Lawmakers Plan Review Of '96 Communications Act

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., Tuesday announced plans to update the Communications Act, according to TV NewsCheck.

The announcement was made via a Google Hangout, similar to a video Skype or FaceTime call.

“Today we are launching a multi-year effort to examine our nation’s communications laws and update them for the Internet era,” Upton said.

“The United States has been the global leader in innovation and growth of the Internet, but unfortunately, our communications laws have failed to keep pace. Throughout the recent economic downturn and recovery, the communications and technology sectors have remained stalwarts of our national economy — providing services that consumers demand while investing, innovating and producing the high-quality jobs that all American strive for.”

The last time the Communications Act was updated was 18 years ago, said Walden.

“…No one could have dreamed of the many innovations and advancements that make the Internet what it is today,” he said. “Written during the Great Depression and last updated when 56 kilobit per second via dial-up model was state-of-the-art, the Communications Act is now painfully out of date.”