Angele A. Gilroy
Coordinator/Specialist in Telecommunications Policy
The passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act (P.L. 104-104) resulted in a major revision of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) to address the emergence of competition in what were previously considered to be monopolistic markets. Since its passage, however, the advancement of broadband technology to supply data, voice, and video; the growing convergence of the telecommunications and media sectors; and the growth in demand for usable radio- frequency spectrum has led to a consensus that the laws that govern these sectors have become inadequate to address this rapidly changing environment and have, according to a growing number of policymakers, made it necessary to consider revising the current regulatory framework.
Coordinator/Specialist in Telecommunications Policy
The passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act (P.L. 104-104) resulted in a major revision of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) to address the emergence of competition in what were previously considered to be monopolistic markets. Since its passage, however, the advancement of broadband technology to supply data, voice, and video; the growing convergence of the telecommunications and media sectors; and the growth in demand for usable radio- frequency spectrum has led to a consensus that the laws that govern these sectors have become inadequate to address this rapidly changing environment and have, according to a growing number of policymakers, made it necessary to consider revising the current regulatory framework.
This report provides an overview
of selected topics that, while far from a definitive
list, provide a broad
overview of issues that
are central
to the telecommunications/media convergence
debate.
The issues covered in this report include
broadband deployment, broadband regulation
and access, broadcast media
ownership rules, funding for the Corporation
for Public Broadcasting, emergency communications, legal issues regarding facilities siting, Federal Communications
Commission
oversight and reform, Internet governance and the
domain name
system, reauthorization of statutory copyright
and communications provisions
in the
Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act,
spectrum policy
and wireless broadband deployment, and Universal Service
Fund
reform.
Rather than addressing the specific legislative, regulatory,
and industry activities, this
report provides an overview
of
these major
issues. The
CRS products listed
under “for further information,”
found at the end
of each issue topic, should be used to expand upon the issue,
provide an update of relevant
events, track congressional activity, and identify CRS
analysts whoare knowledgeable in these issue
areas. This report will be updated occasionally.
Date-of-Report:-August 14, 2013
Number-of-Pages:-14
Order-Number: R43178
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