The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates wired and broadcast communications in the US. It is led by five commissioners and divided into seven offices. The FCC is responsible for technical regulations, not content, and has the power to license, revoke, and renew broadcasting licenses.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was established by the United States Congress as an independent executive agency when it enacted the Communications Act of 1934. This act had the effect of bringing together the authority to regulate both wired and broadcast communications under the supervision of a single agency. Broadly speaking, as an agency, the Federal Communications Commission is charged with regulating foreign and interstate communications by these tools: television, radio, satellite, cable, and wire. Organizationally, the Federal Communications Commission is led by a board of five commissioners and is divided into seven offices.
Commissioners are appointed by the president of the United States for five-year terms. In order to serve, they must also be confirmed by the US Senate. Only three of the five Commissioners can belong to the same political party.
Seven offices, which are administratively supported by 11 Personnel Offices, comprise the Federal Communications Commission. Educational and awareness activities are managed by the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, which is responsible for informing consumers about telecommunications services and products. The Media Office oversees the regulation and licensing of broadcast media which include amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) radio, as well as satellite, cable and broadcast television. An Enforcement Bureau is charged with consumer protection, public safety, and enforcement of the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, as well as other FCC rules and orders.
The Bureau of Public Security and Homeland Security deals with emergency and disaster management, as well as all national and national security matters. Cellular phones and personal communication services (PCS) and pagers are in scope of the Bureau of Wireless Telecommunications for regulatory purposes. The Wireline Competition Bureau generates rules and other policies that apply to companies that provide interstate wireline telecommunications service via wired and wireless telephones. Finally, the International Bureau deals with all matters relating to satellite telecommunications and other international matters.
Any regulations, policies, or standards implemented by the Federal Communications Commission apply only to the technical side of communications, such as equipment and frequency. As a federal agency, the FCC is not involved in regulating the content of communications except for libel and obscenity rules. While the Federal Communications Commission has extensive regulatory responsibilities, the most significant powers it has are those granted to the agency to license, revoke, and renew broadcasting licenses. It is these powers, especially the threats of non-renewal and revocation of the license, that allow the FCC to effectively enforce the regulations and standards it sets.
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