SRDC Series #211-E

The Telecommunications Act of 1996: Its Implementation in the U.S. South-Abstract
August 1999

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With the passage of the Telecommunication Act of 1996, the pace of regulatory change increased exponentially. The impact on rural areas is significant; the issues specific to Southern states and communities are unique. This paper provides a brief history of telecommunications regulation and an overview of the key elements of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Innovations in state telecommunications regulations, as well as a summary of actions taken by Southern states since the 1996 Act was adopted, are also discussed. After that whirlwind tour of telecommunications regulation, we pause to examine the evidence for the importance of telecommunications technology in rural areas, and to review key technology innovations that hold promise for rural areas. Finally, we present a checklist of items that state and local decision-makers need to consider when defining telecommunications policy for their regions. This paper is intentionally brief; where appropriate, references to web sites or other resources are provided. In addition, a review of topics that have been addressed by public service commissions in Southern states reveals that different states have addressed different issues in different ways. It is our hope that readers will take the opportunity to learn from one another and share their experiences with one another so rural areas throughout the region can benefit from the telecommunications technology of the next century.