Final answer:
The FCC does not regulate cable and satellite television due to their interpretation of their statutory prohibition against airing indecent programming and the subscription-based nature of these services. However, they do regulate other aspects of cable television.
Step-by-step explanation:
The FCC does not regulate cable and satellite television because they have historically interpreted their statutory prohibition against airing indecent programming to apply only to radio and television broadcasters, not cable or satellite operators. Additionally, cable and satellite services are subscription-based, giving viewers greater control over the programming content that comes into their homes. However, the FCC does regulate other aspects of cable television, such as licensing cable television systems, regulating cable pricing, technical standards, and programming, and mandating certain local broadcast programming and noncommercial channels be carried on every cable system.