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Federal Communications Commission
CommissionsFor-cause removal
At a glance
Type
Independent regulatory commissions
Removal of leadership
Removable only for cause
Appointed by
Members appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate
Structure
5-member commission · led by the Chairman
Term
5-year term · staggered · party-balanced
Funding
Annual appropriations
Independence
Independent
The Communications Act contains no express for-cause removal clause for commissioners; the FCC's removal protection rests on the Humphrey's Executor (1935) tradition for multimember independent regulatory commissions rather than explicit statutory text. That tradition is under active reconsideration in Trump v. Slaughter (an FTC commissioner-removal case, NOT an FCC case), argued Dec. 8, 2025; as of June 16, 2026 the Supreme Court has not yet issued a decision. A ruling narrowing or overruling Humphrey's Executor would by analogy weaken FCC commissioners' independence.
What it does
The FCC regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. It allocates and licenses spectrum, licenses broadcasters, sets rules for telephone and broadband providers, and enforces consumer-protection and public-interest standards across the communications industry.
CommunicationsTechnologyMediaConsumer Protection
How it fits
Created by Congress under the Communications Act of 1934 (Pub. L. 73-416; 48 Stat. 1064; 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq. (Commission established under 47 U.S.C. 151; composition under 47 U.S.C. 154)), it acts within the authority that statute grants. Its actions are subject to judicial review and to congressional oversight and funding.
Recent actions
Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
Television Broadcasting Services, St. George, Utah
National Television Multiple Ownership Rule
Television Broadcasting Services Odessa, Texas
Video Relay Service Improvements; Incarcerated People's Communication Services; Implementation of the Martha Wright-Reed Act; Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services; Access to Video Conferencing
Modernizing Spectrum Sharing for Satellite Broadband
Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission