The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was an act adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Clinton. This act was adopted with an aim of reforming the telecommunications market in the United States by reducing regulations on broadcasting and telephone companies. The main purpose of adopting this Act was encouraging competition on the market and, therefore, making technologies of distance communication more accessible for the population of the country.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 became a major overhaul of the original Telecommunications Act of 1934. Previously adopted act established the Federal Communications Commission that started regulating the communications sector in the United States, including radio, telephone communication, and telegraph. Later, it regulated television and other satellite industries as well. Thus, the new Telecommunications Act was aimed at reforming some of the regulations in the sector, but the Federal Communications Commission still maintained some responsibilities of regulating the market.
With adoption of the Act in 1996, citizens of the United States received an option to choose among different providers of communication services. This was Americans could afford subscribing to the services that were not accessible for them before. Also, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 included some regulations imposed on the usage of Internet as it already had become a significant part of the lives of many citizens in 1996.
An interesting fact is that the main aim of adopting the new Telecommunications Act was deregulating the communications industry, but the new act imposed some new regulations. These regulations were introduced to prevent many companies from becoming monopolies on the telecommunications market. The Telecommunications Act specified that no company on the market is allowed to have more than 35% of the audience in the country (“The Telecommunications Act of 1996”). Other regulations included requirements on installing devices that would let parents set limitations on accessing offensive content by their children. Also, some rules were introduced with an aim of preventing children from viewing pornography and other restricted content on the Internet.
Today there are many media that appeared after the Telecommunications Act was signed in 1996. For example, the Act does not impose any rules on regulating Facebook, Google, messengers, etc. Thus, a new Act should be developed that will include requirements to be followed by the recently established Internet-based companies that operate in the United States.
Another Act that was adopted to regulate the telecommunications sector was the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992. Also known as the Cable Act of 1992, it imposed certain regulations on cable systems and cable operators. Such regulations included a prohibition of charging local broadcasters by cable operators for carrying the signal of these operators. In addition, one of the main regulation was a requirement for the cable systems to include the majority of local broadcast channels. This Act was passed by the Congress to encourage cable operators to include as many programs as possible so American citizens have an access to various views and information on certain events.
It is rather interesting that President Bush vetoed this Act after it was passed by the United States Senate. However, later this Act passed the Senate again and was enacted by the House of Representatives, and, therefore, President Bush’s veto was passed over.
The main purpose of adopting this Act was the same as the purpose of enabling the Telecommunications Act later in 1996, and this aim was increasing protection of customers and promoting competition among cable television and related companies.
Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 ensured that no State or Federal agency could set the rates for cable services. This Act also imposed some limitations on the percentage of the audience that used services of cable companies (no more than 30% of local audience could order the services of one cable company operating in the area).
The Cable Act of 1992 also obliged cable operators to carry local commercial TV signals. It was done to ensure a better access to cable television by Americans. Under most circumstances, the Act subjected cable rates to specific regulations. These regulations were imposed to ensure that there is an “effective competition” in the sector (“History of Cable TV Regulation”). This effective competition could be achieved through the percentage of the households that subscribed to the services of the company, offering services to at least a half of the people living in a certain area, etc. Unless these rules were followed, Federal Communications Commission could regulate the rates offered to the public by the companies operating on the cable market.
In general, The Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the Cable Act of 1992 are alike as they both impose some regulations and amend the previously adopted Act of 1934. These both acts promote competition on the market, ensure that audience receives more access to different services and programs, and prohibits an establishment of monopolies on the market. With adoption of these Acts, American citizens received a wider choice of programs and a better access to the services of different providers and operators.
Works cited
"History of Cable TV Regulation". (n.d.) Cga.ct.gov. N.p., 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
"The Telecommunications Act of 1996". (n.d.). Shoretel.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
