Final answer:
The FCC regulates interstate and international communications through various mediums, including radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable, across the U.S. It aims to promote broadband, manage the spectrum, and ensure safety, among other goals. The correct answer is option 3, indicating the FCC's broad regulatory authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
What the FCC Regulates
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent U.S. government agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. Covering the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, the FCC's authority extends to nearly all forms of communication within its reach, excluding only areas such as non-emergency communications. An integral entity within the landscape of U.S. communications, the FCC's oversight is vast, ensuring lawful and organised use of the nation's communications resources.
The FCC's goals include promoting broadband access, ensuring competition, managing the spectrum, regulating the media, and maintaining public safety and homeland security. Specific responsibilities of the FCC include licensing broadcasters, assigning frequencies and call signs, regulating indecent or illegal material, and overseeing political campaign advertising, among others. They play a pivotal role in fostering technological innovation and growth while keeping the communication channels fair and secure.
Overall, your first answer option is too narrow, the second one is incorrect as it is not just non-emergency communications, and the fourth is too broad, making option three the correct answer. The FCC controls and regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in the United States.