Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Richard Hudson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, announced on Mar. 19 a hearing titled ‘The Telecommunications Act of 1996: 30 Years Later.’ The hearing is scheduled for March 26 at 10:15 AM ET in the Rayburn House Office Building and will be open to the public and press.
According to Guthrie and Hudson, “The communications marketplace has transformed dramatically in the thirty years since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed into law. This hearing will examine what parts of the law have worked, what have not, and how Congress can build on those lessons to modernize our laws to promote innovation, strengthen competition, and drive investment in modern communications networks.”
Matthew F. Wood, Vice President of Policy and General Counsel at Free Press Action, provided written testimony for the hearing. Wood said he would focus on what Congress and federal agencies still must do to fulfill the goals set by the 1996 Act. He commented on departures from longstanding Federal Communications Commission (FCC) practices under current leadership as well as delays in broadband funding distribution.
Wood outlined four priorities for lawmakers: reestablishing federal oversight over broadband telecommunications services; investing public funds to make broadband affordable for all; promoting diversity in broadcasting viewpoints and ownership; and avoiding FCC or National Telecommunications and Information Administration involvement in online content regulation or preemption of state artificial intelligence laws based on authority from the Act.
He also addressed trends in broadband pricing. According to Wood’s analysis using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, actual prices paid by consumers for home internet access have increased steadily over time despite some claims that prices are falling. He argued that market competition alone has not ensured affordability or universal access.
Further details about this hearing are available according to the official roster page.
