Media - Radio and Television
There is a great variety of radio and television stations in the U.S.A. It can be divided into two main groups: commercial and non-commercial. The second group consists mostly of religious, university and educational stations. Private companies own the first group. To start a new radio or television station you have to get a license from Federal Communications Commission (FCC). However to receive anything that is “in the air” you don’t have to pay any taxes or fees. The government or any federal institution cannot own television and radio.
If a company has one of the media (radio, newspaper, television, etc.) it cannot own another in the same area. It also can’t have more than 12 stations in the country. The government does not have any control on the stations, they can say whatever they want, as long as they do not break the law. Every single station has to provide public with different views on certain matters and it has to enable local society to present their concerns “on air”. Those rules were established to avoid anyone having bigger influence on the public opinion.