Government Regulation of the Media

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates communications via radio, television, telephone, cable and satellite. It is an independent regulatory body, but in practice it is subject to political pressures.

Three important ways the FCC regulates the airwaves are to:

• Prevent monopolies, by establishing rules limiting the number of stations owned or controlled by one company. Currently the limit is that no single owner can control more than 35% of the broadcast market.
• Ensure that stations serve the "public interest."
• Issue rules to ensure that political candidates and officeholders have equal access to airtime.