Lawmakers Weigh Updates to 1996 Telecom Act at House Hearing
Witnesses and lawmakers debated competition, broadband policy, and regulation as Congress revisits the 30-year-old law.
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2026 – 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.
At a House Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing Thursday, members of both parties said the law helped open markets to competition but has not kept pace with today’s internet-driven economy.
Chairman Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., 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.
