Media Contact: Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509 will.wiquist@fcc.gov For Immediate Release ACTING CHAIRWOMAN ROSENWORCEL COMMEMORATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996 New FCC Video Includes Telecom Dignitaries Discussing the Landmark Legislation; Acting Chairwoman Will Join Congresswoman Hayes in Twitter Chat -- WASHINGTON, February 8, 2021—Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel issued a statement today to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the landmark Telecommunications Act of 1996. She also hosted a video featuring telecommunications policy leaders’ thoughts about the Act, the biggest overhaul of U.S. communications policy in over half-a-century. Rosenworcel will also join a Twitter chat with Congresswoman Jahana Hayes of Connecticut to discuss the Act and ways to modernize and build upon it. The chat begins at 2:30 p.m. E.T. and can be followed at #TelecomActChat. Today’s new video features past and present Congressional, Commission, and NTIA leaders discussing the Act. In addition to Rosenworcel, speakers include Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Frank Pallone, Senator Ed Markey, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Congressman Fred Upton, former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Larry Irving, former FCC Commissioner Susan Ness, former FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani, and former FCC Commissioner Rachelle Chong. “Without the Telecom Act of 1996, today’s information and communications landscape would look entirely different,” said Rosenworcel. “Coming at the dawn of the Internet age, the Act accelerated the transition from the analog era to the digital age while also reaffirming the promise at the heart of FCC’s founding statute: that advanced communications should be available to all Americans. Importantly, the Act established the E-Rate program to bring the Internet to every classroom and library in America and, today, the wisdom of investing in digital learning has never been clearer. While we have come a long way, we still have much more work to do to fully realize the promise of the Act and see connectivity for all Americans.” The FCC’s new video is available at: https://go.usa.gov/xAhsP. The Twitter chat between Acting Chairwoman @JRosenworcelFCC and Congresswoman @RepJahanaHayes can be followed at: https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelecomActChat ### Office of the Acting Chairwoman: (202) 418-2400 / @JRosenworcelFCC / www.fcc.gov/jessica-rosenworcel This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).