Act Text
FCC Materials
Implementation Proceedings
Other Resources
Telecommunications Act of 1996
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 is the first major overhaul of
telecommunications law in almost 62 years. The goal of this new
law is to let anyone enter any communications business -- to let
any communications business compete in any market against any
other.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has the potential to change
the way we work, live and learn. It will affect telephone
service -- local and long distance, cable programming and other
video services, broadcast services and services provided to
schools.
The Federal Communications Commission has a tremendous role to
play in creating fair rules for this new era of competition. At
this Internet site, we will provide information about the FCC's
role in implementing this new law, how you can get involved and
how these changes might impact you.
This page will include information listing the proceedings the
FCC will complete to open up local phone markets, increase
competition in long distance and other steps. You will find
copies of news releases summarizing action, announcements of
meetings where these items will be discussed, and charts
describing the work ahead of us and where (within the FCC) and
when it will be completed. Please note: some of the links
on this page lead to resources outside the FCC. The presence of
these links should not be taken as an endorsement by the FCC of
these sites or their content.
For more information about the referenced documents, contact the
person listed on the document.
Please let us know what topics most interest you or where you
have questions about this new law. We will soon begin to post a
series of Questions & Answers with Commission officials designed
to answer your questions.
Text of the Act
The FCC maintains ASCII Text and Adobe Acrobat versions (128 pages) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as well as WordPerfect and Adobe Acrobat versions (335 pages) of the completely updated Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the 1996 Act. The official citation for the new Act is: Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. LA. No. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56 (1996). The official printed slip law is available from the Government Printing Office.
Materials from the FCC
Revised schedule of proceedings to implement the Act. This implementation schedule is an outline of statutory requirements pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and is a guide to the actions taken by the FCC to implement the Act. The schedule is divided into five sections. The first section identifies the specific issues and the bureau handling those issues. The second section contains the statutory language and page references to S. Rept. 230, 104th Cong. 2nd Sess. (1996). The third section identifies the FCC proceeding to implement the statutory requirement including the bureau docket number and the FCC number of the documents released related to the proceeding. The fourth and fifth sections contain information regarding the timetable and status of the proceeding. (Revised January 13, 1997)
The Report on FCC Implementation of Telecommunications Act of 1996 is a cumulative report of all actions taken since February 8, 1996, by the FCC to implement the Act. This report has two sections: (1) Commission Actions and (2) Facilitating Public Information.
Transcript of Proceedings from the FCC Telemedical Advisory Committee meeting on September 17, 1996 [ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ].
Transcript of Proceedings from the FCC Telemedical Advisory Committee meeting on July 11, 1996 [ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ].
Chairman Hundt's Statement and related Report on the FCC Implementation of the Telecommunications Act presented to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance, Committee on Commerce of the U.S. House of Representatives on July 18, 1996.
Transcript of Proceedings from the FCC Telemedical Advisory Committee meeting on June 12, 1996 [ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ].
Telecommunications and Health Care Advisory Committee Members Announced (Released 6-5-96)
Nominations Accepted for the Telecommunications and Health Care Advisory Committee to Assist Implementation of the Telecommunications Act. (Released 4-25-96)
Chairman Hundt Announces Appointment of Solomon Trujillo as Interim Chairman of the Telecommunications Development Fund
Telecommunications Development Fund Request for Board of Directors Nominations
Suggestions solicited for improving FCC services and procedures
Improving Commission Processes, Notice of Inquiry, (PP Docket No. 96-17)
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Statements by FCC Chairman Hundt and Commissioners Quello, Barrett, Ness, and Chong praising passage of the Act.
