ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS PRIVACY ACT
UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 18 : CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I : CRIMES
CHAPTER 119 :
WIRE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS INTERCEPTION AND
INTERCEPTION OF ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
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Sec. 2510. Definitions
As used in this chapter
(1) "wire communication" means any aural transfer made in whole or in part
through the use of facilities for the transmission of communications by the aid of
wire, cable, or other like connection between the point of origin and the point of
reception (including the use of such connection in a switching station) furnished or
operated by any person engaged in providing or operating such facilities for the
transmission of interstate or foreign communications for communications affecting
interstate or foreign commerce and such term includes any electronic storage of
such communication;
(2) "oral communication" means any oral communication utteredby a person
exhibiting an expectation that such communication is not subject to interception
under circumstances justifying such expectation, but such term does not include any
electronic communication;
(3) "State" means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United
States;
(4) "intercept" means the aural or other acquisition of thecontents of any wire,
electronic, or oral communication through the use of any electronic, mechanical, or
other device;
(5) "electronic, mechanical, or other device" means anydevice or apparatus which
can be used to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication other than :
(a) any telephone or telegraph instrument, equipment or facility, or any component
thereof,
(I) furnished to the subscriber or user by a provider of wire or electronic
communication service in the ordinary course of its business and being used by the
subscriber or user in the ordinary course of its business or furnished by such
subscriber or user for connection to the