Empowering the 21st Century Consumer

Protecting consumers is part of the Federal Communications Commission’s DNA.

The Communications Act directs the FCC to promote fast deployment of communications technologies and networks to all Americans. It calls on the Commission to ensure fair access to those networks. It empowers the Commission to hold network operators and licensees accountable to the public interest – through rulemaking, periodic review of licenses, and effective enforcement. Our multiple Bureaus work collaboratively to promote unencumbered and fair access to communications technology, transparency in billing, privacy, and safety. Where appropriate, we also collaborate with our partner agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Homeland Security, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and state, local, and tribal authorities. In a dynamic communications environment, the FCC is adapting and modernizing to keep up with the times and promote competition. In the coming months, the Commission will consider adopting or proposing actions aimed at giving consumers the tools to protect their personal information online, ensuring customer choice in the market for video navigation devices, and expanding high-speed mobile data services to the 3.1 million Americans living in unserved or poorly-served areas. This report outlines the recent actions that the FCC has taken to protect consumers while promoting the competition and ingenuity that keep our markets thriving.