Broadcasting and Telecommunications

In telecommunications law, the U.S. government oversees both media content and technology. The government licensed broadcast stations early on, but when cable television arrived, lawmakers treated it as a subscription service although it was using microwave relays. Subscriber television grew in popularity through cable and later satellite systems with congressional approval guiding the government’s response in regulation. Now multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs) include online video delivery (OVD) systems, and telecommunication rules have been revised. American radio and TV stations use part of the spectrum deemed a scarce public resource so they face more rules than other electronic media. In terms of policy, the public interest, convenience, or necessity is the mandate the FCC follows for its regulations.