---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 218"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "218"
heading: "Management of business; inquiries by Commission"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/218"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter II — Common Carriers"
  - "Part I — Common Carrier Regulation"
---

# §218. Management of business; inquiries by Commission


The Commission may inquire into the management of the business of all [carriers](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) subject to this chapter, and shall keep itself informed as to the manner and method in which the same is conducted and as to technical developments and improvements in wire and [radio communication](/usc/47/153.md?p=40) and [radio transmission of energy](/usc/47/153.md?p=57) to the end that the benefits of new inventions and developments may be made available to the people of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58). The Commission may obtain from such [carriers](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) and from [persons](/usc/47/153.md?p=39) directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such [carriers](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) full and complete information necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties and carry out the objects for which it was created.


## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 218, 48 Stat. 1077.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.