---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 1608"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "1608"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/1608"
units:
  - "Chapter 15 — Secure and Trusted Communications Networks"
---

# §1608. Definitions


In this chapter:

- (1) **Advanced communications service—** The term “advanced communications service” has the meaning given the term “advanced telecommunications capability” in [section 1302 of this title](/usc/47/1302.md).
- (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](#1).
- (5) **Covered communications equipment or service—** The term “covered communications equipment or service” means any [communications equipment or service](#4) that is on the list published by the [Commission](#3) under [section 1601(a) of this title](/usc/47/1601.md?p=a).
- (6) **Customers—** The term “customers” means, with respect to a [provider of advanced communications service](#10)—
  - (A) the [customers](#6) of such provider; and
  - (B) the [customers](#6) of any affiliate (as defined in [section 153 of this title](/usc/47/153.md)) 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—** The term “Program” means the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program established under [section 1603(a) of this title](/usc/47/1603.md?p=a).
- (10) **Provider of advanced communications service—** The term “provider of advanced communications service”—
  - (A) means a [person](#8) who provides [advanced communications service](#1) to United States [customers](#6); 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](#1).
- (11) **Recipient—** The term “recipient” means any [provider of advanced communications service](#10) the application of which for a reimbursement under the [Program](#9) has been approved by the [Commission](#3), regardless of whether the provider has received [reimbursement funds](#12).
- (12) **Reimbursement funds—** The term “reimbursement funds” means any reimbursement received under the [Program](#9).

## 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.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Par. (10). Pub. L. 116–260 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.”