Telecommunications Act of 1996
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 is the first major overhaul of telecommunications law in almost 62 years. The goal of this new law is to let anyone enter any communications business to let any communications business compete in any market against any other. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has the potential to change the way we work, live and learn. It will affect telephone service local and long distance, cable programming and other video services, broadcast services and services provided to schools. The Federal Communications Commission has a tremendous role to play in creating fair rules for this new era of competition. At this Internet site, we will provide information about the FCC's role in implementing this new law, how you can get involved and how these changes might impact you. This page will include information listing the proceedings the FCC will complete to open up local phone markets, increase competition in long distance and other steps. You will find copies of news releases summarizing action, announcements of meetings where these items will be discussed, and charts describing the work ahead of us and where (within the FCC) and when it will be completed.
https://www.fcc.gov/general/telecommunications-act-1996
1996 Report
https://transition.fcc.gov/Reports/tcom1996.pdf
Materials from the FCC
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996 ENACTS 21 PROPOSALS
TO "REINVENT" AGENCY
The Telecommunications Act of 1996, signed into law today by President Clinton,
includes 21 legislative proposals the Commission submitted to Congress in May 1995 as part
of the FCC's ongoing "Reinventing Government" initiative.
https://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/News_Releases/1996/nrmc6008.txt
This wasn't just about changing communication..this was about changing our government as a whole.