Broadcast radio and television are a separate class because of their limited nature. Because of this, the government has claimed the right to manage them in a manner to benefit the public. Prior to this, radio broadcasters would constantly conflict with others broadcasting on the same frequency. As an outreach of this management, the FCC claimed that regulating content was part of their mandate to manage public resources for the good of the people. Obviously, the second part of this is a constant battleground.
(Disclaimer: IANAL - I just had a college course in Media Law and Ethics.)
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Broadcast radio and television are a separate class because of their limited nature. Because of this, the government has claimed the right to manage them in a manner to benefit the public. Prior to this, radio broadcasters would constantly conflict with others broadcasting on the same frequency. As an outreach of this management, the FCC claimed that regulating content was part of their mandate to manage public resources for the good of the people. Obviously, the second part of this is a constant battleground. (Disclaimer: IANAL - I just had a college course in Media Law and Ethics.)