47 U.S.C. § 256: Coordination for interconnectivity

coordinated public telecommunications network planning and design by telecommunications carriers and other providers of telecommunications service; and public telecommunications network interconnectivity, and interconnectivity of devices with such networks used to provide telecommunications service; and to ensure the ability of users and information providers to seamlessly and transparently transmit and receive information between and across telecommunications networks. shall establish procedures for Commission oversight of coordinated network planning by telecommunications carriers and other providers of telecommunications service for the effective and efficient interconnection of public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service; and public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service; network capabilities and services by individuals with disabilities; and information services by subscribers of rural telephone companies. Nothing in this section shall be construed as expanding or limiting any authority that the Commission may have under law in effect before February 8, 1996 . As used in this section, the term “public telecommunications network interconnectivity” means the ability of two or more public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service to communicate and exchange information without degeneration, and to interact in concert with one another.