The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The FCC is an independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress and is the United States' primary authority for communications law, regulation, and technological innovation.

In its work facing economic opportunities and challenges associated with rapidly evolving advances in global communications, the FCC capitalizes on its competencies in:

• Promoting competition, innovation and investment in broadband services and facilities

• Supporting the nation's economy by ensuring an appropriate competitive framework for the unfolding of the communications revolution

• Encouraging the highest and best use of spectrum domestically and internationally

• Revising media regulations so that new technologies flourish alongside diversity and localism

• Providing leadership in strengthening the defense of the nation's communications infrastructure,
rules, and rulemakings

The FCC's rules and regulations are located in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which are published and maintained by the Government Printing Office.

Most FCC rules are adopted by a process known as "notice and comment" rulemaking. Under that process, the FCC gives the public notice that it is considering adopting or modifying rules on a particular subject and seeks the public's comment. The Commission considers the comments received in developing final rules.

In Louisiana (LA), as in all states, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and international communications across various mediums including radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. The FCC operates as an independent agency under the oversight of Congress and serves as the nation's chief authority for communications law, regulation, and technological innovation. The FCC's mandate in Louisiana includes promoting competition, innovation, and investment in broadband services; ensuring a competitive framework to support the economy; managing the use of spectrum; updating media regulations to support new technologies, diversity, and localism; and safeguarding the nation's communications infrastructure. The FCC's rules are codified in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The rulemaking process typically involves a 'notice and comment' period, allowing the public to contribute to the formation of regulations. These federal regulations apply uniformly across all states, including Louisiana, and are not altered by state statutes.