Regulation in the Radio

When it comes to the radio, many forces contributed to the development of it into a national institution in America. Some of the strongest forces were the regulatory systems set up by the government to ensure not only their sustained control over radio content, but the sustainability of radio as a popular media form in general. With government regulation, it is hard to imagine the radio as anything like we see it today, or anywhere near as impacting on American history in the 20th century.

Government regulation within radio ranges from what can be broadcast on a particular station (as far as content) to when and where any station can broadcast their signal. The government is responsible for assigning set frequencies to stations, enabling them to broadcast with regularity on a particular radio spot. Governmental agencies also deal with content-based regulations, setting up restrictions for what you can and cannot say on a given radio broadcast.

The effects of such regulation was far reaching in the 1920's. The biggest impact it had on radio was it's placement within American culture. With regulations on where and when a station could broadcast, a more orderly radio system arose, with radio stations being established on a set frequency. This allowed stations to focus on scheduled content and allowed listeners to know where and when certain programs would be on. The government also helped create a system in which no network could have a monopoly. With FCC forcing communication companies like AT&T and RCA to sell some of their networks, radio stations began to compete with each other and provide diverse and creative programming. With things like frequency allocation and demonopolizing policies, government regulation can be seen as a major factor in the structuring of how we see the radio today in the context of American culture.