Final answer:
The FCC was instrumental in regulating radio and television, assigning frequencies, creating content regulations, and guiding the transition to digital broadcasting. Its decisions also facilitated major industry changes, like ownership consolidation following the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was established following the Radio Act of 1927 and an overhaul named the Communications Act of 1934, which significantly shaped the regulation of radio frequencies and later television and digital communications. The FCC assigned frequencies, power, and call signs for radio; designated sign-on/sign-off times and operating power for broadcast stations; and was in charge of regulating content deemed indecent or illegal. One of its major decisions was the regulation of FM broadcasting after WWII, which provided clearer sound with less static, enhancing the listening experience of radio consumers.
Additionally, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 drastically changed the role of the FCC from regulator to monitor, removing restrictions on ownership which led to large mergers and the formation of conglomerates. These actions by the FCC and legislative changes had a profound impact on FM radio, television, and later on digital television, allowing for the creation of a scheduled transition to digital broadcasting, defining technical standards, and overseeing the growth and development of the communications industry in the US.