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The primary regulator of communications in the United States is the Federal Communications Commission. It regulates all of the industries mentioned below with the exception of the Internet service provider industry.
Telephones - main lines in use: 178 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 55.312 million (1997)
Telephone system:
domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country
international: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2000)
- Note: The American telephone system was formerly operated by a single monopoly, AT&T, which was split up in 1981 into a long-distance telephone company and several local "Baby Bells."
- At present, landline telephone service continues to be divided between "local" phone monopolies and several competing "long-distance" companies. Most states have several competing cellular phone networks, which often include generous long-distance rates in their plans.
- Most local service to homes is provided through old-fashioned copper wire, although many of the Baby Bells are beginning to upgrade the so-called "last mile" to fiber optic.
Radio broadcast stations: AM commercial stations: 4,770; FM commercial stations: 6,217; FM educational stations: 2,512 (as of September 30, 2004, according to the Federal Communications Commission); shortwave 18 (1998)
- Most broadcast stations are controlled by large media conglomerates like Clear Channel Communications. There are also many small independent local stations.
Radios: 575 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1,748 (as of September 30, 2004, according to the Federal Communications Commission); in addition, there are about 12,000 cable TV systems.
- Besides the large broadcast networks (which are free for anyone with a TV and an antenna), there are also many networks available only with a subscription to cable or satellite television, like CNN.
Televisions: 219 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7,600 (1999 est.)
- Because of aggressive lobbying and the United States' strong libertarian traditions, the Internet service provider industry is relatively unregulated in comparison to other communications industries.
Country code (Top level domain): US
- For various historical reasons, the .US domain was never widely used outside of a small number of government agencies and school districts; most companies (including small ones who should have been under .US) went straight for the top level domains like .COM instead.
- At present, Neustar now has control over the .US registry and is trying to promote the domain for American-oriented Web sites.
- See also : United States of America; Media in the United States
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