ABSTRACT
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates television, radio, wire, satellite, and cable in all of the 50 states and U.S. territories. Congress, through adoption of the Communications Act of 1934, created the FCC as an independent regulatory agency directly responsible to Congress. Section I of the Act specifies that the FCC was created:
The FCC is directed by five Commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for staggered 5-year terms (47 CFR §0.1).2 No more than three
can be members of the same political party, and none can have a financial interest in any Commissionrelated business. The President designates one Commissioner as Chairman (47 CFR §0.3). The Commissioners make their decisions collectively by formal vote, although authority to act on routine matters is normally delegated to the staff.
