Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel Commemorates 25th Anniversary of the 1996 Telecom Act

Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel issued a statement to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the landmark Telecommunications Act of 1996. She also hosted a video featuring telecommunications policy leaders’ thoughts about the Act, and joined a Twitter chat with Rep Jahana Hayes (D-CT) to discuss ways to modernize and build upon it.  “Without the Telecom Act of 1996, today’s information and communications landscape would look entirely different,” said Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “Coming at the dawn of the Internet age, the Act accelerated the transition from the analog era to the digital age while also reaffirming the promise at the heart of FCC’s founding statute: that advanced communications should be available to all Americans. Importantly, the Act established the E-Rate program to bring the Internet to every classroom and library in America and, today, the wisdom of investing in digital learning has never been clearer. While we have come a long way, we still have much more work to do to fully realize the promise of the Act and see connectivity for all Americans.”