The FCC contains four key branches and divisions:
- Mass Media Bureau, which oversees licensing and regulation of broadcasting services
- Common Carrier Bureau, which handles interstate communications service providers
- Cable Bureau, which oversees rates and competition provisions of the cable act of 1992
- Private Radio Bureau, which regulates microwave and land mobile services
And there are special offices within the FCC that help support the four bureaus:
- The Field Operations Bureau, which provides enforcement, engineering and public outreach programs.
- The Office of Engineering and Technology, which provides engineering expertise and knowledge to the FCC and tests equipment for compliance with FCC standards.
- The Office of Plans and Policy, which functions as a sort of think tank for the FCC.
The FCC contains six Bureaus and ten Staff Offices, arranged by function. The sixteen bureaus and offices are:
- Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
- Enforcement Bureau
- International Bureau
- Media Bureau
- Office of Administrative Law Judges
- Office of Communications Business Opportunities
- Office of Engineering And Technology
- Office of Inspector General
- Office of Legislative Affairs
- Office of Media Relations
- Office of Plans And Policy
- Office of The General Counsel
- Office of The Managing Director
- Office of Work Place Diversity
- Wireless Telecommunications
- Wireline Competition Bureau.
These bureaus’ responsibilities include:
- analyzing complaints and conducting investigations
- developing and implementing regulatory programs
- participating in hearings
- processing applications for licenses and other filings
Although these various divisions within the FCC have individual functions, they frequently join to address issues that affect the entire FCC.