Rep. McClellan Hopes to Modernize 1996 Telecom Act Despite Lack of Congressional Support

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2026 – Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., said her biggest challenge as a policymaker is getting colleagues to care about modernizing the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a law she feels no longer applies due to rapid technological growth.

At nonprofit Public Knowledge’s event celebrating the Telecommunications Act of 1996 at 30, McClellan said she was frustrated that the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology is not prioritizing updating the law. As a member of the subcommittee, she said there has not been an ongoing conversation about modernizing the telecom act despite her push toward this goal. 

She said her colleagues have been narrowly focused on supporting the development and advancement of artificial intelligence, instead of the growing landscape that is outpacing laws on technology.