---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 1001"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "1001"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/1001"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Interception of Digital and Other Communications"
  - "Subchapter I — Interception of Digital and Other Communications"
---

# §1001. Definitions


For purposes of this subchapter—

- (1) The terms defined in [section 2510 of title 18](/usc/18/2510.md) have, respectively, the meanings stated in that section.
- (2) The term “call-identifying information” means dialing or signaling information that identifies the origin, direction, destination, or termination of each communication generated or received by a [subscriber](/usc/47/340.md?p=i-1) by means of any equipment, facility, or service of a [telecommunications carrier](#8).
- (3) The term “Commission” means the Federal Communications Commission.
- (4) The term “electronic messaging services” means software-based services that enable the sharing of data, images, sound, writing, or other information among computing devices controlled by the senders or recipients of the messages.
- (5) The term “government” means the government of the [United States](/usc/47/38.md) and any agency or instrumentality thereof, the District of Columbia, any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the [United States](/usc/47/38.md), and any [State](/usc/47/251a.md?p=c-4) or political subdivision thereof authorized by law to conduct electronic surveillance.
- (6) The term “information services”—
  - (A) means the offering of a capability for generating, acquiring, storing, transforming, processing, retrieving, utilizing, or making available information via telecommunications; and
  - (B) includes—
    - (i) a service that permits a customer to retrieve stored information from, or file information for storage in, information storage facilities;
    - (ii) electronic publishing; and
    - (iii) [electronic messaging services](#4); but
  - (C) does not include any capability for a [telecommunications carrier](#8)’s internal management, control, or operation of its telecommunications network.
- (7) The term “telecommunications support services” means a product, software, or service used by a [telecommunications carrier](#8) for the internal signaling or switching functions of its telecommunications network.
- (8) The term “telecommunications carrier”—
  - (A) means a person or entity engaged in the transmission or switching of wire or electronic communications as a [common carrier](/usc/47/225.md?p=a-1) for hire; and
  - (B) includes—
    - (i) a person or entity engaged in providing [commercial mobile service](/usc/47/332.md?p=d-1) (as defined in [section 332(d) of this title](/usc/47/332.md?p=d)); or
    - (ii) a person or entity engaged in providing wire or electronic communication switching or transmission service to the extent that the [Commission](#3) finds that such service is a replacement for a substantial portion of the local telephone exchange service and that it is in the public interest to deem such a person or entity to be a [telecommunications carrier](#8) for purposes of this subchapter; but
  - (C) does not include—
    - (i) persons or entities insofar as they are engaged in providing [information services](#6); and
    - (ii) any class or category of [telecommunications carriers](#8) that the [Commission](#3) exempts by rule after consultation with the Attorney General.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–414, title I, § 102, Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4279.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–414, title I, § 111, Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4288, provided that: In General.—Except as provided in subsection (b), this title [enacting this subchapter and provisions set out below] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 25, 1994]. Assistance Capability and Systems Security and Integrity Requirements.—Sections 103 and 105 of this title [enacting sections 1002 and 1004 of this title] shall take effect on the date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act.”

### Short Title

Pub. L. 103–414, title I, § 101, Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4279, provided that: “This title [enacting this subchapter and provisions set out as a note above] may be cited as the ‘Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act’.”