universal service

Telecom Act Aides Say Partisanship is Behind Lack of Universal Service, Broadband Access

Panelists also discuss the unsustainable funding of the USF and the making of Section 230.

Kelcie Lee

Kelcie Lee

— 3 min read
Telecom Act Aides Say Partisanship is Behind Lack of Universal Service, Broadband Access
Photo of Moderator (left top) John Nakahata and staff architects of the Telecom Act (right top) Katie King, (left bottom) Gina Keeney and (right bottom) John Windhausen at the FCC’s 30th Anniversary of the 1996 Act Webinar on March 17, 2026.

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2026 – John Windhausen, a staff architect of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, said partisan “political agendas” are the reason why up to 15 percent of Americans still don’t have access to broadband.  

At the Federal Communications Commission’s 30th Anniversary of the 1996 Telecommunications Act Webinar on Tuesday, Telecom Act aides were asked what about the law came out differently than they originally anticipated. 

“In my mind, we would have had broadband universally available to everybody by now,” Windhausen said. “And we don’t have that.” 

Post tagged in
universal service USF Universal Service Fund FCC 1996 Telecom Act Telecom Act 1996 Telecommunications Act 1996 Communications Decency Act Communications Decency Act of 1996 Telecommunications Act of 1996 Katie King Gina Keeney John Windhausen E-Rate Congress CPF Section 230

Member discussion

Read more

Popular Tags

Bill Introduced to Expand Enrollment of Lifeline Program FCC There’s an Opportunity to Connect America's 44 Million Apartment Residents Broadband's Impact Louisiana Clears First Batch of NEPA Approvals for BEAD BEAD T-Mobile Wants Even More Oversight for FirstNet Authority NTIA 1927-1976: Broadcasting, Cable and the Creation of the Media Infrastructure T-Mobile Wants Even More Oversight for FirstNet Authority AT&T
#if @member /if