Telecommunications policy of the United States#Broadband deployment policy objectives

In the name of public interest, a large proportion of telecommunications policy is concerned with the economic regulation of interstate and international communication. This includes all communication by radio, telephone, wire, cable and satellite.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/what-we-do|title = What We do|date = 22 November 2010}} Telecommunications policy outlines antitrust laws as is common for industries with large barriers to entry. Other features of the policies addressed include common carrier laws which controls access to networks. While the telephone providers are required to be common carriers, there is an ongoing net neutrality debate about the obligations of ISP's.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/business/media/21fcc.html?sq=fcc&st=cse&scp=3&pagewanted=print|title = F.C.C. Is Set to Regulate Net Access|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 21 December 2010|last1 = Stelter|first1 = Brian}}

Telecommunications policy addresses the management of government-owned resources such as the spectrum, which facilitates all wireless communications. There is a naturally limited quantity of usable spectrum that exists, therefore the market demand is immense, especially as use of mobile technology, which uses the electromagnetic spectrum, expands. One of the goals of the FCC is to best utilize this limited resource in such a way will bring about the "highest and best use".{{Cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/what-we-do|title = What We do|date = 22 November 2010}} License to use spectrum was originally determined by committee, however, since 1993 it has been determined by an auction to assure that the licensee is both qualified and motivated to make best use of this commodity.{{cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/topic/auctions |title=Auctions {{!}} FCC.gov |website=www.fcc.gov |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518020633/http://www.fcc.gov/topic/auctions |archive-date=2011-05-18}}

For example, an FM station in Iowa was recently{{when|date=October 2024}} auctioned for $4,397,250.{{Cite web|url=http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/default.htm?job=releases_year|title = Auctions Releases}}

The famous American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) empire was once based on the concept that they had the duty and honor of serving the public people in return for their monopoly on the telecommunications industry.smad356.com

With the recent events of our world, such as the September 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and others it has been deemed essential for National Security that a dedicated network with ample spectrum for crisis communication exist. The National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) manages spectrum used by the Federal government such as air traffic control and national defense. The FCC is responsible for spectrum used by others, including individuals and public safety and health officials like police and emergency medical technicians.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/spectrum/|title = Radio Spectrum Allocation|date = 2 March 2011}}

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• Independent Regulatory Commissions
• FCC, state PUCs (Public Utility Commissions)
• Delegation Doctrine: statutory authority
• quasi-legislative, executive and judicial functions
• Legislative role (delegation, oversight, budget)
• Executive role (appointment, budget)
• Judicial role (review commission decisions)

The hallmark event in the history of the US telecommunication industry was the breakup of the Bell System into regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) or "Baby Bells" in the early 1980s.

The challenge since remains preserving competition and no longer allowing monopolies.{{cn|date=November 2022}}

There are a number of agencies concerned with telecommunication policy:

• The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC derives its jurisdiction to facilitate the deployment of broadband to Americans in Section 706 in the Telecommunications act of 1996. In this section the code states that the FCC is to “encourage the deployment on a reasonable and timely basis of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans.”{{Cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/broadband/|title = Getting Connected to Broadband|date = 22 May 2018}}

They currently want to advocate the following objectives:

• Broaden the deployment of broadband technologies
• Define broadband to include any platform capable of transmitting high-bandwidth intensive services
• Ensure harmonized regulatory treatment of competing broadband services
• Encourage and facilitate an environment that stimulates investment and innovation in broadband technologies and services{{Cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/broadband/|title = Getting Connected to Broadband|date = 22 May 2018}}

Currently,{{when|date=November 2022}} the policy being set forth by the FCC has two different levels of regulation. One for fixed line, wire line communications and the other for wireless communications. Their current tenets strictly regulate network neutrality on wire line networks.{{Update|date=December 2017}} However the commission is placing as many mandates on wireless communications. This means that wireless telecommunications providers are not permitted to block any website, but they may block applications and services unless they are direct competitors to the provider's content or services. This difference between the two technologies creates a major loophole in telecommunications policy, as most providers have already begun the shift from wired to wireless network infrastructures.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/business/media/21fcc.html|title=F.C.C. Is Set to Regulate Net Access|newspaper=The New York Times|date=21 December 2010|last1=Stelter|first1=Brian}}

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• Open access to Broadband
• Common carrier
• Federal Standard 1037C
• Layered Model of Regulation
• Network neutrality in the United States
• Public broadcasting in the United States

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Category:United States federal policy

Category:United States telecommunications policy