FCC Seeks More De-Reg

[TheBigA]

FCC Chairman Pai testified on the Hill that he needs more authority to carry out deregulation of broadcasting:

https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/fccs-pai-plugs-broadcast-rule-forbearance-authority

In a House Communications Subcommittee FCC oversight hearing Wednesday (May 15), he was asked by deregulatory minded Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) to comment on the state of the media marketplace and whether the FCC's regs matched it.
Pai signaled no. The chairman said that the disconnect between a moving marketplace and the "stasis" of FCC rules was the fundamental issue the FCC had with its media ownership rules.

The FCC is currently reviewing the FCC's ownership rules for possible changes.

 

[Kelly A]

As time marches on, I suspect the role of the Commission will be reduced to purely a source of revenue. That's pretty much already in the works.
Once all the spectrum is auctioned-off and there are few rules to levy fines, there probably will be no longer any need to keep the agency.

 

[landtuna]

And another FCC question...... (in reference to the FCC issuing permission for telco's to regulate robo calls)

How, why and when did the FCC get involved in oversight of our telephone system? The FCC doesn't regulate 'cable' technically because it isn't OTA and is a subscription service - same as phone service.

 

[TheBigA]

As time marches on, I suspect the role of the Commission will be reduced to purely a source of revenue.

It depends. The Dems want the FCC to regulate the internet, but Repubs shut that down.

 

[TheBigA]

How, why and when did the FCC get involved in oversight of our telephone system?

It's a big part of the 1996 Telecom Act.

 

[kenglish]

And another FCC question...... (in reference to the FCC issuing permission for telco's to regulate robo calls)

How, why and when did the FCC get involved in oversight of our telephone system? The FCC doesn't regulate 'cable' technically because it isn't OTA and is a subscription service - same as phone service.

The FCC is the Federal COMMUNICATIONS Commission, so it has the authority to regulate most anything to do with communications, beyond smoke signals.

Any lack of authority for the FCC is purely a fault of the Congress, which is also very slow in dealing with technology. Give the FCC people the tools to do their job, and they will do it well.

 

[TheBigA]

The FCC doesn't regulate 'cable' technically because it isn't OTA and is a subscription service - same as phone service.

Actually in point of fact, the FCC regulates cable regardless of whether or not it's subscription. That's in part why there was such an outcry when Tom Wheeler, a former lobbyist for the cable industry, was made the chairman of the FCC.

Here is a link to FCC rules for cable:

https://www.fcc.gov/general/broadcast-cable-and-satellite-guides

 

[FreddyE1977]

Once all the spectrum is auctioned-off and there are few rules to levy fines, there probably will be no longer any need to keep the agency.

Yet strangely I believe they will all be kept on the public payroll for many, many years to come.

 

[TheBigA]

Yet strangely I believe they will all be kept on the public payroll for many, many years to come.

They may get paychecks from the govt, but their budget is 100% paid for through license fees and spectrum sales.

So the agency costs taxpayers nothing. It's been that way for a long time.