Radio Station Fcc Tv Programs Listening Deciding United

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the government agency that "regulates" (controls) TV and radio communication. The FCC does this by deciding which new radio and TV stations can be "established" (created), and by deciding what types of things can be "broadcast," or shared with the public in radio and TV programs.

When a person or company wants to establish a radio or TV station, it must send an "application" (a written request) to the FCC. The FCC "considers" (thinks about) what the local community needs and whether a new station will "interfere," (negatively affect) the other stations. If it thinks that the new station should be established, it "issues" (gives) a "license" (written papers that let the station operate).

Once a station has been established, the FCC is partly responsible for deciding what the station can put in its programs. In the United States, "freedom of the press," or the idea that the media should be able to say whatever it wants to say without government "censorship" (being told what can and cannot be said or written) is very important. So the FCC has a "limited" (not full) ability to say what can and cannot be in the programs.

In general, the FCC can ask a station to pay a "fine" (money paid as a punishment) or it can take away a station's license if its programs include any "obscene" or "indecent" language, meaning bad and offensive words. This is especially true if the obscene or indecent language is used when children might be watching or listening to the programs.