TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
CHAPTER 2--SUBMARINE CABLES
Sec. 34. Licenses for landing or operating cables connecting United States with foreign country; necessity for
No person shall land or operate in the United States any submarine cable directly or indirectly connecting the United States with any foreign country, or connecting one portion of the United States with any other portion thereof, unless a written license to land or operate such cable has been issued by the President of the United States. The conditions of sections 34 to 39 of this title shall not apply to cables, all of which, including both terminals, lie wholly within the continental United States.
Sec. 35. Withholding or revoking of licenses by President; terms and conditions of licenses
The President may withhold or revoke such license when he shall be satisfied after due notice and hearing that such action will assist in securing rights for the landing or operation of cables in foreign countries, or in maintaining the rights or interests of the United States or of its citizens in foreign countries, or will promote the security of the United States, or may grant such license upon such terms as shall be necessary to assure just and reasonable rates and service in the operation and use of cables so licensed. The license shall not contain terms or conditions granting to the licensee exclusive rights of landing or of operation in the United States. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit the power and jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission with respect to the transmission of messages.
Sec. 36. Preventing landing or operating of cables; injunction
The President is empowered to prevent the landing of any cable about to be landed in violation of sections 34 to 39 of this title. When any such cable is about to be or is landed or is being operated without a license, any district court of the United States exercising jurisdiction in the district in which such cable is about to be or is landed, or any district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the parties, shall have jurisdiction, at the suit of the United States, to enjoin the landing or operation of such cable or to compel, by injunction, the removal thereof.
Sec. 37. Violations; punishment
Whoever knowingly commits, instigates, or assists in any act forbidden by section 34 of this title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
Sec. 38. ''United States'' defined
The term ''United States'' as used in sections 34 to 39 of this title includes the Canal Zone and all territory continental or insular, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of America.
Sec. 39. Amendment, modification, etc., of rights granted
No right shall accrue to any government, person, or corporation under the terms of sections 34 to 39 of this title that may not be rescinded, changed, modified, or amended by the Congress.
PART IV
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Sec. 5.
(a) The Federal Communications Commission is hereby designated and empowered to exercise, without the approval, ratification, or other action of the President, all authority vested in the President by the act of May 27, 1921, ch. 12, 42 Stat. 8 (47 U.S.C. 34 to 39), including the authority to issue, withhold, or revoke licenses to land or operate submarine cables in the United States: Provided, That no such license shall be granted or revoked by the Commission except after obtaining approval of the Secretary of State and such advice from any executive department or establishment of the Government as the Commission may deem necessary. The Commission is authorized and directed to receive all applications for the said licenses.
(b) Executive Order No. 3513 of July 9, 1921, as amended by Executive Order No. 6779 of June 30, 1934, is hereby revoked.