---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 301"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "301"
heading: "License for radio communication or transmission of energy"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/301"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter III — Special Provisions Relating to Radio"
  - "Part I — General Provisions"
---

# §301. License for radio communication or transmission of energy


It is the purpose of this chapter, among other things, to maintain the control of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) over all the channels of radio transmission; and to provide for the use of such channels, but not the ownership thereof, by [persons](/usc/47/153.md?p=39) for limited periods of time, under [licenses](/usc/47/153.md?p=49) granted by Federal authority, and no such [license](/usc/47/153.md?p=49) shall be construed to create any right, beyond the terms, conditions, and periods of the [license](/usc/47/153.md?p=49). No [person](/usc/47/153.md?p=39) shall use or operate any apparatus for the transmission of energy or communications or signals by radio (a) from one place in any [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47), Territory, or possession of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) or in the District of Columbia to another place in the same [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47), Territory, possession, or District; or (b) from any [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47), Territory, or possession of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58), or from the District of Columbia to any other [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47), Territory, or possession of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58); or (c) from any place in any [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47), Territory, or possession of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58), or in the District of Columbia, to any place in any foreign country or to any [vessel](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A); or (d) within any [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47) when the effects of such use extend beyond the borders of said [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47), or when interference is caused by such use or operation with the transmission of such energy, communications, or signals from within said [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47) to any place beyond its borders, or from any place beyond its borders to any place within said [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47), or with the transmission or reception of such energy, communications, or signals from and/or to places beyond the borders of said [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47); or (e) upon any [vessel](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) or aircraft of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) (except as provided in [section 303(t) of this title](/usc/47/303.md?p=t)); or (f) upon any other [mobile stations](/usc/47/153.md?p=34) within the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58), except under and in accordance with this chapter and with a [license](/usc/47/153.md?p=49) in that behalf granted under the provisions of this chapter.


## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 301, 48 Stat. 1081; Pub. L. 97–259, title I, §§ 107, 111(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1091, 1093.)

## 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.

### Amendments

1982—Pub. L. 97–259 struck out “interstate and foreign” after “channels of” in first sentence, substituted “State, Territory,” for “Territory” after “from one place in any” and inserted “State,” after “to another place in the same” in cl. (a), and inserted “(except as provided in section 303(t) of this title)” in cl. (e).