The FCC at a Glance
* Background: The Federal Communications Commission, an independent regulatory agency, was established by Congress 61 years ago. It is responsible for regulating all interstate and foreign communications transmitted by radio, TV, satellite, cable and by wired and wireless telephone.
* Management: The agency is run by five commissioners who are appointed by the President to seven-year terms and confirmed by the Senate. The current commissioners are Reed E. Hundt, chairman, (Democrat); Jame H. Quello (Democrat); Rachelle Chong (Republican); Susan Ness (Democrat), and Andrew C. Barrett (Republican).
* Structure: The agency has 2,200 employees at six major “bureaus”: Common Carrier, Mass Media, International, Cable Services, Wireless Telecommunications, and Compliance and Information.
KEY CURRENT ISSUES
* Deciding when and how to require broadcasters to offer high-definition television with digital sound and cinema-like wide-screen pictures.
* Investigating whether to relax restrictions on foreign investment in the U.S. telecommunications industry in order to stimulate competition.
* Awaiting the outcome of legislation on Capitol Hill to determine if Congress will reverse itself and withdraw the authority it granted the FCC two years ago to regulate cable rates.
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