(February 8, 1996)
21 FCC Proposals to "Reinvent" the Agency, Adopted By the Act. (February 8, 1996)
FCC Proceedings to Implement the Act
Cable Services Bureau
Order in the Matter of Implementation of Section 703(e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Amendment of the Commission's Rules and Policies Governing Pole Attachments (CS Docket No. 97-151, FCC 98-20) (February 6, 1998). [ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the Matter of Implementation of Section 703(e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Amendment of the Commission's Rules and Policies Governing Pole Attachments (CS Docket No. 97-151, FCC 97-234) (August 12, 1997)[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the Matter of Amendment of Rules and Policies Governing Pole Attachments (CS Docket No. 97-98, FCC 97-94) (March 14, 1997)[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
In the Matter of Implementation of Section 305 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 NPRM on Closed Captioning and Video Description of Video Programming, Video Programming Accessibility (MM Docket No. 95-176)
(January 17, 1997)(Comment Date: February 28, 1997, Reply Comment Date: March 24, 1997)
[ News Releases |
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Order in matter of Implementation of Section 703 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Amendments and Additions to the Commissions Rules Governing Pole Attachments (CS Docket No. 96-166) (August 6, 1996)
[ News Releases |
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Report & Order, Memorandum & Opinion & Order, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the matter of Preemption of Local Zoning Regulation of Satellite Earth Stations; Implementation of Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, restrictions on Over-the Air Reception Devices: Television Broadcast Service & Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (IB Docket 95-59, CS Docket No. 96-83) (August 6, 1996)
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
First Order on Reconsideration in the matter of Implementation of Section 302 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Open Video Systems (CS Docket No. 96-46) (July 23, 1996)
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Report & Order on Implementation of Section 301(j) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Aggregation of Equipment Costs By Cable Operators (CS Docket No. 96-57) (June 7, 1996)
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Order on Implementation of Section 302 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Open Video Systems (CS Docket No. 96-46) (June 7, 1996)
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Second Report & Order on Implementation of Section 302 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Open Video Systems (CS Docket No. 96-46) (June 3, 1996)
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Order on Implementation of Section 301(d) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Definition of Markets for purposes of the Cable Television Mandatory Television Broadcast Signal Carriage Rules (CS Docket No. 95-178) (May 24, 1996)
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Implementation of Sections 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Restrictions on Over-the-Air Reception Devices: Television Broadcast And MultiChannel Multipoint distribution Service.
(CS Docket No. 96-83) (April 4, 1996)
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Order on Implementation of Sections 202(f), 202(i) and 301(i) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Cable Television Antitrafficking, Network Television, and MMDS/SMATV Cross ownership Rules (CS Docket No. 96-56)
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Commission will not enforce or implement section 505 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 "Scrambling of Sexually Explicit Adult Video Service Programming" as result of court order.
[ Public Notice ]
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Implement Section 302 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 Open Video Systems, Telephone Company-Cable Television Cross Ownership Rules
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Implementation of Section 505 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Scrambling of Explicit Adult Video Service Programming (CS Docket No. 96-40)
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version ]
Extension of the comment period for the Notice of Inquiry on closed captioning and video description, so that parties have an opportunity to comment on the Telecom Act provisions affecting these issues. (February 27, 1996)
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Order extending time for cable operators to file their annual equipment forms, because Telecom Act permits cable operators to aggregate equipment costs, and requires the FCC to modify its rules and forms within 120 days of enactment. (February 27, 1996)
[ text version | WordPerfect Version ]
Common Carrier Bureau
CRANDALL DECLARATION. The United States Telecom Association (USTA) filed reply comments as requested by the Commission's Public Notice in CC Docket No. 96-98 inviting comment on issues raised in conjunction with the use of unbundled network elements to provide exchange access service.(May 14, 2001) [ Text | Word97 ]
NEWS RELEASE. Commission Limits Competitive Local Phone Carriers Ability to File Tariffs, (April 27, 2001 )
