Telecommunications Act of 1996 In February of 1996, the U.S. Congress enacted the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Act was one of the most substantial changes in the regulation of any industry in recent history. The Act replaced all current laws, FCC regulations, and the consent degree and subsequent court rulings under which AT&T was broken into the "baby Bells." It also overruled all existing state laws and prohibited states from introducing new laws. Practically overnight, …showed first 75 words of 1374 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1374 total…peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”. All in all, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 brought tremendous changes into the telecommunications field. Such regulatory acts are needed to insure consumer rights in this “Corporate” world we live in. The gift of choice, the freedom to revel in our options is one of the foundations of how this great country came to be. We need to cherish that fact…for eternity.