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50 U.S.C. 1881 FISA · Chapter 36: FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE

50 U.S.C. 1881 FISA: Definitions

United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026.

Official text

In general
In this subchapter, the terms “agent of a foreign power”, “Attorney General”, “contents”, “electronic surveillance”, “foreign intelligence information”, “foreign power”, “person”, “United States”, and “United States person” have the meanings given such terms in section 1801 of this title, except as specifically provided in this subchapter.
Additional definitions
In this subchapter:
Congressional intelligence committees
The term “congressional intelligence committees” means⁠—
the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court; Court
The terms “Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court” and “Court” mean the court established under section 1803(a) of this title.
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review; Court of Review
The terms “Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review” and “Court of Review” mean the court established under section 1803(b) of this title.
Electronic communication service provider
The term “electronic communication service provider” means⁠—
a telecommunications carrier, as that term is defined in section 153 of title 47;
a provider of electronic communication service, as that term is defined in section 2510 of title 18;
a provider of a remote computing service, as that term is defined in section 2711 of title 18;
any other communication service provider who has access to wire or electronic communications either as such communications are transmitted or as such communications are stored;
any other service provider who has access to equipment that is being or may be used to transmit or store wire or electronic communications, but not including any entity that serves primarily as⁠—
a public accommodation facility, as that term is defined in section 1861(4) of this title;
a dwelling, as that term is defined in section 3602 of title 42;
a community facility, as that term is defined in section 1592n of title 42; or
a food service establishment, as that term is defined in section 1638 of title 7; or
an officer, employee, custodian, or agent of an entity described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E).
Intelligence community
The term “intelligence community” has the meaning given the term in section 3003(4) of this title.

Source: United States Code, title 50, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced.

Source credit: ( Pub. L. 95-511, title VII, § 701 , as added Pub. L. 110-261, title I, § 101(a)(2) , July 10, 2008 , 122 Stat. 2437 ; amended Pub. L. 115-118, title II, § 205(a)(5) , Jan. 19, 2018 , 132 Stat. 21 ; Pub. L. 118-49, § 25(a) , Apr. 20, 2024 , 138 Stat. 893 .)

50 U.S.C. 1881 on the Office of the Law Revision Counsel

United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026.

This is reference material, not legal advice.