## Overview The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the independent U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, cable, and broadband[1][3][5]. Established by the Communications Act of 1934, the FCC replaced earlier regulatory bodies to oversee the rapidly expanding communications landscape, ensuring that Americans have access to rapid, efficient, and nationwide communication services at reasonable rates[1][3][4]. ## Structure and Leadership The FCC is governed by five commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, with one designated as chair[1][4]. The agency is organized into six operating bureaus and ten staff offices, each handling specific regulatory, enforcement, and support functions[1]. The FCC’s annual budget exceeds $380 million, and it employs over 1,400 federal personnel[3]. ## Core Functions The FCC’s primary mission is to manage the electromagnetic spectrum—allocating frequencies, assigning licenses, and preventing interference—while promoting competition, innovation, and investment in broadband and communication services[1][3][5]. It enforces rules to protect consumers from unwanted content, ensures privacy, supports public safety and homeland security, and upholds the public interest in media ownership and content standards[2][3][4]. The FCC can issue fines, revoke licenses, and take other enforcement actions against violators[2]. ## Historical Context The FCC’s creation was a response to the need for unified oversight of both common carriers (like telephone and telegraph) and broadcast media (radio, later TV and cable)[1][4]. The Communications Act of 1934 empowered the FCC to regulate in the “public interest, necessity, and convenience,” a mandate that has evolved with technological advances, from radio to the internet and beyond[2][3][4]. ## Key Achievements - **Spectrum Management:** The FCC has played a central role in opening up spectrum for new technologies