They Came Not to Bury, But to Praise the Telecom Act of 1996
The biggest failure, according to panelists? The continued digital divide
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2026 — Four telecommunications policy veterans celebrated much of the 1996 Telecom Act and its legacy during a Wednesday BroadbandLive event, but differed on whether it had helped or hindered America’s dynamic climate of tech and telecom innovation over three decades.
The Broadband Breakfast panelists were key individuals who helped draft, implement or analyze the sweeping overhaul of U.S. communications law.
The Act, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on February 8, 1996, had earned bipartisan support. Most panelists agreed the law succeeded in spurring competition and technological advancement.
Broadband Breakfast on January 28, 2026 - The 1996 Telecom Act Turns 30
What are the lasting impacts of the 1996 Telecommunications Act?
Blair Levin
Member discussion