Communications Act of 1934

E95209

The Communications Act of 1934 is a landmark U.S. federal law that consolidated and expanded regulation of interstate and foreign communications, establishing a comprehensive framework for overseeing radio, telephone, and later other electronic communications services.


Statements (54)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal statute
communications law
amendedBy Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984
Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act
Telecommunications Act of 1996
authorizes allocation of radio spectrum
licensing of broadcast stations
rate regulation of common carriers (historically)
citation 48 Stat. 1064
codifiedIn Title 47 of the United States Code
containsSection Section 201
Section 202
Section 214
Section 301
Section 302
Section 303
Section 307
Section 309
Section 310
Section 315
Section 332
Section 605
containsTitle Title I – General Provisions
Title II – Common Carriers
Title III – Provisions Relating to Radio
Title IV – Procedural and Administrative Provisions
Title V – Penal Provisions; Forfeitures
Title VI – Cable Communications
country United States
created Federal Communications Commission NERFINISHED
dateSigned 1934-06-19
effectiveDate 1934-07-01
enactedBy United States Congress
establishes licensing system for radio stations
regulatory framework for common carriers
universal service principles
grantsAuthorityTo Federal Communications Commission NERFINISHED
influenced development of U.S. telecommunications policy in the 20th century
jurisdiction federal government of the United States
longTitle An Act to provide for the regulation of interstate and foreign communication by wire and radio, and for other purposes
predecessor Radio Act of 1927
publicLawNumber Pub.L. 73–416
purpose to centralize authority over communications regulation in a single federal agency
to make available a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service
to regulate interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio
regulates broadcasting
common carrier telecommunications services
foreign communications
interstate communications
radio communications
wire communications
replaced Federal Radio Commission
requires broadcast licensees to operate in the public interest, convenience, and necessity
signedBy Franklin D. Roosevelt

Referenced by (6)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Federal Communications Commission
Lifeline program
legalBasis
Public Broadcasting Act of 1967
amended
Communications Act of 1934 ("Title VI – Cable Communications")
containsTitle
Rural Health Care program ("Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 as amended")
legalAuthority
Communications Act of 1934 ("An Act to provide for the regulation of interstate and foreign communication by wire and radio, and for other purposes")
longTitle

Please wait…