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Federal Communications Commission

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Public Safety Topics

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.

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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.

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Auctions

The FCC uses auctions (competitive bidding) as one of the primary means of choosing among two or more mutually exclusive applications for an initial license for most commercial services, including wireless, television and radio. In a spectrum auction, parties apply to become qualified bidders for one or more spectrum licenses and take part in an online auction for those licenses.

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Enforcement

The FCC enforces provisions of the Communications Act and the commission's rules, orders and terms and conditions relating to licenses. Areas of responsibility include broadcast, cable, satellite and wireless services, as well as common carrier services.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Read more »

Distracted Driving

Mobile communication devices are linked to a significant increase in distracted driving, resulting in injury and loss of life. To stem this problem, the FCC is working with industry, safety organizations, and other government agencies to inform and educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving.

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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.

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Online Safety

The FCC is committed to helping children keep safe when they are online, in and outside of the home. As a partner in OnGuard Online, a federal agency partnership maintained by the Federal Trade Commission, the FCC provides practical information about discusing online safety with children and teenagers, including social networking, cyberbullying, using mobile phones safely and protecting the family computer.

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Auctions

The FCC uses auctions (competitive bidding) as one of the primary means of choosing among two or more mutually exclusive applications for an initial license for most commercial services, including wireless, television and radio. In a spectrum auction, parties apply to become qualified bidders for one or more spectrum licenses and take part in an online auction for those licenses.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Read more »

Online Safety

The FCC is committed to helping children keep safe when they are online, in and outside of the home. As a partner in OnGuard Online, a federal agency partnership maintained by the Federal Trade Commission, the FCC provides practical information about discusing online safety with children and teenagers, including social networking, cyberbullying, using mobile phones safely and protecting the family computer.

Read more »

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.

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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.

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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.

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