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Government Documents - Independent Agencies, Boards, and Commissions: Federal Communications Commission

Overview of the publications of federal boards, commissions, and other bodies in the Government Documents Collection.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), established in 1934, regulates interstate and international communications such as television, radio, cable, and telephones. Its functions were previously handled by the Department of Commerce and Labor.

Government Documents has a complete run of FCC record, the published record of decisions made to apply broadcasting regulations and its predecessor, Federal Communications Commission reports: decisions, reports, and orders of the Federal Communications Commission of the United States. Perhaps the most well-known of FCC decisions is its order on the 1973 broadcast of George Carlin's comic monologue "Filthy words," which was appealed and ended in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that includes a transcript of Carlin's routine containing the infamous seven words that must not be said on air.

We provide access to current and historical laws and regulations enforced by the FCC. In addition, we have general publications, statistical reports, handbooks, guides, manuals, and research reports, as well as Congressional hearings and reports relating to the FCC and broadcasting.

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Gwen Sinclair
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