Dr. Sterling has been an academic for four decades, and has served as a member of the GW faculty since 1982. He directed the university's former graduate telecommunication program from 1984 to 1994, and again from 2001 to 2003. He served as associate dean for graduate affairs in the arts and sciences from 1994 to 2001. Before coming to GW, he served as a special assistant to one of the members of the Federal Communications Commission from 1980 to 1982. Through the 1970s he was on the communications faculty at Temple University in Philadelphia.

...Sterling and Kittross do an admirable job developing a cohesive and complete historical review of the industry....Its tight focus on the industry allows for a depth of information that is exceptional....an excellent textbook for an upper level class in a degree program focused on preparing students to work in the broadcasting industry or a graduate-level broadcasting history class....the book should be considered a required reference for any scholar interested in broadcasting.

—Mass Communication and Society