Connecting America Topics
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.
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.
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.
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.
Native Nations
Many residents of Tribal lands and native communities lack affordable access to modern communications tools and networks, and risk being left behind as these technologies quickly develop. The FCC is addressing this gap through regulatory action, consumer information and community outreach.
Rural Access
Rural and small-town Americans require access to 21st century communications tools and technologies to stay plugged in and competitive in the global economy. Bringing the benefits of mobile broadband to rural America is one the FCC’s top priorities.
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.
Education
Educators, parents and students meet major challenges in education through the use of broadband technology. Broadband lets teachers expand instruction beyond the confines of the physical classroom and the traditional school day.
Energy & Environment
Broadband plays an important role in solving the country’s energy and environmental challenges. Broadband and advanced communications can impact energy and the environment as the foundation of a smarter electric grid and as a platform for innovation in smart homes and buildings, especially if utilities unlock energy data.
Health Care
Broadband-enabled solutions have an important role in health information technology. There is potential to improve delivery of health care services, contribute to controlling costs, and extend the reach of health care professionals.
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.
Public Safety
During a major emergency, the FCC’s primary mission is to ensure continuous operations and restore critical communications systems and services. Reliable, effective communications are critical whenever life or property are in danger.
Smart Grid
Congress directed the FCC, in its development of a National Broadband Plan, to include “a plan for the use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing... energy independence and efficiency.” Smart Grid technology is a promising way to use broadband and other advanced communications to promote energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage energy independence. Smart Grid applications are being deployed using a variety of public and private communications networks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tower
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.
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.
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.
