FCC v. Sanders Brothers Radio Station
| FCC v. Sanders Brothers Radio Station | |
|---|---|
| Argued February 9–, 1940 Decided March 25, 1940 | |
| Full case name | Federal Communications Commission v. Sanders Brothers Radio Station |
| Citations | 309 U.S. 470 (more) 60 S.Ct. 693 |
| Case history | |
| Prior | Sanders Brothers Radio Station v. Federal Communications Commission, 106 F.2d 321; cert. granted, 308 U.S. 546 (1939). |
| Holding | |
| Spectrum allocation decisions made by the Federal Communications Commission are made to serve the public interest and do not have to consider broadcaster profitability or business plans. | |
| Court membership | |
| |
| Case opinion | |
| Majority | Roberts |
| McReynolds took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. | |
| Laws applied | |
| Communications Act of 1934 | |
Federal Communications Commission v. Sanders Brothers Radio Station, 309 U.S. 470 (1940), was an early precedent on the enforcement of broadcasting law in the United States. The Supreme Court held that when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) makes spectrum allocation decisions regarding the use of broadcast frequencies by radio stations, such decisions should be made to serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity as defined by the Communications Act of 1934. Consequently, such decisions by the FCC do not need to consider the profitability or business interests of the companies assigned such frequencies, or those of their competitors.