The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. The FCC was created in 1934 by the Communications Act and is responsible for managing the radio frequency spectrum and ensuring that the country’s communications infrastructure is developed and used in the public interest.
The FCC’s mission is to make available so far as possible, to all the people of the United States, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication services with adequate facilities at reasonable charges.
The FCC is made up of five Commissioners who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Commissioners serve five-year terms and are responsible for making decisions on matters that come before the agency.
The FCC has a wide range of responsibilities, including:
- Licensing and regulating radio, television, cable, and satellite services
- Regulating the use of the radio frequency spectrum
- Ensuring that communications services are available to all Americans, including those in rural and remote areas
- Enforcing communications laws and regulations, including those related to obscenity and indecency on the airwaves
- Promoting competition in the communications industry
- Advancing the deployment of new communication technologies, such as 5G and broadband internet access.
The FCC also plays an important role in the regulation of CB radio service and ham radio service.