1996 Telecommunications Act

Definition

The 1996 Telecommunications Act was a major reform of the United States telecommunications law that aimed to deregulate the broadcasting and telecommunications markets, encouraging competition and innovation. It allowed companies to enter markets previously restricted to them, significantly impacting how communication services were offered and priced.

Related terms

Deregulation: The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry.

Broadband: A high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies, which enables a large number of messages to be communicated simultaneously.

Digital Divide: The gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that don't or have restricted access