# Law No. 6874 of December 3, 1980

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650008](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650008)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6874-of-december-3-1980

## Summary
Law No. 6874 of December 3, 1980, is a Brazilian statute enacted during the military government era under President João Figueiredo. It mandates that public telecommunications service providers in Brazil must edit and publish telephone directories, establishing clear regulatory obligations for telecom companies. Enacted on December 3, 1980, this law reflects Brazil’s historical approach to telecommunications governance.

## Key Facts
- **Enactment Date:** December 3, 1980.
- **Approved By:** President João Figueiredo during Brazil’s military regime (1964–1985).
- **Primary Mandate:** Requires public telecommunications service providers to edit telephone directories.
- **Legal Citation:** "Lei nº 6874/1980" (Law No. 6874 of 1980).
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil, specifically regulating telecom operations within the country.
- **Language:** Published in Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Publication Details:** Issued in Brasília, with the full text available via the Brazilian Presidency’s legal database (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1980-12-03;6874).
- **Key Subjects:** Addresses "participation," "extraction," "competency," and "obligation" in telecom services.
- **Focus Area:** Part of WikiProject Brazilian Laws for Wikimedia initiatives.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted four years before Brazil’s return to civilian rule in 1985.

## FAQs
**What does Law No. 6874 of 1980 regulate?**  
This law specifically requires public telecommunications service providers in Brazil to edit and publish telephone directories, formalizing their responsibility in maintaining public communication resources.

**Who enacted Law No. 6874, and when?**  
The law was approved by President João Figueiredo on December 3, 1980, during Brazil’s military dictatorship period (1964–1985).

**Why is this law notable in Brazil’s telecom history?**  
It represents an early regulatory framework for telecommunications in Brazil, emphasizing government oversight of telecom services during a politically significant era.

**Is the law still accessible today?**  
Yes, the full text is publicly available through official Brazilian government portals, including the Planalto website and LexML Brazil.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6874 of 1980 is significant as it established clear obligations for telecommunications providers in Brazil, ensuring structured governance of public communication resources. Enacted during a period of military rule, it reflects the state’s role in regulating critical infrastructure. The law’s enduring accessibility through official channels underscores Brazil’s commitment to legal transparency, even for regulations from past regimes. It provides historical context for understanding the evolution of telecom regulation in Brazil, influencing later policies in the sector.

## Notable For
- **Telecom Governance:** Early example of Brazilian telecom regulation, predating modern frameworks like the 1996 General Telecommunications Law.
- **Military Era Legislation:** Enacted during Brazil’s 1964–1985 military dictatorship, illustrating regulatory approaches of that period.
- **Public Accessibility:** Remains available via official government platforms, ensuring ongoing transparency.
- **Corporate Mandates:** Explicitly assigns directory-editing responsibilities to telecom providers, a niche but critical regulatory function.

## Body

### History and Enactment
Law No. 6874 was enacted on December 3, 1980, by President João Figueiredo, the last military leader of Brazil’s 1964–1985 dictatorship. This legislation emerged during a transitional phase in Brazilian history, as the country moved toward democratization (achieved in 1985). The law’s creation reflects the military government’s efforts to institutionalize regulatory frameworks for public services, including telecommunications.

### Legal Scope and Provisions
The law’s primary provision mandates that **public telecommunications service providers** must edit telephone directories. This requirement ensures organized access to telecommunication services, a critical function in an era of limited digital connectivity. Key subjects addressed include:
- **Participação (Participation):** Defining stakeholder roles in directory creation.
- **Exploração (Extraction):** Governing data collection for directory content.
- **Competência (Competency):** Establishing legal authority for telecom providers.
- **Obrigatoriedade (Obligation):** Formalizing the mandatory nature of directory publication.

### Historical Context
Enacted four years before Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, Law No. 6874 operated under the 1967 Constitution (amended in 1985). It predates significant telecom privatization efforts in the 1990s, offering insight into state-centric regulatory models of the 20th century. The law’s focus on directory editing highlights the logistical challenges of maintaining communication networks in a vast country like Brazil.

### Current Status and Accessibility
Despite being enacted over 40 years ago, Law No. 6874 remains accessible through official Brazilian government platforms, including:
- **LexML Brazil:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1980-12-03;6874`
- **Planalto Website:** [https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l6874.htm](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l6874.htm)

This accessibility ensures its continued relevance for legal, historical, and academic research, particularly within WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

### Relationship to Broader Brazilian Law
As a **statute** (a formal written legal document), Law No. 6874 aligns with Brazil’s civil law tradition, where comprehensive codes and regulations govern societal functions. It exemplifies the "statutory law" classification, serving as a written manifestation of legislative authority. Unlike constitutional laws, this statute addresses a specific sectoral obligation, reflecting the detailed regulatory approach common in Brazilian jurisprudence.

### Technical and Cultural Impact
While focused on a niche regulatory function, the law underscores the importance of telecommunications in Brazil’s development. By mandating directory publication, it facilitated public access to communication tools, supporting social and economic connectivity. This regulatory framework also influenced corporate practices, embedding legal obligations into telecom operations that persisted through later market liberalization.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1980-12-03;6874)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6874&ano=1980&data=03/12/1980&ato=c40cXTU9UMrRVT8e8)
3. LexML Brasil