Enforcement Topics
Advertising
Advertising arises in a number of contexts at the FCC. Consumers submit a a variety of complaints about broadcast advertising, the nature of the products advertised, the timing of certain ads, and loud commercials or commercials that they believe are indecent or in poor taste. The FCC also administers rules about junk fax advertising.
Complaints
The Federal Communications Commission regularly receives complaints from consumers on a wide variety of issues. Consumers are encouraged to always try to resolve the problem first with the company whose products, services or billing are at issue.
Cramming
Cramming is the practice of placing unauthorized, misleading or deceptive charges on a consumer's telephone bill. Crammers rely on confusing telephone bills in an attempt to trick consumers into paying for services they did not authorize or receive, or that cost more than the consumer was led to believe.
Fraud
Cellular fraud, or cell fraud, is the unauthorized use, tampering or manipulation of a cellular phone or service. Currently, the primary type of cell fraud is subscriber fraud. The cellular industry estimates that carriers lose more than $150 million per year due to subscriber fraud.
Slamming
"Slamming" is the illegal practice of switching a consumer's traditional wireline telephone company for local, local toll, or long distance service without permission. The slamming rules also prohibit unreasonable delays in the execution of an authorized switch by your local telephone company.
Complaints
The Federal Communications Commission regularly receives complaints from consumers on a wide variety of issues. Consumers are encouraged to always try to resolve the problem first with the company whose products, services or billing are at issue.
Ex Parte
At the FCC, "ex parte" describes a communication directed to the merits or outcome of a proceeding that, if written, is not served on all of the parties to the proceeding and, if oral, is made without giving all the parties to the proceeding advance notice and an opportunity to be present. Our ex parte rules play an important role in protecting the fairness of the FCC's proceedings by assuring that FCC decisions are not influenced by impermissible off-the-record communications between decision-makers and others.
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.
Online Privacy
Online privacy is a growing concern for consumers as more day-to-day transactions take place electronically. The FCC urges consumers to take basic steps to protect themselves and their private information online.
9-1-1 & E9-1-1
9-1-1 is the telephone number used nationwide for callers to report emergencies. Dialing 9-1-1 for non-emergency calls is against the law. 9-1-1 service is a vital part of the nation's emergency response and disaster preparedness system.
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.
Closed Captioning
Closed captioning displays the audio portion of a television program as text on the television screen.It provides a critical link to news, entertainment and other televised information for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
Relay Services
Relay services allow people with communications disabilities to interact with voice phone users through a keyboard or other input method. There are various types of relay service.
Universal Service
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.
Advertising
Advertising arises in a number of contexts at the FCC. Consumers submit a a variety of complaints about broadcast advertising, the nature of the products advertised, the timing of certain ads, and loud commercials or commercials that they believe are indecent or in poor taste. The FCC also administers rules about junk fax advertising.
Competition
The competitive framework for communications services should foster innovation and offer consumers reliable, meaningful selections in affordable services. The FCC pursues removing regulatory, economic and operational barriers throughout the telecommunications sector.
Equipment Authorization
The FCC oversees the authorization of equipment using the radio frequency spectrum. These devices may not be imported and/or marketed until they have shown compliance with the technical standards specified by the commission.
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.
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.
Advertising
Advertising arises in a number of contexts at the FCC. Consumers submit a a variety of complaints about broadcast advertising, the nature of the products advertised, the timing of certain ads, and loud commercials or commercials that they believe are indecent or in poor taste. The FCC also administers rules about junk fax advertising.
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.
Cable Television
Cable television is a video delivery service provided by a cable operator to subscribers via a coaxial or fiber optic cable. Other subscription video service distributors include direct broadcast satellite providers, home satellite dishes and local telephone companies.
Competition
The competitive framework for communications services should foster innovation and offer consumers reliable, meaningful selections in affordable services. The FCC pursues removing regulatory, economic and operational barriers throughout the telecommunications sector.
Indecency & Obscenity
Congress gives the FCC responsibility for administratively enforcing laws prohibiting the airing of obscene programming at any time and the airing of indecent programming or profane language during certain hours. In response to a complaint, the FCC may revoke a station license, impose a monetary forfeiture or issue a warning if a station airs obscene, indecent or profane material.
International
The FCC has responsibility to initiate and direct, in coordination with other U.S government agencies, the development of international telecommunications policies reflecting the commission’s priorities. Areas include promoting the vital interests of the American public in international commerce, national defense and foreign policy areas.
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
Charges, services, 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.number portability.
Equipment Authorization
The FCC oversees the authorization of equipment using the radio frequency spectrum. These devices may not be imported and/or marketed until they have shown compliance with the technical standards specified by the commission.
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.
Complaints
The Federal Communications Commission regularly receives complaints from consumers on a wide variety of issues. Consumers are encouraged to always try to resolve the problem first with the company whose products, services or billing are at issue.
Do-Not-Call
Congress passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act in 1991 in response to consumer concerns about the growing number of unsolicited telephone marketing calls to their homes and the increasing use of automated and prerecorded messages. In response, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules requiring anyone making a solicitation call to your home to provide his or her name, the name of the person or entity on whose behalf the call is being made and a telephone number or address at which that person or entity can be contacted.
Telemarketing
The FCC sets rules for telemarketing calls and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems, commonly called “robocalls.” The rules apply to common carriers as well as other marketers.
