Emma, Addy, Jess, and Chao's Timeline of Communication in Capitalist America

1980 - Beginning the era of regulating communication

1830 - Tocqueville observed the rise of access to communication, especially in rural areas.

1877 - Munn v. Illinois "gateway of commerce" allowed government oversight of private matters.

1927 - Federal Radio Commission established

1934 - Passage of Communications Act to "regulating interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio"; national radio service more affordable

1945 - Supreme Court ruling in Associated Press v. United States put forward the notion of free speech, corporate power, and the public interest to maintain a robust information.

1953 - FCC argues multiple ownership rule-making through fundamental rulemaking to promote diverse ownership

1973 - Minority groups became able to be considered for broadcast license applications

1978 - A minority tax certificate program inventivises owners to sell properties to minorities and distress-sale program

1949 - Balanced program returns to editorializing the basis of the Fairness Doctorine

1971 - Gives FCC ability to revoke license

1946 - Public service responsibility of broadcast licenses (aka Blue Book) articulated four factors relevant to broadcasting in the public interest

1960 - FCC puts heavy regulations of broadcast licensees; need to fulfill public interest by discovering markets.

1971 - FCC standardizes economic, ethnic, and social composition of the communities they serve.

1996 - Telecommunications Act passed