What is the Federal Communications Commission

The Federal Communications Commission is an independent regulatory government agency. It derives its powers to control numerous segments of the communications industries through the Communications Act of 1934. Congress appropriates cash to fund the agency and its activities, while recently the FCC raised revenues through an auction process for non-broadcast frequency spectrum. The Act enumerates the powers and responsibilities of the agency and its commissioners. Government radio stations are exempt from FCC jurisdiction. The Communications Act is divided into titles and sections that describe varied powers and issues of the commission. Title I describes the administration, formation, and powers of the Federal Communications Commission. The 1934 Act called for a commission consisting of seven members, reduced to 5 in 1983, appointed by the President and approved by Senate. The President designates one member to function chairman. The chairman sets the agenda for the agency and appoints bureau and department heads. Commissioners serve for a period of five years. The President cannot appoint additional than three members of 1 political party to the commission. Title I empowers the commission to form divisions or bureaus accountable for numerous specific succeed assigned.