Patricia Moloney Figliola
Specialist in Internet and Telecommunications Policy
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent Federal agency with its five members appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate. It was established by the Communications Act of 1934 (1934 Act) and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. The mission of the FCC is to ensure that the American people have available—at reasonable cost and without discrimination—rapid, efficient, nation- and world-wide communication services; whether by radio, television, wire, satellite, or cable.
Although the FCC has restructured over the past few years to better reflect the industry, it is still required to adhere to the statutory requirements of its governing legislation, the Communications Act of 1934. The 1934 Act requires the FCC to regulate the various industry sectors differently. Some policymakers have been critical of the FCC and the manner in which it regulates various sectors of the telecommunications industry—telephone, cable television, radio and television broadcasting, and some aspects of the Internet. These policymakers, including some in Congress, have long called for varying degrees and types of reform to the FCC. Most proposals fall into two categories: (1) procedural changes made within the FCC or through Congressional action that would affect the agency’s operations or (2) substantive policy changes requiring Congressional action that would affect how the agency regulates different services and industry sectors. One bill has been introduced during the 111th Congress that would change the operation of the FCC. Representative Bart Stupak has introduced H.R. 4167, which would amend the Sunshine Act to allow more than two FCC commissioners to meet privately to discuss agency business, so long as a commissioner of each political party is present and the content of the meeting is publicly disclosed.
Most of the FCC’s budget is derived from regulatory fees collected by the agency rather than through a direct appropriation. The fees, often referred to as “Section (9) fees,” are collected from license holders and certain other entities (e.g., cable television systems) and deposited into an FCC account. The law gives the FCC authority to review the regulatory fees and to adjust the fees to reflect changes in its appropriation from year to year. It may also add, delete, or reclassify services under certain circumstances.
For FY2011, FCC requested a budget of $352.5 million with all but $1 million to be collected through the assessment of regulatory fees. The requested budget includes funding to (1) support the Commission’s cyber-security role; (2) implement the National Broadband Plan; (3) overhaul the Commission’s data systems and processes; and (4) modernize and reform the FCC. The Senate Committee on Appropriations recommended $355.5 million for the FCC for FY2011, with all of it to be collected through regulatory fees.
As budget legislation for FY2011 was not signed into law before the end of FY2010, on September 30, 2010, President Obama signed P.L. 111-242, a continuing resolution that provided funding for federal agencies from October 1 to December 3, 2010, generally at FY2010 levels. President Obama subsequently signed three continuing resolutions that further delayed the expiration of P.L. 111-242, which is currently set to expire on March 4, 2011.
Date of Report: January 7, 2011
Number of Pages: 16
Order Number: RL32589
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Specialist in Internet and Telecommunications Policy
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent Federal agency with its five members appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate. It was established by the Communications Act of 1934 (1934 Act) and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. The mission of the FCC is to ensure that the American people have available—at reasonable cost and without discrimination—rapid, efficient, nation- and world-wide communication services; whether by radio, television, wire, satellite, or cable.
Although the FCC has restructured over the past few years to better reflect the industry, it is still required to adhere to the statutory requirements of its governing legislation, the Communications Act of 1934. The 1934 Act requires the FCC to regulate the various industry sectors differently. Some policymakers have been critical of the FCC and the manner in which it regulates various sectors of the telecommunications industry—telephone, cable television, radio and television broadcasting, and some aspects of the Internet. These policymakers, including some in Congress, have long called for varying degrees and types of reform to the FCC. Most proposals fall into two categories: (1) procedural changes made within the FCC or through Congressional action that would affect the agency’s operations or (2) substantive policy changes requiring Congressional action that would affect how the agency regulates different services and industry sectors. One bill has been introduced during the 111th Congress that would change the operation of the FCC. Representative Bart Stupak has introduced H.R. 4167, which would amend the Sunshine Act to allow more than two FCC commissioners to meet privately to discuss agency business, so long as a commissioner of each political party is present and the content of the meeting is publicly disclosed.
Most of the FCC’s budget is derived from regulatory fees collected by the agency rather than through a direct appropriation. The fees, often referred to as “Section (9) fees,” are collected from license holders and certain other entities (e.g., cable television systems) and deposited into an FCC account. The law gives the FCC authority to review the regulatory fees and to adjust the fees to reflect changes in its appropriation from year to year. It may also add, delete, or reclassify services under certain circumstances.
For FY2011, FCC requested a budget of $352.5 million with all but $1 million to be collected through the assessment of regulatory fees. The requested budget includes funding to (1) support the Commission’s cyber-security role; (2) implement the National Broadband Plan; (3) overhaul the Commission’s data systems and processes; and (4) modernize and reform the FCC. The Senate Committee on Appropriations recommended $355.5 million for the FCC for FY2011, with all of it to be collected through regulatory fees.
As budget legislation for FY2011 was not signed into law before the end of FY2010, on September 30, 2010, President Obama signed P.L. 111-242, a continuing resolution that provided funding for federal agencies from October 1 to December 3, 2010, generally at FY2010 levels. President Obama subsequently signed three continuing resolutions that further delayed the expiration of P.L. 111-242, which is currently set to expire on March 4, 2011.
Date of Report: January 7, 2011
Number of Pages: 16
Order Number: RL32589
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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