The FCC, Federal Communications Commission, created June 19, 1934 by the Communications Act, is responsible for regulating all broadcasting and wired communications. By merging the administrative responsibilities of the FRC, Federal Radio Commission and the ICC, Interstate Commerce Commission, the FCC began to regulate all non-federal government use of broadcast, telegraph, and telephone communications that started or ended within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and other U.S. territories.
Originally, the FCC had authority over 623 radio stations and 14 million telephones, and centered on ensuring that all of the American people have available, at reasonable costs, and without discrimination, rapid, efficient, nation, and worldwide communication services. The FCC’s regulatory responsibility has now expanded to include satellite, microwave, internet, cell phone, and private radio communications. Distributing licenses to broadcast stations and assigning frequencies is just a small part of the FCC’s job. With the deregulation of the telecommunications industry in 1996, the FCC finds themselves mediating in the phone company’s wars over regional long distance business.
Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the five commissioners directing the FCC cannot have any financial interest in commission related business, and only three can come from the same political party.
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