---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 327"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "327"
heading: "Naval stations; use for commercial messages; rates"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/327"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter III — Special Provisions Relating to Radio"
  - "Part I — General Provisions"
---

# §327. Naval stations; use for commercial messages; rates


The [Secretary](/usc/47/397.md?p=15) of the Navy is authorized, unless restrained by international agreement, under the terms and conditions and at rates prescribed by him, which rates shall be just and reasonable, and which, upon complaint, shall be subject to review and revision by the Commission, to use all [radio stations](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) and apparatus, wherever located, owned by the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) and under the control of the Navy Department, (a) for the reception and transmission of press messages offered by any newspaper published in the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58), its Territories or possessions, or published by citizens of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) in foreign countries, or by any press association of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58), and (b) for the reception and transmission of private commercial messages between [ships](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A), between [ship](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) and shore, between localities in Alaska and between Alaska and the continental [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58): Provided, That the rates fixed for the reception and transmission of all such messages, other than press messages between the Pacific coast of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58), Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, the Philippine Islands, and the Orient, and between the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) and the Virgin Islands, shall not be less than the rates charged by privately owned and operated [stations](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) for like messages and service: Provided further, That the right to use such [stations](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) for any of the purposes named in this section shall terminate and cease as between any countries or localities or between any locality and privately operated [ships](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) whenever privately owned and operated [stations](/usc/47/153.md?p=42) are capable of [meeting](/usc/47/397.md?p=5) the normal communication requirements between such countries or localities or between any locality and privately operated [ships](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A), and the Commission shall have notified the [Secretary](/usc/47/397.md?p=15) of the Navy thereof.


## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 327, 48 Stat. 1091.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Philippine Islands, referred to in text, were granted their independence by Proc. No. 2695, eff. July 4, 1946, 11 F.R. 7517, 60 Stat. 1352, issued pursuant to section 1394 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, and set out under that section. They are now known as the Republic of the Philippines.