Who Needs the FCC?

[Commentary] The recent government shutdown was applauded by some who believe that small government is better, and so, by extension, that no government at all must be better still. That got us to thinking. Not about the whole government, just the piece we know best: the Federal Communications Commission. Suppose the FCC closed for good. Would anybody notice? We think the operation of our culture and commerce depends on at least three of the FCC’s functions: licensing, establishing technical rules, and participating in international treaty negotiations.