In 1972, Congress passed the Federal Advisory Committee Act to ensure that the deliberations of the advisory committee were objective and accessible to the public. The Act established a process to establish, operate, monitor and terminate these committees, which provide valuable input from consumer groups, industry stakeholders, public safety officials and other interested parties. FCC rules and regulations are contained in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which is published and maintained by the Government Printing House. Title 47 Rules and Regulations are also available on the Internet in a searchable format. The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, cable, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The government agency, overseen by Congress, is the primary U.S. agency for communications laws, regulation, and technological innovation. In addressing the economic opportunities and challenges associated with the rapid evolution of global communications, the Agency leverages its expertise in the following areas: The Agency is led by five Commissioners appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate.

The President shall also elect one of the Commissioners as President. Only three commissioners may belong to the same political party at any given time, and none may have a financial interest in commission-related transactions. All Commissioners, including the Chair, serve a five-year term, unless they serve an unexpired term. The Commission is organized into offices and offices according to functions (see also the organizational charts of the SCF). Office and office staff regularly share expertise to share responsibilities, such as: Most FCC rules are adopted through a process known as “notice and comment.” As part of this process, the FCC informs the public that it plans to adopt or amend regulations on a particular topic and invites public comment. The Commission shall take into account the comments received when drawing up the final rules. For more information, see our online summary of the FCC`s rule-making process.