47 USC § 157 - New technologies and services

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s157"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "47 USC § 157 - New technologies and services"
title_number: 47
title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
section_number: "157"
section_name: "New technologies and services"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2025-08-11"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 7, as added Pub. L. 98–214, § 12, Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1471; amended Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 304(a)(1), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4296.)"
---


# § 157. New technologies and services

**(a)** It shall be the policy of the United States to encourage the provision of new technologies and services to the public. Any person or party (other than the Commission) who opposes a new technology or service proposed to be permitted under this chapter shall have the burden to demonstrate that such proposal is inconsistent with the public interest.

**(b)** The Commission shall determine whether any new technology or service proposed in a petition or application is in the public interest within one year after such petition or application is filed. If the Commission initiates its own proceeding for a new technology or service, such proceeding shall be completed within 12 months after it is initiated.

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**Source Credit**: (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 7, as added Pub. L. 98–214, § 12, Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1471; amended Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 304(a)(1), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4296.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see  and Tables.

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (b).  struck out “or twelve months after , if later” after “petition or application is filed” and after “12 months after it is initiated”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Advanced Telecommunications Incentives

, , , as amended by , , ; , , , was transferred and is classified to .