ORDER ON REMAND AND REPORT AND ORDER. Proper treatment for purposes of intercarrier compensation of telecommunications traffic delivered to Internet service providers (ISPs), (April 27, 2001 ) [ Text | Word97 | Acrobat]
UNBUNDLED NETWORK ELEMENTS. Motion granted for extension of time for filing comments and reply comments, (April 23, 2001 ) [ Text | Word97 ]
PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS ON JOINT PETITION OF BELLSOUTH, SBC AND VERIZON. Joint Petition asking the Commission to find that high-capacity loops and dedicated transport should not be subject to mandatory unbundling, (April 10, 2001 ) [ Text | Word97 ]
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER. The State Of New York Department of Public Service Request for the Release of a New Area Code to Provide Relief for the 716 Numbering Plan Area, (March 20, 2001 ) [ Text | Word97 ]
NUMBERING RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION. Petitions for additional delegated authority to implement numbering resource optimization strategies, (March 14, 2001 ) [ Text | Word97 ]
ORDER CLARIFICATION. Deployment of Wireline Services Offering Advanced Telecommunications Capability, (February 23, 2001 ) [ Text | Word97 ]
NUMBERING RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION. Petitions for Expedited Decision for Additional Delegated Authority to Implement Numbering Conservation Measures, (February 14, 2001 )1 [ Text | Word97 ]
DEPLOYMENT OF WIRELINE SERVICES OFFERING ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY. (January 19, 2001 ) [ Text | Word97 | Acrobat ]
NUMBERING RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION. Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Request For Expedited Action on the July 15, 1997 Order of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Regarding Area Codes 412, 610, 215, and 717, (December 29, 2000 ), [ Text | Word97 ]
UNE COMBINATIONS. Comments requested on Worldcom petition for waiver of the supplemental order clarification, (September 18, 2000 ) [ Text | Word97 ]
DEPLOYMENT OF WIRELINE SERVICES OFFERING ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY, (August 10, 2000 ), [ Text | Word97 ]
RELIEF FOR THE 716 NUMBERING PLAN AREA, Common Carrier Bureau seeks comment on the request of the State of New York Department of Public Service (NYDPS) for the release of a new area code, (August 9, 2000 ) [ Text | Word97 ]
NEWS RELEASE. FCC issues report on the availability of high-speed and advanced telecommunications services, (August 3, 2000 )
NEWS RELEASE. FCC mandates nationwide implementation of 711 access to telecommunications relay services (TRS), (July 21, 2000 )
NEWS RELEASE. FCC revises telecommunications relay service rules to improve access to telephone service for people with hearing and speech disabilities, (February 17, 2000 )
NEWS RELEASE. FCC issues inquiry for its second report on advanced telecommunications capability, (February 17, 2000 )
NUMBERING RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION. Petitions for additional delegated authority to implement numbering resource optimization strategies filed by state utility regulatory commissions. (July 20, 2000 ) [ Text | Word97 ]
ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION. Deaveraged Rate Zones for Unbundled Network Elements, (April 6, 2000 ), [ Text | Word97 ]
ORDER. Deployment of Wireline Services Offering Advanced Telecommunications Capability, (December 9, 1999 ) [ Text | Word97 ]
ORDER. Response to the Supreme Court's January 1999 decision that directs us to reevaluate the unbundling obligations of section 251 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act). (November 8, 1999 ) [ Text | Word97 | Acrobat]
NEWS RELEASE. FCC releases rules that will give people with disabilities more access to telecommunications, (September 29, 1999 )
PUBLIC NOTICE. Common Carrier Bureau reminds all common carriers of their obligation to provide access to their telecommunications services via telecommunications relay services, (September 15, 1999 )
ACCOUNTING SAFEGUARDS. Amended Report and Order in proceeding in the matter of accounting safeguards under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Dkt No.: CC- 96-150. by Errata. (DA No. 97-366). (February 19, 1997)
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Implementation Of Non-accounting Safeguards. Made minor modifications to First R&O released December 24, 1996. Dkt No.: CC-96-149. Action by the Commission. by Order on Recon. (FCC No. 97-52). (February 19, 1997)
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Report & Order Implements Infrastructure Sharing Provision Of The Telecommunications Act Of 1996. Dkt No.: CC-96-237. Adopted: February 6, 1997. (FCC No. 97-36). (February 07, 1997)
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1st R&O & NPRM Implements Telemessaging And Electronic Publishing Provisions Of The Telecommunications Act of1996. Dkt No.: CC-96-152. Action by the Commission. Adopted: February 6, 1997. by . (FCC No. 97-35). (February 07, 1997) [ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Report & Order in the Matter of Implementation of Sec. 402(b)(1)(A) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, LEC TARIFF STREAMLINING. (Dkt No.: CC- 96-187)(January 31, 1997)
[ News Release | Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking In the Matter of Implementation of Section 402(b)(2)(A) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (CC Docket No. 97-11) (January 13, 1997)(Comments due February 24, 1997, Reply Comments due March 17, 1997)
