Quote:
Originally Posted by snookums
It's not public airwaves unless everyone can access it for free. That's why they don't regulate satellite. It's the same principle.
|
Back in the the early 1900s, it became clear that almost anyone could broadcast at any frequency, and if left unregulated, there would be so much "radio pollution" that no one would be able to use radio waves for any purpose at all.
Since the radio spectrum is limited in size, it was considered to be a natural resource that must be "conserved". The FCC was given the power to designate different frequencies for different uses, and to license broadcasters in particular areas to avoid overlap and confusion.
Because of the highly public nature of the airwaves, certain minimum requirements are placed on broadcasters. These include: standards on signal quality (the station can't interfere with other stations); limitations on "indecent" language and content; a requirement to devote certain quantities of time to educational or public service programming; and more.
However, these rules only apply to broadcasters. So cable TV stations, for example, can get away with "indecent" or "adult" content (HBO, Showtime, various adult channels) because their signals are sent over wires, not broadcast wirelessly.
Note that those same channels broadcast from satellites with no problem from the FCC, even though technically they are using part of the broadcast spectrum. This is because such broadcasts are encrypted and only accessible to paying subscribers; hence, not really "broadcast" in the traditional sense.
Still, satellite broadcasters' use of the spectrum is licensed, just like any other broadcaster, and they are only allowed to use a certain designated range of the spectrum.
While it seems to push people's buttons to talk about the FCC censoring books sent via the cell network -- and theoretically it might be legally possible -- in reality it's ridiculous to the point of absurdity.
This one never got very far either:
