Under the Radio Act of 1912, transmitting radio waves required licensing from which department?

• A. The Commerce Department
• B. The Department of Energy
• C. The Department of Justice
• D. The State Department

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how the early federal government governed wireless communication. The Radio Act of 1912 created a system where transmitting radio waves had to be licensed by the Department of Commerce, with the Secretary of Commerce issuing licenses and call signs to operators. This reflected the view that radio use affected interstate commerce and public safety, so it needed centralized control. The other departments aren’t the ones designated for this licensing role: the Department of Energy didn’t exist in that era and isn’t in charge of radio licenses; the Department of Justice handles enforcement of laws but not issuing spectrum licenses; and the State Department handles foreign affairs, not domestic wireless licensing.