47 USC § 1608 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s1608"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "47 USC § 1608 - Definitions"
title_number: 47
title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
section_number: "1608"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 15
chapter_name: "SECURE AND TRUSTED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2025-08-11"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 116–124, § 9, Mar. 12, 2020, 134 Stat. 169; Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title IX, § 901(2), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2121.)"
---


# § 1608. Definitions

In this chapter:

**(1)** **Advanced communications service** section 1302 of this title

The term “advanced communications service” has the meaning given the term “advanced telecommunications capability” in .

**(2)** **Appropriate national security agency** The term “appropriate national security agency” means—

**(A)** the Department of Homeland Security;

**(B)** the Department of Defense;

**(C)** the Office of the Director of National Intelligence;

**(D)** the National Security Agency; and

**(E)** the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

**(3)** **Commission** The term “Commission” means the Federal Communications Commission.

**(4)** **Communications equipment or service** The term “communications equipment or service” means any equipment or service that is essential to the provision of advanced communications service.

**(5)** **Covered communications equipment or service** section 1601(a) of this title

The term “covered communications equipment or service” means any communications equipment or service that is on the list published by the Commission under .

**(6)** **Customers** The term “customers” means, with respect to a provider of advanced communications service—

**(A)** the customers of such provider; and

**(B)** the customers of any affiliate (as defined in section 153 of this title) of such provider.

**(7)** **Executive branch interagency body** The term “executive branch interagency body” means an interagency body established in the executive branch.

**(8)** **Person** The term “person” means an individual or entity.

**(9)** **Program** section 1603(a) of this title

The term “Program” means the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program established under .

**(10)** **Provider of advanced communications service** The term “provider of advanced communications service”—

**(A)** means a person who provides advanced communications service to United States customers; and

**(B)** includes—

**(i)** accredited public or private noncommercial educational institutions, providing their own facilities-based educational broadband service, as defined in section 27.4 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation; and

**(ii)** health care providers and libraries providing advanced communications service.

**(11)** **Recipient** The term “recipient” means any provider of advanced communications service the application of which for a reimbursement under the Program has been approved by the Commission, regardless of whether the provider has received reimbursement funds.

**(12)** **Reimbursement funds** The term “reimbursement funds” means any reimbursement received under the Program.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 116–124, § 9, Mar. 12, 2020, 134 Stat. 169; Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title IX, § 901(2), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2121.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Par. (10).  amended par. (10) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘provider of advanced communications service’ means a person who provides advanced communications service to United States customers.”