Regulate Radio Text For Free

The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications through cable, radio, television, satellite and wire. The goal of the Commission is to promote connectivity and ensure a robust and competitive market.

When a text message is written, it is transmitted as binary code using a particular frequency of radio waves specific to that user. The signal is received by a nearby cell tower, which then directs the information to be transmitted by another tower near the intended recipient.

Broadcasters are responsible for selecting the broadcast material that airs on their stations, including advertisements. The FCC expects broadcasters to be responsible to the community they serve and act with reasonable care to ensure that advertisements aired on their stations are not false or misleading.

The FCC does not regulate online content. The FCC does impose certain restraints and obligations on broadcasters.

Below this is reserved for television stations. Radio waves would interfere with television waves, hampering communications. However, the FCC will allow radio broadcasts to produce transmissions lower than 88.1 MHz if the carrier wave does not go farther than about 60 meters.

As discussed in "The FCC and the First Amendment" guide, the agency is prohibited by law from engaging in censorship or infringing on First Amendment rights of the press.

The FCC does impose certain restraints and obligations on broadcasters. Speech regulations are confined to specific topics, which usually have been identified by Congress through legislation or adopted by the FCC through full notice-and-comment rulemaking or adjudicatory proceedings.

The range of possible enforcement actions include monetary forfeiture, seizure of equipment, injunctive relief, and criminal arrest and/or fine. Some of these enforcement actions (e.g., seizure of equipment, injunctive relief and criminal prosecution) require coordination with the Department of Justice.