---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 256"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "256"
heading: "Coordination for interconnectivity"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/256"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter II — Common Carriers"
  - "Part II — Development of Competitive Markets"
---

# §256. Coordination for interconnectivity

- (a) **Purpose—** It is the purpose of this section—
  - (1) to promote nondiscriminatory accessibility by the broadest number of users and vendors of communications products and services to public [telecommunications](/usc/47/153.md?p=50) networks used to provide [telecommunications service](/usc/47/153.md?p=53) through—
    - (A) coordinated public [telecommunications](/usc/47/153.md?p=50) network planning and design by [telecommunications carriers](/usc/47/153.md?p=51) and other providers of [telecommunications service](/usc/47/153.md?p=53); and
    - (B) public [telecommunications](/usc/47/153.md?p=50) network interconnectivity, and interconnectivity of devices with such networks used to provide [telecommunications service](/usc/47/153.md?p=53); and
  - (2) to ensure the ability of users and information providers to seamlessly and transparently transmit and receive information between and across [telecommunications](/usc/47/153.md?p=50) networks.
- (b) **Commission functions—** In carrying out the purposes of this section, the Commission—
  - (1) shall establish procedures for Commission oversight of coordinated network planning by [telecommunications carriers](/usc/47/153.md?p=51) and other providers of [telecommunications service](/usc/47/153.md?p=53) for the effective and efficient [interconnection](/usc/47/397.md?p=3) of public [telecommunications](/usc/47/153.md?p=50) networks used to provide [telecommunications service](/usc/47/153.md?p=53); and
  - (2) may participate, in a manner consistent with its authority and practice prior to February 8, 1996, in the development by appropriate industry standards-setting organizations of public [telecommunications](/usc/47/153.md?p=50) network interconnectivity standards that promote access to—
    - (A) public [telecommunications](/usc/47/153.md?p=50) networks used to provide [telecommunications service](/usc/47/153.md?p=53);
    - (B) network capabilities and services by individuals with [disabilities](/usc/47/153.md?p=18); and
    - (C) [information services](/usc/47/153.md?p=24) by subscribers of [rural telephone companies](/usc/47/153.md?p=44).
- (c) **Commission’s authority—** Nothing in this section shall be construed as expanding or limiting any authority that the Commission may have under law in effect before February 8, 1996.
- (d) **“Public telecommunications network interconnectivity” defined—** As used in this section, the term “public [telecommunications](/usc/47/153.md?p=50) network interconnectivity” means the ability of two or more public [telecommunications](/usc/47/153.md?p=50) networks used to provide [telecommunications service](/usc/47/153.md?p=53) to communicate and exchange information without degeneration, and to interact in concert with one another.

## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 256, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 76.)