The Telegraph Rules in respect to the railroad and telegraph companies to which the US has approved any financial support in the form of lands or bonds or a credit loan for the construction of railroad or telegraph lines, are required to construct and maintain telegraph lines and exercise by themselves alone all the telegraph franchises conferred upon them and discharge responsibility assumed by them under the acts making the necessary grants.
The Telegraph Rules are enshrined in Title 47 of US Code under the heading of Telegraphs, Telephones and Radiographs.
This is applicable to all companies who were engaged in operating railroad or telegraph lines by and through their own respective corporate officers and employees.
If any railroad or telegraph company refuses or fails to maintain and operate a telegraph line for the use of the Government or the public, for commercial and other purposes, or neglects to make or continue such arrangements for the interchange of business with any connecting telegraph company, then the aggrieved may apply for relief to the Federal Communications Commission.
The duty of the Federal Communications Commission will be to inform the parties concerned, and, if necessary, enforce the same by the means of a writ of Mandamus in the courts of the United States. The commissioners may intstitute any inquiry, upon motion, in the same manner and to the same effect as if complaint had been made.
