Timeline of Media Regulations

  • Radio Act of 1927

    The Radio Act of 1927 was created to regulate the chaos of radio broadcasting. The Federal Radio Commission was created out of the act. The FRC was responsible for granting and denying licenses, and assigning frequencies and power levels for each licensee.
  • Near v. Minnesota

    The Supreme Court ruled that a Minnesota law violated the 1st amendment. The law targeted publishers of malicious or scandalous newspapers.
  • Communications Act of 1934

    The Communications Act of 1934 combined and organized federal regulation of telephone, telegraph, and radio communications. It dissolved the FRC and created the FCC.
  • Establishment of the FCC

    The Federal Communications Commission was created by statute to regulate interstate communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. It is an independent agency of the U.S. government.
  • Dual Television Network Rule

    FCC prohibits a merger between any two of these networks: ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.
  • New York Times Co. v. United States

    The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment did protect the right of The New York Times to print without risk of government censorship or punishment.
  • Branzburg v. Hayes

    The Supreme Court ruled that the 1st amendment did not create a constitutional privilege protecting reporters from having to testify in grand jury proceedings about the identity of news sources or information received in confidence.
  • Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005

    The act increases the fines and penalties for violating the prohibitions against the broadcast of obscene, indecent, or profane language.
  • Vote to Repeal Net Neutrality

    The FCC voted in favor of repealing net neutrality policies.
  • Termination of Net Neutrality

    Net Neutrality regulation ended in the United States.