The US Government and Wireless Spectrum Management

摘要

Radio spectrum is managed as a scarce natural resource in the US. It is scarce because at any given time and place, one use of a portion of the spectrum precludes any other use of that portion. In the broadcasting service alone, the broadcaster must know where the station's signal can be received in order to meet the needs of advertisers. Interference is unacceptable because it unnaturally limits the broadcaster's market. Similarly, a taxi company or a police department must be able to reliably determine their coverage areas and know that they will be able to operate without interference in that area. Consequently, for the public good, the use of the radio spectrum is regulated, access is controlled, and rules for its implementation are enforced because of the possibility for interference between uncoordinated uses. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. Its jurisdiction covers the 50 states and territories, the District of Columbia, and US possessions. The FCC gets its authority from Congress under the Communications Act of 1934. The FCC is an independent federal agency in the United States, which is responsible directly to Congress. Established by the Communications Act of 1934, the Commission is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.