Congress to Revisit the Telecom Act of 1996 Next Week
Lawmakers and experts assert the law is outdated and unsustainable
WASHINGTON, March 20, 2026 – Congress will revisit the Telecommunications Act of 1996 next week after calls for its modernization from lawmakers and experts alike.
House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Richard Hudson,R-N.C., announced that it will hold a hearing titled “The Telecommunications Act of 1996: 30 Years Later” on Thursday, March 26.
“The communications marketplace has transformed dramatically in the thirty years since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed into law,” Guthrie and Hudson said. “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.”
Member discussion