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Journalism / Mass Communication QUESTION #6381
Question 1
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was created in 1934. What was the immediate predecessor body that the FCC reorganised, and what triggered the need for government regulation of radio broadcasting?
  • The Federal Broadcast Authority (FBA), created because of foreign interference with American signals
  • The Federal Radio Commission (FRC), created by the Radio Act of 1927 to address chaos caused by too many unlicensed stations competing for limited frequencies and power levels✔️
  • The National Telecommunications Board, created after World War II to regulate television
  • The American Broadcasting Standards Authority, created to prevent monopoly ownership
Correct Answer Explanation

The development of broadcast regulation in the U.S. followed a logical progression:

  • Early radio (post-1920): Anyone could build and operate a radio station, leading to hundreds of unlicensed stations fighting for limited frequencies and even engaging in “power wars” to drown out competitors
  • Radio Act of 1927: Created the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) to organise the licensing of transmitters and assign radio station frequencies
  • Communications Act of 1934: Reorganised the FRC into the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which expanded regulatory authority to include telephone and telegraph as well as broadcasting

The driving force behind regulation was the entry of commercial advertising money and corporate interests — once radio became profitable, the government had strong incentives to impose order. The FCC's regulatory powers later expanded to include television.