Telecommunications Act 1996The Telecommunications Act 1996 can be described as a major revision of the Communications Act in the last sixty-two years. The primary purpose of this law is to allow any communications company to enter the market and compete against each other based on fair and equitable practices ("The Telecommunications Act 1996", The Federal Communications Commission). This law has the potential to fundamentally change people's lives in many different ways. For example, it affected both local and long-distance telephone service, cable programming and other video services, broadcast services, and services provided to schools. The Federal Communications Commission has actively endorsed this law and has worked to enforce and implement the various provisions listed in the document. The law was created primarily to promote competition and reduce regulation to ensure lower prices and better quality services for American consumers. Of particular importance is the deregulation of the telecommunications sector, as mentioned in the law (“Implementation of the Telecommunications Law”, NTLA). This reflects a new way of thinking that service providers should not be limited by artificial and outdated regulatory categories, but should be allowed to compete with each other in a robust market that contains many different participants. Furthermore, the law is evidence of the government's commitment to ensuring that all citizens have access to affordable advanced communications services through its "universal service" provisions, even as competitive markets for the telecommunications industry expand . Prior to the passage of this new law, U.S. federal and state laws and a judicially established consent decree permitted some competition for certain services, particularly among long-distance carriers. Universal service for basic telephony was a national goal, but developed and shaped through federal and state regulations and jurisprudence (“Telecommunications Act of 1996,” Technology Act). The goal of universal service was mentioned only in general terms in the Communications Act of 1934, the nation's basic telecommunications statute. The Telecommunications Act of 1996, among other things: (i) opens up competition to local telephone companies, long distance service providers, and cable companies... middle of the paper... especially when it comes to deregulation the telecommunications sector. The new law was expected to bring radical changes to the communications industry, providing high-quality services to the masses at minimal costs. The law was also conceived with the specific aim of ensuring that advanced telecommunications are accessible to every citizen within the framework of the universal service policy. The FCC and states, as regulators, enforce the law. It's been more than three years since the law was passed and most critics have said that nothing useful has come of this law other than mergers, of course. Ultimately, however, the services offered to the public will depend on the providers of those services and their success in the market. Bibliography1. “The Telecommunications Act of 1996.” Available online at: http://www.fcc.gov/telecom.html2. "Implementation of the Telecommunications Law". Available online at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/opadhome/opad_act.htm3. “The Telecommunications Act of 1996.” Available online at: http://www.technologylaw.com/act.html