Podcasting

Podcasting is information distribution that targets a specific group or particular interest. It's different from broadcasting. Broadcasting through airwaves is done freely for everyone and anyone to hear. Podcasting is selective broadcasting, sometimes it is made known only to subscribers or particular members of a group.

In times past, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made laws for the use of radio and television for the USA, and everyone had to abide by them, but there are no rules for podcasting and no governmental control. The FCC, originally established by the Communications Act of 1934, doesn't regulate podcasting because it doesn't go over “public” airwaves. Podcasts are considered private.

Adam Curry and David Winer developed Podcasting in 2004 and since it’s inception it has remained free from government regulation. This means that podcasters don't need to buy a license to broadcast their programming, and they can be podcasting anything at all, including anything which otherwise would be monitored by the public and regulated by the FCC whose rules are enforced by US law.

Podcasting is a great way to get your message out if you want to broadcast something and it's quickly becoming a favorite way to occupy the space between your ears for listeners too. Everyone is walking around with ear devices, listening to music, news, weather, sports, talk show hosts, preachers, political speeches, books on tape or whatever their fancy might be, on their I-pods. Some say podcasting is bringing humanity closer to its aspiration of full freedom.