Mixed Deck — All FCC Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real FCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All FCC Topics flashcards as text
What is the FCC's 'E-Rate' program?
Answer: A Universal Service Fund program that subsidizes broadband and telecommunications services for schools and libraries
E-Rate is an FCC program funded by the Universal Service Fund that provides discounts of 20–90% on telecommunications, internet access, and internal connections to eligible schools and libraries.
Which FCC order fundamentally restructured the High Cost USF program and created the Connect America Fund framework?
Answer: USF/ICC Transformation Order 2011
The USF/ICC Transformation Order (FCC 11-161), released in 2011, reformed the High Cost fund into the Connect America Fund and modernized intercarrier compensation.
Under FCC rules, what is a 'Public Safety Answering Point' (PSAP)?
Answer: A call center that receives 911 calls and dispatches emergency responders
A PSAP is the facility where 911 calls are received and emergency response resources are dispatched; it is the primary interface between the public and emergency services.
What does 'substantial compliance' mean in the context of an FCC licensing inspection?
Answer: The provider meets most licensing requirements with only minor violations that do not endanger children
Substantial compliance means the provider meets the overall intent of regulations with minor, non-critical deficiencies, typically resulting in a correction plan rather than license denial.
Under FCC rules, what is the 'Communications Act Section 325' retransmission consent relevance during emergencies?
Answer: During declared national emergencies, the FCC can waive certain retransmission consent requirements to ensure emergency information reaches the public
During declared emergencies, the FCC has authority to waive or modify retransmission consent and other rules to ensure that critical emergency information is widely distributed to the public.
What is the FCC's 'public inspection file' requirement for broadcast stations?
Answer: Stations must maintain a file of key documents — including licenses, political advertising records, and ownership information — available for public inspection online
FCC rules require broadcast stations to maintain a public inspection file containing documents such as their license, political advertising records, ownership reports, and issues/programs lists, accessible to the public online via the FCC's database.
Under FCC rules, what is a 'Commercial Mobile Radio Service' (CMRS)?
Answer: A for-profit mobile radio service that is interconnected with the public switched telephone network
CMRS is defined as a mobile radio service that is operated for profit and is interconnected with the public switched telephone network, encompassing services like cellular, PCS, and SMR.
Who is required to contribute to the Universal Service Fund?
Answer: Providers of interstate and international telecommunications services
The FCC requires providers of interstate and international telecommunications services to contribute a percentage of their end-user revenues to the USF.
What is the purpose of the FCC's 'shot clock' rule for wireless tower siting?
Answer: It sets time limits within which state and local governments must act on wireless facility siting applications
The FCC's shot clock rules establish presumptive time limits (generally 60 or 90 days) within which local and state governments must act on wireless facility siting applications, preventing indefinite delays.
Under FCC rules, what is the 'open internet' principle regarding 'throttling'?
Answer: ISPs may not impair or degrade lawful internet traffic based on content, application, or source, except for reasonable network management
The FCC's open internet rules (when in effect) prohibit ISPs from slowing down or degrading lawful internet traffic based on content type or source, with a limited exception for reasonable network management.
Under which part of the FCC's rules are Universal Service regulations primarily codified?
Answer: Part 54
47 CFR Part 54 contains the FCC's universal service rules, governing contributions, eligible services, and the four USF support programs.
Under the E-Rate program, which entity is responsible for reviewing and processing funding applications from schools and libraries?
Answer: USAC's Schools and Libraries Division
USAC's Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) processes E-Rate funding requests, reviews applications, and issues funding commitments to eligible applicants.
What is the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and which federal agency oversees it jointly with the FCC?
Answer: A national warning system overseen jointly by the FCC and FEMA
The EAS is a national public warning system that the FCC administers jointly with FEMA and the National Weather Service to deliver emergency alerts to the public.
What is the FCC's role in protecting consumers from unauthorized charges on their phone bills?
Answer: The FCC prohibits "cramming" practices (unauthorized charges)
The FCC prohibits 'cramming,' the practice of placing unauthorized or misleading charges on consumers' phone bills. The FCC does engage in billing dispute oversight and enforcement—it does not simply stay out of billing matters. However, the FCC does not automatically issue refunds; consumers typically must pursue refunds through their provider or formal complaint processes.
What is 'secondary market spectrum leasing' under FCC rules?
Answer: A process allowing licensees to lease their spectrum rights to third parties with FCC oversight
FCC secondary market rules allow spectrum licensees to lease all or part of their licensed spectrum to third parties, enabling more flexible and efficient use of spectrum resources.
What does the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS) do?
Answer: It is the FCC's online database and licensing system for wireless radio services
The FCC's Universal Licensing System is the online database and application system used to apply for, renew, and modify wireless radio service licenses.
A background check requirement for FCC providers typically includes screening through:
Answer: State criminal history records and the national sex offender registry, and often a child abuse registry check
Most states require fingerprint-based state and FBI criminal history checks plus child abuse and neglect registry checks for all adults in the FCC home.
What is the FCC's 'Rural Call Completion' rule designed to address?
Answer: Problems with calls to rural areas being dropped, degraded, or not completed by long-distance carriers
FCC Rural Call Completion rules address the problem of long-distance carriers routing calls to rural areas poorly, resulting in failed, degraded, or one-ring calls, which disadvantaged rural consumers and businesses.
What is the 'Fairness Doctrine' and why is it significant in FCC history?
Answer: A former FCC policy requiring broadcasters to present controversial public issues in a balanced way, eliminated by the FCC in 1987
The Fairness Doctrine was an FCC policy from 1949 to 1987 requiring broadcast licensees to cover controversial public issues and present contrasting viewpoints; the FCC abolished it in 1987 citing First Amendment concerns.
What is the FCC's role regarding 'text-to-911' capability?
Answer: The FCC has required wireless carriers and texting app providers to support text-to-911 where PSAPs are capable of receiving texts
The FCC has adopted rules requiring wireless carriers and interconnected text messaging providers to support text-to-911 in areas where the local 911 center (PSAP) has the capability to receive texts.