Pennsylvania § 2903 - Written contract for private wire.

§ 2903. Written contract for private wire.

(a) General rule.--It is unlawful for any public utility to furnish to any person or corporation any private wire, except in pursuance of a written contract signed by the public utility, by the person or corporation contracting for said private wire and responsible under the terms of the contract for the payment for the service, and by the person or corporation in possession or control of any place or location designated in the contract for installation or connection of said private wire, which contract shall include a detailed written statement of the purpose for which such private wire is intended to be used.

(b) Exceptions.--This section does not apply to:

(1) The furnishing of any private wire in case of public emergency, or where the furnishing of the said private wire is for a temporary purpose not to exceed 48 hours.

(2) Any private wire furnished for use in radio broadcasting, or to any private wire furnished for use by any protective service operating under a franchise granted by any municipality, or to any private wire furnished for use in interstate commerce, or to any private wire furnished for use of newspapers of general circulation.

(c) Action by commission.--It is unlawful for any public utility to furnish to any person or corporation any private wire without first furnishing to the commission a duplicate original of the written contract required by this section. The commission shall examine the same forthwith and conduct such investigation as it may deem necessary, and, if upon examination of the contract, or after investigation, or otherwise at any time, the commission shall find that the said private wire is intended for or has been used for or is being used for the transmission of information or advice in furtherance of gambling, the commission shall disapprove the said contract and give notice of such disapproval to the contracting parties. Thereafter it shall be unlawful for any public utility to furnish the said private wire provided for in the said contract. This subsection does not apply to the furnishing of any private wire in case of public emergency, or where the furnishing of the said private wire is for a temporary purpose not to exceed 48 hours.

(d) Hearing.--Any public utility or other person or corporation party to the contract who shall feel aggrieved at the action of the commission in disapproving any contract for any private wire shall be entitled to a hearing before the commission upon written request.

(e) Illegal use.--It is unlawful for any person or corporation, who has been furnished a private wire by any public utility in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, to use such private wire for any purpose other than that specified in the contract.