Exam 1: State of the Fifth Estate

Correct Answer:

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The Communications Act of 1934 resulted in the establishment of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC was created to regulate interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in the United States.

The predecessors to the FCC were the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) and the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). The FRC was created by the Radio Act of 1927 to oversee radio communications and to address the issue of interference between the rapidly growing number of radio stations. The ICC, established by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, was responsible for regulating other forms of communication and transportation, including telegraph and telephone services.

With the passage of the Communications Act of 1934, the FCC took over the responsibilities of the FRC and also assumed some of the regulatory functions of the ICC related to telecommunications. The Act expanded federal oversight to not only radio but also telephone and telegraph, and it aimed to ensure that all forms of communication services were available to the public at reasonable charges without discrimination and with adequate facilities.