uals and organisations SO as to obtain a broad view. example is that on data encryption (FIPS 46), which has been The State Department has also assigned to certain private sector adopted by ANSI as X3.92 and is being developed further by telecommunication equipment and service suppliers the status of international standardisation bodies. RPOA and SIO SO that they can represent the USA in CCITT and CCIR. 22.5.4 22.5.2 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was set up by the Communications Act of 1934 with the prime responsibility for The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the principal regulating traffic carried by wire or radio, both between US states standards forming body in the USA. It is a non-profit making and internationally to and from the US. The FCC is administered by non-government organisation, formed in 1918, and represents the five Commissioners appointed by the President and approved by the USA in ISO and IEC. Senate. ANSI does not directly develop standards, but it accredits other The FCC is involved in a wide range of telecommunication groups to do so, taking their outputs, approving it, and assigning standardisation and regulatory issues, although it does not produce numbers to them before publication. These standards, like those standards of its own. It issues radio licences within the US to those from CCITT and CCIR, are voluntary, although they are often used complying with its rules, and also takes part in organisations in- for equipment procurement. About ten thousand ANSI approved volved in making telecommunication standards in the US, such as standards have been designated as American National Standards. ANSI, IEEE and EIA. USA standards organisations 22/25 The main Bureau within FCC are: TIXI, which is responsible for standards on the future digital hierarchical structures, and other related aspects, for example 1. The Mass Media Bureau, which regulates and issues licences work on Sonet standards. for broadcast and cable television, direct broadcast satellites, T1Y1, whi