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Federal Communications Commission

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government, created, directed, and empowered by Congressional statute (see 47 U.S.C. § 151 and 47 U.S.C. § 154), and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six strategic goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the media, public safety and homeland security, and modernizing the FCC.

The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 as the successor to the Federal Radio Commission and is charged with regulating all non-federal government use of the radio spectrum (including radio and television broadcasting), and all interstate telecommunications (wire, satellite and cable) as well as all international communications that originate or terminate in the United States. It is an important factor in U.S. telecommunication policy. The FCC took over wire communication regulation from the Interstate Commerce Commission. The FCC's mandated jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions. Due however to close geographic proximity to the United States, the FCC also provides varied degrees of cooperation, oversight, and leadership for similar communications bodies in other countries of North America. The FCC has a 2009 proposed budget of $466 million which is funded by $1 million in taxpayer appropriations and the rest in regulatory fees. It has 1,899 "Full Time Equivalent" federal employees.

On 14 November 2008, Barack Obama selected Susan P. Crawford and Kevin Werbach to lead the review of the FCC. The review team will review the commission to aid the new administration in its planning decisions. The team "will ensure that senior appointees have the information necessary to complete the confirmation process, lead their departments, and begin implementing signature policy initiatives immediately after they are sworn in."

For more information about Federal Communications Commission, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with federal communications commission

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internet

Six net neutrality principles proposed

Technology / Internet

created Oct 26, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (5) | comments 8

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. voted last week to start a process to formulate rules that could force Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to uphold six principles that would preserve ...


Whose Internet is it, anyway?

Whose Internet is it, anyway?

Technology / Internet

created Sep 28, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (8) | comments 3

(PhysOrg.com) -- Last week, the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, broke with precedent by proposing federal rules that enforce Net neutrality -- the principle that ...


FCC seeking to close programming access loophole

Technology / Telecom

created Dec 15, 2009 | popularity 2.5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

(AP) -- Federal regulators are seeking to close a loophole that allows cable TV operators to withhold sporting events and other popular programming that they own from rival providers such as satellite TV.


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Google expands availability of its free voice mail

Technology / Internet

created Oct 27, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 3

(AP) -- Google Inc. wants to answer your mobile phone calls when you can't or just don't want to talk.


Top tech firms back open Internet in FCC letter

Technology / Internet

created Oct 19, 2009 | popularity 2 / 5 (2) | comments 1

Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Google, Twitter and other leading Web and technology companies expressed support Monday for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) efforts to ensure an open Internet.


Hurdles remain as FCC ponders Internet data rules (AP)

Hurdles remain as FCC ponders Internet data rules

Technology / Internet

created Oct 18, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 8

(AP) -- With Democrats in charge in Washington, supporters of so-called "net neutrality" rules seem poised to finally push through requirements that high-speed Internet providers give equal treatment to all ...


Sharing the air

Sharing the air

Technology / Telecom

created Sep 22, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (8) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- In the old days, when a new wireless technology came along, it got its own swath of the electromagnetic spectrum: AM radio uses 535 to 1,605 kilohertz, so television got chunks between 54 ...


Reports: FCC to propose 'Net neutrality' rules (AP)

FCC chairman says 'open Internet' rules are vital (Update 2)

Technology / Internet

created Sep 20, 2009 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (8) | comments 4

(AP) -- Wireless carriers shouldn't be allowed to block certain types of Internet traffic flowing over their networks, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission chairman said Monday in a speech ...


Don't change that channel: DTV woes still abound

Technology / Telecom

created Sep 18, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 2

(AP) -- Think the digital TV transition is over? Not quite. Many viewers have found that they can't pick up certain stations after the switch, even with the right TVs or converter boxes. The stations are still trying to ...


FCC inquiries could spawn new wireless regulations

Technology / Telecom

created Aug 27, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(AP) -- The Federal Communications Commission is taking a closer look at the practices of the wireless industry, potentially the first step toward more regulations intended to push down prices and increase choices for consumers.


A man surfs the web at an internet cafe

US ranks 28th in Internet connection speed: report

Technology / Telecom

created Aug 25, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (14) | comments 72

The United States ranks 28th in the world in average Internet connection speed and is not making significant progress in building a faster network, according to a report released on Tuesday.


The FCC asked Apple and AT&T if they had consulted in deciding to reject the applications

FCC asks Apple, AT&T to explain rejection of Google Voice

Technology / Software

created Aug 01, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asked Apple and AT&T to explain the decision to reject an application developed by Google for the iPhone.


TV stations struggling with viewer loss on DTV

Technology / Telecom

created Jul 02, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 2

(AP) -- The government is helping two dozen TV stations that became difficult to receive by antenna when they switched to new frequencies as part of the digital TV transition, the Federal Communications Commission said Thursday.


Court says no exclusive cable rights in apartments

Technology / Telecom

created May 26, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(AP) -- Cable companies cannot have exclusive rights to provide service in apartment buildings that they wire, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.


FCC gets going on national broadband plan

Technology / Telecom

created Apr 08, 2009 | popularity 2 / 5 (2) | comments 2

(AP) -- The Federal Communications Commission took the first step Wednesday in developing a comprehensive plan to give all Americans high-speed Internet access.