Federal Communications Commission, U.S.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a governmental regulatory agency in the United States charged with overseeing communication through radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable technologies. The work of the FCC includes promoting the deployment of broadband Internet service, supporting the growth of the U.S. economy through the efficient use of spectrum and the competitive use of new technologies, and evaluating how regulatory practices affect the way industries meet the needs of U.S. citizens. The responsibilities of the agency reflect the diverse and varied dimensions of a communications industry that is consistently changing and adapting to newer forms of technology and uses of that technology. This entry discusses the origins and structure of the FCC and looks at some of the contemporary issues facing the ...