A staff paper to the President's Task Force on Communications Policy reviews the role played by the Federal Government in regulating the telecommunications industries and recommends broader federal jurisdiction. The history of federal action in telecommunications has been one of ad hoc responses to discrete problems, leading to an inefficient, patchwork regulatory structure insufficient for the growing complexities of the industry. Government powers are inadequate for the development of a national policy covering important areas such as administration of the radio spectrum, research and development, provision of necessary analytic support to common carrier regulation, and even national procurement of services and equipment by the Federal Government itself. New executive capability should include long-range planning, policy formation and coordination, and mission-support, so as to integrate the various governmental roles. (BB)