International Topics
Accessibility
The FCC is committed to ensuring that telecommunications are accessible to individuals with disabilities. To meet this commitment, the FCC takes guidance from the Access Board, an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities.
Bill Shock
Bill shock is a sudden and unexpected increase in a mobile wireless user's monthly bill that is not caused by a change in service plans. Bill shock occurs for a number of reasons, including unclear or misunderstood advertising and unanticipated roaming or data charges.
Disability
The FCC addresses a variety of disability-related telecommunications matters, including telecommunications relay service, access to telecommunications equipment and services for people with disabilities, access to emergency information and closed captioning. The FCC also provides expert advice and assistance to consumers, industry and others on issues relevant to people with disabilities.
Licensing
The FCC is responsible for managing and licensing the electromagnetic spectrum for commercial users and for non-commercial users including: state, county and local governments. This includes public safety, commercial and non-commercial fixed and mobile wireless services, broadcast television and radio, satellite and other services.
National Broadband Plan
The National Broadband Plan sets out a roadmap for initiatives to stimulate economic growth, spur job creation and boost America's capabilities in education, health care, homeland security and more. The plan includes sections focusing on economic opportunity, education, health care, energy and the environment, government performance, civic engagement and public safety.
Online Filing
The FCC maintains several online systems that allow the public to submit and access different types of filings regarding FCC proceedings, rulemakings, licensing, authorizations, complaints, tariffs and other official forms.Go to the Contact Information & Support Hours page for information about FCC’s customer support and helpdesk facilities for electronic filing and licensing systems.
Ownership
The FCC reviews applicants’ eligibility to ensure compliance with applicable ownership rules for licenses, including media licenses and other authorizations. For example, parties must disclose ownership structures when applying for a license or authorization.
Phone Bills
The FCC's Truth-in-Billing rules require telephone companies to provide clear, non-misleading, plain language in describing services for which customers are being billed. The company sending the bill must identify the service provider associated with each charge.
Universal Service Fund
The Universal Service Fund program -- or USF-- has helped connect virtually every American to our 20th century communications grid, first bringing basic telephone service to places where there was no economic case for service, and then extending the benefits of mobile phone service to rural and underserved areas. The FCC is pursuing initiatives that will modernize and streamline the Universal Service Fund program, preparing it for 21st century telecommunications and technologies.
Frequency Allocation
The FCC regulates the use of radio frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum by a spectrum management process called frequency allocation. The FCC's Table of Frequency Allocations consists of the International Table of Frequency Allocations and the United States Table of Frequency Allocations.
Incentive Auctions
The FCC’s spectrum agenda includes unleashing mobile broadband spectrum, freeing spectrum for unlicensed use and laying the groundwork for voluntary incentive auctions. Spectrum is the invisible infrastructure on which our mobile networks depend and is a national resource used for all forms of wireless communication – from the radio broadcasts in your car to the cell phone in your pocket to the Wi-Fi router in your home.
Mergers & Acquisitions
The FCC reviews applications for the transfer of control and assignment of licenses and authorizations to ensure that the public interest would be served by approving the transaction.The commission's goal is a faster and more consistent review and analysis of applications.
Broadband
Broadband technology enables transmission of wide ranging information contributing to safety, health and economic well-being. Broadband is a platform for opportunity and innovation in health care, education, energy, job training, civic engagement, commercial transactions, government performance, public safety and other areas.
Broadcast Television
The FCC licenses and regulates U.S. television broadcast stations. Stations are either full power or low power stations. Low power television stations, which include Class A and television translators, provide locally-oriented television service in small communities.
Emergency Communications
The FCC adminsters policies pertaining to a variety of public safety emergency communications issues. These include 911 and E911; alerting, operability and interoperability of public safety communications; communications infrastructure protection and disaster response; and network security and reliability.
Open Internet
The “open Internet” is the Internet as we know it. It’s “open” because it uses free, publicly available standards that anyone can access and build to, and because it treats all traffic that flows across the network in roughly the same way.
Radio
The FCC administers and maintains licenses for AM, FM, LPFM, FM translator and FM booster radio stations. FM radio licenses are available for operators of full power commercial stations, as well as full and low power, noncommercial education stations.
Satellite
Satellite technology provides telecommunications service throughout the nation and the world. Because satellites orbit far above the Earth, their footprint, or service area, covers nearly every part of the United States, providing instant, ubiquitous and reliable coverage.
Telephone
The FCC aims to make telephone service available and accessible to all consumers. We offer information to aid in common consumer questions and services, including eliminating unwanted telephone communications; changing phone services; number portability; understanding consumer phone bills; and more.
Wireless
Wireless communications services include cellular telephone, paging, personal communications services, public safety, and commercial and private radio services. Cultivating growth and encouraging innovation in the wireless arena is a key FCC goal.
3G and 4G Wireless
Third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) wireless ("4G") mobile wireless technologies allow consumers to access a variety of different mobile services and functionalities, such as web browsing, e-mail, access to application ("app") stores, video conference or chat, mapping and navigation systems, mobile commerce, and the downloading of content. A range of different mobile devices include built-in 3G or 4G wireless connectivity, including smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and netbook and laptop computers.
700 Mhz
The 700 MHz band is an important swathe of spectrum available for both commercial wireless and public safety communications. The Band consists of 108 megahertz of spectrum running from 698-806 MHz and was freed up as a result of the Digital Television transition.
800 Mhz
The 800 MHz band supports use by commercial and public safety users. In 2004, to address a growing problem of harmful interference to 800 MHz public safety communication systems caused by high-density commercial wireless systems, the commission adopted a plan to reconfigure the 800 MHz band to separate public safety systems in the band from commercial wireless systems.
AM Radio
AM is short for amplitude modulation, which refers to the means of encoding the audio signal on the carrier frequency. In many countries, AM radio stations are known as "mediumwave" stations.
Antenna
While the siting of wireless facilities is generally a local matter subject to zoning ordinances and statutes, the FCC has some rules relating to the location and construction of communications towers. For example, to ensure safe air navigation FCC rules require the registration of towers or other structures that support antennas, such as water towers or buildings, that are more than 200 feet in height or located near an airport runway.
Digital Television
Digital Television is an advanced broadcasting technology that has transformed the television viewing experience. DTV enables broadcasters to offer television with better picture and sound quality, and multiple channels of programming. Since June 13, 2009, full-power television stations nationwide have been required to broadcast exclusively in a digital format.
FM Radio
FM is short for frequency modulation, which refers to the means of encoding the audio signal on the carrier frequency. FM full power, low power, translator and booster stations operate in the 88 – 108 MHz band. There are many classes of radio stations.
Interference
Interference is any unwanted radio frequency signal that prevents you from watching television, listening to your radio or stereo or talking on your cordless telephone. Interference may prevent reception altogether, cause only a temporary loss of a signal, or affect the quality of the sound or picture produced by your equipment.
Maps
Maps translate complex policy into understandable stories for consumers. Our maps are a fresh approach to internet mapping and help to advance our goal of open government.
