---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 1006"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "1006"
heading: "Technical requirements and standards; extension of compliance date"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/1006"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Interception of Digital and Other Communications"
  - "Subchapter I — Interception of Digital and Other Communications"
---

# §1006. Technical requirements and standards; extension of compliance date

- (a) **Safe harbor—**
  - (1) **Consultation—** To ensure the efficient and industry-wide implementation of the assistance capability requirements under [section 1002 of this title](/usc/47/1002.md), the Attorney General, in coordination with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, shall consult with appropriate associations and standard-setting organizations of the telecommunications industry, with representatives of users of telecommunications equipment, facilities, and services, and with State utility [commissions](/usc/47/1001.md?p=3).
  - (2) **Compliance under accepted standards—** A [telecommunications carrier](/usc/47/1001.md?p=8) shall be found to be in compliance with the assistance capability requirements under [section 1002 of this title](/usc/47/1002.md), and a manufacturer of telecommunications transmission or switching equipment or a provider of [telecommunications support services](/usc/47/1001.md?p=7) shall be found to be in compliance with [section 1005 of this title](/usc/47/1005.md), if the carrier, manufacturer, or support service provider is in compliance with publicly available technical requirements or standards adopted by an industry association or standard-setting organization, or by the [Commission](/usc/47/1001.md?p=3) under [subsection (b)](#b), to meet the requirements of [section 1002 of this title](/usc/47/1002.md).
  - (3) **Absence of standards—** The absence of technical requirements or standards for implementing the assistance capability requirements of [section 1002 of this title](/usc/47/1002.md) shall not—
    - (A) preclude a [telecommunications carrier](/usc/47/1001.md?p=8), manufacturer, or [telecommunications support services](/usc/47/1001.md?p=7) provider from deploying a technology or service; or
    - (B) relieve a carrier, manufacturer, or [telecommunications support services](/usc/47/1001.md?p=7) provider of the obligations imposed by section [1002](/usc/47/1002.md) or [1005](/usc/47/1005.md) of this title, as applicable.
- (b) **Commission authority—** If industry associations or standard-setting organizations fail to issue technical requirements or standards or if a [Government](/usc/47/1001.md?p=5)[^1] agency or any other person believes that such requirements or standards are deficient, the agency or person may petition the [Commission](/usc/47/1001.md?p=3) to establish, by rule, technical requirements or standards that—
  - (1) meet the assistance capability requirements of [section 1002 of this title](/usc/47/1002.md) by cost-effective methods;
  - (2) protect the privacy and security of communications not authorized to be intercepted;
  - (3) minimize the cost of such compliance on residential ratepayers;
  - (4) serve the policy of the United States to encourage the provision of new technologies and services to the public; and
  - (5) provide a reasonable time and conditions for compliance with and the transition to any new standard, including defining the obligations of [telecommunications carriers](/usc/47/1001.md?p=8) under [section 1002 of this title](/usc/47/1002.md) during any transition period.
- (c) **Extension of compliance date for equipment, facilities, and services—**
  - (1) **Petition—** A [telecommunications carrier](/usc/47/1001.md?p=8) proposing to install or deploy, or having installed or deployed, any equipment, facility, or service prior to the effective date of [section 1002 of this title](/usc/47/1002.md) may petition the [Commission](/usc/47/1001.md?p=3) for 1 or more extensions of the deadline for complying with the assistance capability requirements under [section 1002 of this title](/usc/47/1002.md).
  - (2) **Grounds for extension—** The [Commission](/usc/47/1001.md?p=3) may, after consultation with the Attorney General, grant an extension under this subsection, if the [Commission](/usc/47/1001.md?p=3) determines that compliance with the assistance capability requirements under [section 1002 of this title](/usc/47/1002.md) is not reasonably achievable through application of technology available within the compliance period.
  - (3) **Length of extension—** An extension under this subsection shall extend for no longer than the earlier of—
    - (A) the date determined by the [Commission](/usc/47/1001.md?p=3) as necessary for the carrier to comply with the assistance capability requirements under [section 1002 of this title](/usc/47/1002.md); or
    - (B) the date that is 2 years after the date on which the extension is granted.
  - (4) **Applicability of extension—** An extension under this subsection shall apply to only that part of the carrier’s business on which the new equipment, facility, or service is used.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–414, title I, § 107, Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4284.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The effective date of section 1002 of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is the date that is 4 years after Oct. 25, 1994, see section 111(b) of Pub. L. 103–414, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1001 of this title.