§ 1006. Technical requirements and standards; extension of compliance date
(a)
Safe harbor
(1)
Consultation
To ensure the efficient and industry-wide implementation of the assistance capability requirements under section
1002 of this title, the Attorney General, in coordination with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, shall consult with appropriate associations and standard-setting organizations of the telecommunications industry, with representatives of users of telecommunications equipment, facilities, and services, and with State utility commissions.
(2)
Compliance under accepted standards
A telecommunications carrier shall be found to be in compliance with the assistance capability requirements under section
1002 of this title, and a manufacturer of telecommunications transmission or switching equipment or a provider of telecommunications support services shall be found to be in compliance with section
1005 of this title, if the carrier, manufacturer, or support service provider is in compliance with publicly available technical requirements or standards adopted by an industry association or standard-setting organization, or by the Commission under subsection (b) of this section, to meet the requirements of section
1002 of this title.
(3)
Absence of standards
The absence of technical requirements or standards for implementing the assistance capability requirements of section
1002 of this title shall not—
(b)
Commission authority
If industry associations or standard-setting organizations fail to issue technical requirements or standards or if a Government [1] agency or any other person believes that such requirements or standards are deficient, the agency or person may petition the Commission to establish, by rule, technical requirements or standards that—
(1)
meet the assistance capability requirements of section
1002 of this title by cost-effective methods;
(4)
serve the policy of the United States to encourage the provision of new technologies and services to the public; and
(5)
provide a reasonable time and conditions for compliance with and the transition to any new standard, including defining the obligations of telecommunications carriers under section
1002 of this title during any transition period.
(c)
Extension of compliance date for equipment, facilities, and services
(1)
Petition
A telecommunications carrier proposing to install or deploy, or having installed or deployed, any equipment, facility, or service prior to the effective date of section
1002 of this title may petition the Commission for 1 or more extensions of the deadline for complying with the assistance capability requirements under section
1002 of this title.
(2)
Grounds for extension
The Commission may, after consultation with the Attorney General, grant an extension under this subsection, if the Commission determines that compliance with the assistance capability requirements under section
1002 of this title is not reasonably achievable through application of technology available within the compliance period.
(3)
Length of extension
An extension under this subsection shall extend for no longer than the earlier of—
(A)
the date determined by the Commission as necessary for the carrier to comply with the assistance capability requirements under section
1002 of this title; or
[1] So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.