The Federal Communications Commission and the Communications Policymaking Process: Theoretical Perspectives and Recommendations for Future Research

Abstract

Recent developments in communications policy have increased the need for a thorough understanding of the behavior of the Federal Communications Commission and the dynamics of the communications policymaking process. This theoretical and methodological review and critique of the literature devoted to FCC behavior and communications policymaking outlines the diversity of theoretical approaches to the FCC that have evolved over time and the specific processes by which the FCC can be influenced by outside stakeholders. This review concludes that there have been far too few efforts to subject these diverse theoretical perspectives to inclusive analyses, in which competing theories of regulatory behavior are tested simultaneously. In addition, researchers have focused primarily on explaining past Commission actions, making relatively few efforts to develop and test predictive theories of FCC behavior. In addressing these gaps in the literature, future research should (a) explore more context-specific models of FCC behavior; (b) focus on issue-type distinctions; and (c) address the possibility that different types of FCC behavior may demonstrate different characteristics. Attention to these areas may help to reconcile the diversity of theories of FCC behavior that have received empirical support.