[ News Releases | Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking And Notice Of Inquiry In the Matter of Changes to the Board of Directors of the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. (CC Docket No. 97-21) (Released: January 10, 1997), (NPRM Comment Date: January 27, 1997, NPRM Reply Date: February 3, 1997) (NOI Comment Date: March 3, 1997, NOI Reply Date: April 3, 1997)
[ News Releases | Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Commission Staff Releases Analysis Of Forward-looking Economic Cost Proxy Models (DA 97-56) (Released January 9, 1997)(Comment Date: February 3, 1997, Reply Comment Date: February 14, 1997) [ News Releases ]
Notice of Inquiry In the Matter of Telecommunications Relay Services, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (CC Docket No. 90-571) (January 14, 1997) (Comments due March 17,1997, Reply Comments due April 21, 1997)
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Comments Requested On Application By Ameritech Michigan For Authorization Under Section 271 Of The Communications Act To Provide In-region, Interlata Service In The State Of Michigan (CC Docket No. 97-1) [ Public Notice ]
Order In the Matter of Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions, Interconnection between Local Exchange Carriers and CMRS Providers, in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (CC Docket No. 96-98, 95-185) (December 19, 1996)
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Notice of Proposed Rulemaking In the Matter of Implementation of of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Amendment of rules Governing Procedures to be followed when Formal Complaints are Filed Against Common Carriers (CC Docket No. 96-238) (November 27, 1996) (Comments due January 6,1997, Reply Comments due January 31, 1997)
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Order on Reconsideration In the Matter of Implementation of the Pay Telephone Reclassification and Compensation Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Policies and Rules Concerning Operator Service Access and Pay Telephone Compensation; Petition of the Public Telephone Council to Treat Bell Operating Company Payphones as Customer Premises Equipment ; Petition of Oncor Communications Requesting Compensation for Competitive Payphone Premises Owners and Presubscribed Operator Services Providers, Petition of the California Payphone Association to Amend and Clarify Section 68.2(a)of the Commission's Rules, Amendment of Section 69.2(m) and (ee) of the Commission's Rules to Include Independent Public Payphones Within the "Public Telephone" Exemption from End User Common Line Access Charges (November 8, 1996) (CC Docket No. 96-128, CC Docket. No. 91-35)
[ News Release | Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Order In the Matter of Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Interconnection between Local Exchange Carriers and Commercial Mobile Radio Service Providers (November 6, 1996) (CC Docket No. 96-98, CC Docket No. 95-185)
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Order In the Matter of Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Interconnection between Local Exchange Carriers and Commercial Mobile Radio Service Providers (October 25, 1996) (CC Docket No. 96-98, CC Docket No. 95-185)
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Order on Reconsideration In the Matter of Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Interconnection between Local Exchange Carriers and Commercial Mobile Radio Service Providers (September 27, 1996) (CC Docket No. 96-98, CC Docket No. 95-185)
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Report & Order on the Matter of Implementation of the Pay Telephone Reclassification and Compensation Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Policies and Rules Concerning Operator Service Access and Pay Telephone Compensation; Petition of the Public Telephone Council to Treat Bell Operating Company Payphones as Customer Premises Equipment ; Petition of Oncor Communications Requesting Compensation for Competitive Payphone Premises Owners and Presubscribed Operator Services Providers, Petition of the California Payphone Association to Amend and Clarify Section 68.2(a)of the Commission's Rules, Amendment of Section 69.2(m) and (ee) of the Commission's Rules to Include Independent Public Payphones Within the "Public Telephone" Exemption from End User Common Line Access Charges (September 20, 1996) (CC Docket No. 96-128, CC Docket. No. 91-35)
[ News Release | Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Order In the Matter of Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Interconnection between Local Exchange Carriers and Commercial Mobile Radio Service Providers (September 17, 1996) (CC Docket No. 96-98, CC Docket No. 95-185)
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking In the Matter of Implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 Reform of Filing Requirements and Carrier Classifications, Anchorage Telephone Utility, Petition for Withdrawal of Cost Allocation Manual(CC Docket No. 96-193, AAD 95-91) (September 12, 1996) (Comments due October 15, 1996, Reply Comments due November 5, 1996)
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking In the Matter of Implementation of Section 402(b)(1)(A) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (CC Docket No. 96-187) (September 6, 1996) (Comments due October 9,1996, Reply Comments due October 24, 1996)
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
Errata on the First Report & Order In the Matter of Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Interconnection between Local Exchange Carriers and Commercial Mobile Radio Service Providers (August 19, 1996) (CC Docket No. 96-98, CC Do
