Lawmakers Weigh Updates to 1996 Telecom Act at House Hearing

At a House Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing, members of both parties said the law helped open markets to competition but has not kept pace with today’s internet-driven economy. Lawmakers said Congress must modernize U.S. communications law as broadband, mobile technology, and digital platforms have reshaped the industry since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted. Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) said the hearing would examine what parts of the law worked and how Congress can update it to promote investment and innovation in modern networks. Former Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Michael O’Rielly said Congress should revisit the law to remove outdated provisions and provide clearer direction to regulators. “The statute is filled with ambiguities that have allowed regulators to stretch its meaning over time,” O’Rielly said, warning that unclear language has led to inconsistent implementation.