Telecom act 1998 essay examples

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 is an extensive document that affects a large number of telecommunications sectors. The committee print of the law runs well over one hundred pages.

Despite the new Act's length and breadth, most of 1934 Act remains in full force and effect. For example, there were essentially no changes to the 1934 Act's "Title I" provisions, which established and still govern the operations of the FCC, and relatively few changes to those provisions of "Title III," which govern broadcasting.

Prior to passage of this new Act, U.S. federal and state laws and a judicially established consent decree allowed some competition for certain services, most notably among long distance carriers. Universal service for basic telephony was a national objective, but one developed and shaped through federal and state regulations and case law.

Under the Act, each telecommunications carrier has a duty to interconnect with other telecommunications carriers. The Act sets forth specific requirements that local exchange carriers (LECs) must fulfill to meet this duty.