620.
Relay services for deaf-blind individuals.
621.
Rulemaking on loud commercials required.
622.
Optional electronic labeling of communica-
tions equipment.
623.
Configuration of multi-line telephone sys-
tems for direct dialing of 9–1–1.
624.
Disclosure requirements for United States-
based foreign media outlets.
SUBCHAPTER VI
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 47 U.S.C. § 151
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 47 U.S.C. § 151. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Congressional declaration of policy** The Congress hereby finds and declares that—
(1) it is in the public interest to encourage the growth and development of public radio and television broadcasting, including the use of such media for instructional, educational, and cultural purposes;
(2) it is in the public interest to encourage the growth and development of nonbroadcast telecommunications technologies for the delivery of public telecommunications services;
(3) expansion and development of public telecommunications and of diversity of its programming depend on freedom, imagination, and initiative on both local and national levels;
(4) the encouragement and support of public telecommunications, while matters of importance for private and local development, are also of appropriate and important concern to the Federal Government;
(5) it furthers the general welfare to encourage public telecommunications services which will be responsive to the interests of people both in particular localities and throughout the United States, which will constitute an expression of diversity and excellence, and which will constitute a source of alternative telecommunications services for all the citizens of the Nation;
(6) it is in the public interest to encourage the development of programming that involves creative risks and that addresses the needs of unserved and underserved audiences, particularly children and minorities;
(7) it is necessary and appropriate for the Federal Government to complement, assist, and support a national policy that will most effectively make public telecommunications services available to all citizens of the United States;
(8) public television and radio stations and public telecommunications services constitute valuable local community resour
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 47 U.S.C. § 396
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. Same stored citation; legal effect and authority still require review.