Federal Communications Commission

Some of the key events about Federal Communications Commission

• 1934

  Established to regulate interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable
• 1934

  Established with broad powers that some critics argued were too expansive for a regulatory agency
• 1941

  Issued the "Report on Chain Broadcasting" which led to more diverse radio programming
• 1941

  Imposed strict regulations on chain broadcasting, limiting network control over affiliate stations
• 1949

  Introduced the Fairness Doctrine, requiring broadcasters to present controversial issues in a balanced manner, which some viewed as government overreach
• 1962

  Authorized the launch of the first commercial communications satellite, Telstar 1
• 1968

  Implemented the nationwide emergency number system 9-1-1
• 1970

  Banned cigarette advertising on radio and television
• 1975

  Issued rules requiring closed captioning for television programs
• 1975

  Implemented cross-ownership rules prohibiting a single entity from owning a newspaper and broadcast station in the same market, criticized for limiting media diversity
• 1985

  Established the "must-carry" rules, requiring cable systems to carry local broadcast stations
• 1987

  Eliminated the Fairness Doctrine, which some argued led to more partisan broadcasting
• 1996

  Implemented the Telecommunications Act, promoting competition in the telecommunications market
• 1996

  Approved the Telecommunications Act, which critics say led to increased media consolidation
• 2002

  Authorized the use of ultra-wideband technology, enabling new wireless communication applications
• 2003

  Relaxed media ownership rules, allowing companies to own more TV and radio stations in a single market
• 2015

  Adopted net neutrality rules to ensure open internet access
• 2015

  Classified broadband internet as a telecommunications service, implementing net neutrality rules that were controversial among internet service providers
• 2017

  Repealed net neutrality rules, sparking widespread criticism from consumer advocates and tech companies
• 2020

  Rejected a petition to add a content warning to President Trump's coronavirus briefings, which some viewed as a failure to protect public health

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.