ABSTRACT
In February 1996, the U.S. Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act). 2 The 1996 Act is a significant milestone along the lengthy path toward telecommunications competition. For much of the last 60 years, public policy has been hostile to competition on the theory that carriers needed protection from competition in order to ensure their ability to invest in new facilities and their willingness to serve all segments of the public. Gradually, however, competition has been introduced to many telecommunications markets. 3 The 1996 Act takes the view that competition in all telephony markets is beneficial and should be promoted by public policy. 4 The legislation sets out a structure for regulatory reform that should accelerate the movement toward greater competition that was already underway.
