ABSTRACT
The agency is charged to regulate nongovernment radio and television broadcasting, and interstate telecommunications including cable and satellite transmission and international communications emanating from the United States. The FCC is governed by five commissioners appointed by the President of the United States for a period of five years. Of the five members, the President designates one of the members to serve as chairperson. The chairperson delegates management and administration responsibility to the managing director. The President can only elect three commissioners of the same political party, thereby granting him or her a majority in the governing body. To diminish any conflict of interest none of the commissioners may have financial interests in commission-related business. The organization is divided into seven operating bureaus and ten staff offices whose individual responsibilities include the granting of licenses, investigation and analysis of complaints to the FCC, the development of regulations in the communications field, and the participation in congressional and other hearings of importance to the communications industry. As the primary licensor for broadcasting in the U.S., the FCC may use this power to fine organizations or revoke licenses of broadcasters who violate federal laws. Short of that the FCC has little leverage over broadcast stations
Structurally, the FCC is divided into several offices that administer certain aspects of the Communications Act. The Office of General Counsel serves as the chief legal advisor to the Commission and its various bureaus and offices. It represents the FCC in federal courts and assists the commission in its decision making. The Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) is the FCC’s liaison to the U.S. Congress, providing lawmakers with information about FCC regulations. OLA also prepares FCC witnesses for Congressional hearings and helps create FCC responses to legislative proposals and Congressional inquiries. In addition, OLA is a liaison office that works with other Federal agencies as well as state and local governments. The Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau (CGB) is responsible for the development of an implementation of consumer policies. The bureau is also responsible for the investigation of consumer complaints as well as working with state and local government on issues concerning communications, use, and maintenance of emergency frequencies and coordination of issues that have overlapping jurisdiction.
