common carrier

American  

noun

1. Transportation.  (in federal regulatory and other legal usage) a carrier offering its services at published rates to all persons for interstate transportation.

2. a public service or public utility company, as a telephone or telegraph company, engaged in the transmitting of messages for the public.

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common carrier British  

noun

1. a person or firm engaged in the business of transporting goods or passengers

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common carrier Cultural  

1. A company or individual providing public transportation on a regular basis in return for a fee that is uniformly charged to all users.

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Other Word Forms

• common carriage noun
• common-carrier adjective

Example Sentences

In North America, deer mice are the most common carriers, according to the Mayo Clinic.

From BBC

The now-defunct policy holds that internet carriers are akin to telecom providers and must comply with common carrier regulations governing those services.

From Salon

The FCC has no jurisdiction over Title I services, but great authority over those classified by Title II as common carriers.

From Los Angeles Times

“It would undercut safety and be the opposite of good business, the opposite of fulfilling the common carrier obligation, and the opposite of meeting the congressional commandment to serve the public.”

From Seattle Times

In considering the Texas law, however, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that social media companies are, like phone companies, “common carriers” and can therefore be prevented from removing content.

From Los Angeles Times