FCC ORGANIZATION AND

ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES
 STATUTORY AUTHORITY
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.
 THE COMMISSION
The FCC is directed by 5 Commissioners
appointed by the President and confirmed by
the Senate for staggered 5-year terms.
No more than three can be members of the
same political party
None can have a financial interest in any
Commission business.
 FCC ORGANIZATION
Staffs of the FCC performs applications for
licenses and other filings, analyzing
complaints, conducting investigations,
developing and implementing regulatory
programs and rules.
There are currently seven bureaus and 10
offices.
ORGANIZATIONAL UNITS OF FCC
 Office of the Managing Director
Responsible for activities involving the
administration and management of the FCC.
The managing director serves as the Chief
Operations and Executive Office, as supervised
and directed by the chairman.
 Under the direction of the Managing Director,
the OMD:

Develops and manages the agencys budget

and financial program.
Develops and oversees the agencys personnel
management process and policy.
Designs and installs agency
telecommunications and computer services.
Administers the fee program
Develops and implements agency-wide
management systems
 Office of Media Relations
Responsible for the dissemination of
information on FCC issues.
 Office of Inspector General
Was established as an independent identity in
1989.
Provides independent and objective audits
and investigations relating the agency
programs and operations.
Office of Administrative Law Judges
Responsible for conducting the hearings
ordered the FCC.
 Office of General Counsel
Serves as the chief legal advisor to the FCC
and the various bureaus and offices
 Office of Workplace Diversity
Serves as the principal advisor to the
chairman and FCC on all aspects of workforce
diversity, affirmative recruitment, equal
employment opportunity, and civil rights
within the Commission.
Office of Strategic Planning and Policy
Analysis
Responsible for working with the Chairman,
Commissioners, bureaus, and offices to
develop a strategic plan identifying short and
long term policy objectives for the FCC.
 Office of Legislative Affairs
Liaison to Congress
 Office of Engineering and Technology
Responsible for developing overall policies,
objectives, and priorities for OET Programs
and activities.
 Divisions of OET
Policy and Rules Division- provides the FCC
advice on technical and policy issues
pertaining to spectrum allocation and use, etc.
The Electromagnetic Compatibility and
Division- plans and conducts studies on
radiowave propagation and communication
systems characteristics.
 The Laboratory Division- acts for certification
of equipment or advance approval of
subscription television technical systems.
Network Technology Division- develops
strategic technology advice and directions on
major issues and items in implementing the
Communications Act.
 Media Bureau
Oversees the policy and licensing functions for
electronic media.
 Consumer and Governmental Affairs
Bureau
Interacts with consumers by responding
directly to their inquiries and complaints and
by conducting information and education
campaigns.
 Enforcement Bureau
Responsible for rules, policies and licensing
concerning satellites and related spectrum
issues.
 Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Handles all FCC domestic wireless
telecommunications programs and policies.
 Wireline Competition Bureau
Develops and recommends policy goals,
objectives, programs, and plans for the FCC on
matters concerning wireline
telecommunications.
 Public Safety and Homeland Security
Bureau
Responsible for all FCC activities pertaining to
public safety, homeland security, national
security,emergency management and
preparedness, disaster management, and
other related issues.
 The Licensing Process
Any qualified citizen, company or group may
apply to the FCC for authority to construct a
standars AM, FM,or television broadcast
station.
Applicants must satisfy the FCC that they are
legally, technically, and financially qualified
and that the operation of the proposed
station would be in the public interest.
 Summary of Basic Information required when
applying for the authorization to build and
operate broadcast station
Any FCC rule can be retrieved at the Code of
Federal Regulations Website.
Frequencies for radio and television services are
always in demand.
When conflicts occur between mutually exclusive
commercial applicants, the conflict will be
resolved by means of an auction.
Expansion of the AM or FM radio bands beyond
the present 535 to 1705kHz (for AM) and 88-108
MHz(for FM) is unlikely to occur.
 Unlicensed operation of radio broadcast
stations is prohibited, even at such low
powers of 1watt or less.
For commercial AM, FM and TV broadcast
station applications, filing fees must be paid
eith the submission of any application.