Telecommunications Overview

Telecommunications law covers issues in radio, the Internet, telephone (including cell/mobile phones), television, cable, and satellite broadcasting. All of these telecommunication media are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, except the Internet, which is overseen by the Federal Trade Commission. The federal agencies also govern the granting of licenses to broadcast in the various media, and state utilities commissions regulate local phone service.

These agencies establish regulations around issues such as whether a phone company can put a cell phone tower in your neighborhood. Procedures for filing a complaint or pursuing legal action against media providers vary. The FTC handles complaints against Internet service providers, for instance, while state public utilities commissions handle disputes with local phone providers.