31 CFR § 560.540 - Exportation of certain services and software incident to Internet-based communications.

(a) To the extent that such transactions are not exempt from the prohibitions of this part and subject to the restrictions set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, the following transactions are authorized:

(1) The exportation from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to persons in Iran of services incident to the exchange of personal communications over the Internet, such as instant messaging, chat and email, social networking, sharing of photos and movies, web browsing, and blogging, provided that such services are publicly available at no cost to the user.

(2) The exportation from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to persons in Iran of software necessary to enable the services described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, provided that such software is designated as EAR99 under the Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730 through 774 (the “EAR”), is not subject to the EAR, or is classified by the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) as mass market software under export control classification number (“ECCN”) 5D992 of the EAR, and provided further that such software is publicly available at no cost to the user.

(b) This section does not authorize:

(1) The direct or indirect exportation of services or software with knowledge or reason to know that such services or software are intended for the Government of Iran;

(2) The direct or indirect exportation of any goods or technology listed on the Commerce Control List in the EAR, 15 CFR part 774, supplement No. 1 (“CCL”), except for software necessary to enable the services described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section that is classified by Commerce as mass market software under ECCN 5D992 of the EAR;

(3) The direct or indirect exportation of Internet connectivity services or telecommunications transmission facilities (such as satellite or terrestrial network connectivity); or

(4) The direct or indirect exportation of web-hosting services that are for purposes other than personal communications (e.g., web-hosting services for commercial endeavors) or of domain name registration services.

(c) Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis for the exportation of other, including fee-based, services and software incident to the sharing of information over the Internet, provided the software is designated as EAR99, is not subject to the EAR, or is classified by Commerce as mass market software under ECCN 5D992 of the EAR.