### Question
How does the law define public telecommunications facilities?


### Answer
Under *47 U.S.C. § 397*, **public telecommunications facilities** is defined as:

> apparatus necessary for production, interconnection, captioning, broadcast, or other distribution of programming, including, but not limited to, studio equipment, cameras, microphones, audio and video storage or reproduction equipment, or both, signal processors and switchers, towers, antennas, transmitters, translators, microwave equipment, mobile equipment, satellite communications equipment, instructional television fixed service equipment, subsidiary communications authorization transmitting and receiving equipment, cable television equipment, video and audio cassettes and discs, optical fiber communications equipment, and other means of transmitting, emitting, storing, and receiving images and sounds, or intelligence, except that such term does not include the buildings to house such apparatus (other than small equipment shelters which are part of satellite earth stations, translators, microwave interconnection facilities, and similar facilities)

#### Citation:
  - *47 U.S.C. § 397*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 5-WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION > SUBCHAPTER III-SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RADIO > Part IV-Assistance for Planning and Construction of Public Telecommunications Facilities; Telecommunications Demonstrations; Corporation for Public Broadcasting; General Provisions > subpart e-general provisions**

