Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 70.djvu/988

 932 48 Stat. 1080 47 USC 221. Telephone c o mpanles. Consolidation.

66 Stat. 722. 47 USC 410.

Joint boards. 66 Stat. 721. 47 USC 409.

60 Stat. 244. 5 USC 1010.

PUBLIC LAW 915-AUG. 2, 1956

ST A T.

SEC. 3. Section 221(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 221. (a) Upon application of one or more telephone companies for authority to consolidate their properties or a part thereof into a single company, or for authority for one or more such companies to acquire the whole or any part of the property of another telephone company or other telephone companies or the control thereof by the purchase of securities or by lease or in any other like manner, when such consolidated company would be subject to this Act, the Commission shall give reasonable notice in writing to the governor of each of the States in which the physical property affected, or any part thereof, is situated, and to the State commission having jurisdiction over telephone companies, and to such other persons as it may deem advisable, and shall afford such parties a reasonable opportunity to submit comments on the proposal. A public hearing shall be held in all cases where a request therefor is made by a telephone company, an association of telephone companies, a State commission, or local governmental authority. If the Commission finds that the proposed consolidation, acquisition, or control will be of advantage to the persons to whom service is to be rendered and in the public interest, it shall certify to that effect; and thereupon any Act or Acts of Congress making the proposed transaction unlawful shall not apply. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as in anywise limiting or restricting the powers of the several States to control and regulate telephone companies." SEC. 4. Section 410(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, is amended by inserting before the words "the Commission" in the second sentence of the section the words "an examiner provided for in section 11 of the Administrative Procedure Act, designated by" so that such section 410(a) will read as follows: "SEC. 410. (a) Except as provided in section 409, the Commission may refer any matter arising in the administration of this Act to a joint board to be composed of a member, or of an equal number of members, as determined by the Commission, from each of the States in which the wire or radio communication affected by or involved in the proceeding takes place or is proposed. For purposes of acting upon such matter any such board shall have all the jurisdiction and powers conferred by law upon an examiner provided for in section 11 of the Administrative Procedure Act, designated by the Commission, and shall be subject to the same duties and obligations. The action of a joint board shall have such force and effect and its proceedings shall be conducted in such manner as the Commission shall by regulations prescribe. The joint board member or members for each State shall be nominated by the State commission of the State or by the Governor if there is no State commission, and appointed by the Federal Communications Commission. The Commission shall have discretion to reject any nominee. Joint board members shall receive such allowances for expenses as the Commission shall provide." Approved August 2,.1956.

Public Law 915 August 2, 1956 [S. J. Res. 105]

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CHAPTER 875 JOINT RESOLUTION

Authorizing the President of the United States to designate the period beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as Constitution Week.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United wJik."**^*"*^**" Stcit^s of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the Designation. United States is authorized and requested to designate the period

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