Telecommunications Act of 1996, U.S.

The Telecommunications Act (TCA) was an amendment to the U.S. Communications Act of 1934. The TCA eased restrictions on businesses owning multiple types of media and on how many media companies one business could own; it also allowed competition between different telecommunications companies (e.g., cable companies could offer phone service and vice versa). Supporters of the TCA claimed it would spur investment and growth while allowing the telecommunications industries to grow and diversify.

The TCA was proposed as a way to provide U.S. consumers with better quality and less expensive services, sex and violence filters for television content, and greater access to information. This entry provides an overview of the TCA of 1996, including its origins, impact, and legal considerations.