2016 US Code
Title 7 - Agriculture
Chapter 31 - Rural Electrification and Telephone Service
Subchapter II - Rural Telephone Service
Sec. 924 - Definition of telephone service and rural area

(a) As used in this subchapter, the term "telephone service" shall be deemed to mean any communication service for the transmission or reception of voice, data, sounds, signals, pictures, writing, or signs of all kinds by wire, fiber, radio, light, or other visual or electromagnetic means, and shall include all telephone lines, facilities, or systems used in the rendition of such service; but shall not be deemed to mean message telegram service or community antenna television system services or facilities other than those intended exclusively for educational purposes, or radio broadcasting services or facilities within the meaning of section 153(o) ¹ of title 47.

(b) As used in this subchapter, the term "rural area" shall be deemed to mean any area of the United States not included within the boundaries of any incorporated or unincorporated city, village, or borough having a population in excess of 5,000 inhabitants.

(May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title II, §203, as added Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 776, §5, 63 Stat. 948; amended Pub. L. 87–862, Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1140; Pub. L. 101–624, title XXIII, §2354, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4039; Pub. L. 103–129, §2(c)(5), Nov. 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 1364.)

Section 153 of title 47, referred to in subsec. (a), was subsequently amended and no longer contains a subsec. (o). However, the term "broadcasting" is defined elsewhere in that section.

1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–129 substituted "5,000" for "one thousand five hundred".

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–624 inserted "or reception" after "transmission" and "data," after "voice,", and substituted "by wire, fiber, radio, light, or other visual or electromagnetic means" for "through the use of electricity between the transmitting and receiving apparatus".

1962—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–862 included the transmission of sounds, signals, pictures, writing, or signs of all kinds within "telephone service", and substituted "message telegram service or community antenna television system services or facilities other than those intended exclusively for educational purposes" for "telegraph services or facilities".

¹ See References in Text note below.