Golden Belt Telephone Association, Inc. - Page 12

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               * * *.                                                                 
          47 U.S.C. sec. 151 (1991).  Included in the FCC's jurisdiction is           
          "telephone exchange service", defined as                                    
               service within a telephone exchange, or within a                       
               connected system of telephone exchanges within the same                
               exchange area operated to furnish to subscribers                       
               intercommunicating service of the character ordinarily                 
               furnished by a single exchange * * *.                                  
          47 U.S.C. sec. 153(47) (1996).                                              
               The phrase "communication service" is not defined in the               
          Communications Act, but it is used in the paragraphs describing             
          the purpose of the FCC and the definition of "telephone exchange            
          service".  It is also used in Title II of the Communications Act,           
          which describes common carriers.  Section 201(a) of 47 U.S.C.               
          makes it                                                                    
               the duty of every common carrier engaged in interstate                 
               or foreign communication by wire or radio to furnish                   
               such communication service upon reasonable request                     
               therefor * * *  [Emphasis supplied.]                                   
          47 U.S.C. sec. 201(a) (1991).  Section 201(b) provides that:                
               All charges, practices, classifications, and                           
               regulations for and in connection with such                            
               communication service, shall be just and reasonable                    
               * * *  [Emphasis supplied.]                                            
          47 U.S.C. sec. 201(b) (1991).                                               
               When Congress enacted the current Code section 501(c)(12),             
          it incorporated the term "communication services" into the                  
          statute.  Although there is nothing explicitly linking the                  
          definition in section 501(c)(12) to the Communications Act or the           
          FCC, the FCC has defined what is a communication service, at                




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