How Government Intervention Shaped Radio

Starting with the Radio Act of 1912, the US government has intervened in the development and uses of radio. Government intervention in radio directly led to the formation of RCA, which developed the radio business in the United States. Typically, the force that is government intervention occurs after a significant event makes the government feel the need to interfere, or if there is a public outcry for action. The government will usually then set up some form of an investigative committee to look into whatever it is that they are intervening in. After the committee has investigated, they will compile a report and the governmental body, i.e. congress, will create a policy or law in order to regulate that interest. That policy will typically have some sort of expiration date, around which congress will evaluate that policy and vote whether to extend it or not. As for how it happened with radio, the significant event that caused governmental action was the sinking if the Titanic, which was equipped with radio transmitters, and was able to send out distress calls by Morse code, which were received in New York. This event showed both the government and the public the power of radio, causing the government to take control of it until after World War I, when Gugliemo Marconi attempted to buy US patents. Fearing foreign control of radio, the US government forced Marconi to sell his assests to GE, who, along with AT&T and Westinghouse, then proceeded to form RCA. RCA then proceeded to shape the radio industry in America, all because of government intervention.