Sec. 25.103  Definitions.

    (a) Communications common carrier. The term ``communications common 
carrier'' as used in this part means any person (individual, 
partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, corporation, or 
other entity) engaged as a common carrier for hire, in interstate or 
foreign communication by wire or radio or in interstate or foreign radio 
transmission of energy, including such carriers as are described in 
subsection 2(b) (2) and (3) of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, and, in addition, for purposes of subpart H of this part, 
includes any individual, partnership, association, joint-stock company, 
trust, corporation, or other entity which owns or controls, directly or 
indirectly, or is under direct or indirect common control with, any such 
carrier.
    (b) Authorized carrier. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) 
of this section, the term ``authorized carrier'' means a communications 
common carrier which is authorized by the Federal Communications 
Commission under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to provide 
services by means of communications satellites.
    (2) For the purposes of subpart H of this part, the term 
``authorized carrier'' means a communications common carrier which is 
specifically authorized or which is a member of a class of carriers 
authorized by the Commission to own shares of stock in the corporation.
    (c) Communications satellite corporation. (1) The terms 
``communications satellite corporation'' or ``corporation'' as used in 
this part mean the corporation created pursuant to the provisions of 
Title III of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962.
    (2) The corporation shall be deemed to be a common carrier within 
the meaning of section 3(h) of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962.
    (d) Communication-satellite earth station complex. The term 
communication-

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satellite earth station complex includes transmitters, receivers, and 
communications antennas at the earth station site together with the 
interconnecting terrestrial facilities (cables, lines, or microwave 
facilities) and modulating and demodulating equipment necessary for 
processing of traffic received from the terrestrial distribution 
system(s) prior to transmission via satellite and of traffic received 
from the satellite prior to transfer of channels of communication to 
terrestrial distribution system(s).
    (e) Communication-satellite earth station complex functions. The 
communication-satellite earth station complex interconnects with 
terminal equipment of common carriers or authorized entities at the 
interface; accepts traffic from such entities at the interface, 
processes for transmission via satellite and performs the transmission 
function; receives traffic from a satellite or satellites, processes it 
in a form necessary to deliver channels of communication to terrestrial 
common carriers or such other authorized entities and delivers the 
processed traffic to such entities at the interface.
    (f) Interface. The point of interconnection between two distinct but 
adjacent communications systems having different functions. The 
interface in the communication-satellite service is that point where 
communications terminal equipment of the terrestrial common carriers or 
other authorized entities interconnects with the terminal equipment of 
the communication-satellite earth station complex. The interface in the 
communication-satellite service shall be located at the earth station 
site, or if this is impracticable, as close thereto as possible.
[ 28 FR 13037 , Dec. 5, 1963, as amended at  31 FR 3289 , Mar. 2, 1966]