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Article 87f
[Posts and telecommunications]
(1) In accordance with a federal law requiring the consent of
the Bundesrat, the Federation shall ensure the availability
of adequate and appropriate postal and telecommunications
services throughout the federal territory.
(2) Services within the meaning of paragraph (1) of this Article
shall be provided as a matter of private enterprise by the
fi rms succeeding to the special trust Deutsche Bundespost
and by other private providers. Sovereign functions in the
area of posts and telecommunications shall be discharged
by federal administrative authorities.
(3) Notwithstanding the second sentence of paragraph (2) of
this Article, the Federation, by means of a federal institution
under public law, shall discharge particular responsibilities
relating to the fi rms succeeding to the special trust
Deutsche Bundespost as prescribed by a federal law.
Article 88
[The Federal Bank – The European Central Bank]
The Federation shall establish a note-issuing and currency
bank as the Federal Bank. Within the framework of the European
Union, its responsibilities and powers may be transferred
to the European Central Bank, which is independent
and committed to the overriding goal of assuring price stability.
Article 89
[Federal waterways – Administration of waterways]
(1) The Federation shall be the owner of the former Reich waterways.
(2) The Federation shall administer the federal waterways
through its own authorities. It shall exercise those state
func tions relating to inland shipping which extend beyond
the territory of a single Land, and those functions relating
to maritime shipping, which are conferred on it by a law.
Insofar as federal waterways lie within the territory of a
VIII. The Execution of Federal Laws and the Federal Administration 76