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Telecommunications

Last update: 5-2-03

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was the first major overhaul of federal telecommunications policy in 62 years. According to some analysts, it promises to promote competition in telephone and cable television services and partially deregulates much of the telecommunications industry. State legislatures have enacted a variety of measures since passage of the federal act. State legislation to implement the act, regulate emergency telephone services, and regulate telemarketing practices are just a few of the issues states have addressed. Other topics include establishing universal service programs, regulating rights of ways, and regulating wireless telephone services.
 
 

Articles, Reports and Publications

State Legislatures Articles

• Putting the Brakes on Nuisance Marketing Calls - March 2001
• Merger Mania: Hold the Phone - June 2000
• The Mad Dash for Internet Lines - June 2000
• "Reach Out, But Not Too Far" - May 1998
• "Beam Me In, Scotty" - April 1996

• Electronic Surveillance - January 2002
• Telemarketing Regulation in the States - October 2000
• Telecommunications - April/May 1997
• State Telecommunications Development and Regulation - August/September 1995

• 2002 Telecommunications Laws - January 2003 (registered users)
• 2001 Telecommunications Laws - January 2002 (  version)
• 2000 Telecommunications Laws - January 2001
• 1999 Telecommunications Laws - February 2000
• State Telecommunications Laws Passed in 1998 - January 1999
• State Telecommunications - Laws Passed 1997 - January 1998

• The Future of 9-1-1 Services - Summer 2002
• The Wireless Adult - Summer 2002
• States Update Laws on Electronic Surveillance & Wiretapping - Summer 2002
• Update on Electronic Surveillance - Winter 2002
• Broadband Ruling - Winter 2002
• Telecommunications Companies and Structural Separation - Winter 2002
• A Telemarketing Update  - Winter 2002
• Wireless Spam - Winter 2002
• Alabama Creates a "Digital Divide" Study Committee - Fall 2001
• Supreme Court to Rule on Telecommunications Act of 1996 - Fall 2001
• New Rules on Wiretapping - Fall 2001
• The New Global Telecommunications Industry & Consumers - Summer 2001
• Colorado and Illinois Supreme Courts Rule on Rights of Way Fees - Summer 2001
• 2000 Telecommunications Laws Report - Spring 2001
• Connecticut Building a Large Do-Not-Call List - Spring 2001
• The FCC Rules on Reciprocal Compensation Payments- Spring 2001
• Wamming? (Wireless Advertisement Messages) - Spring 2001
• Are New Area Codes in Your Future? - Summer 2001
• Beware! "Slamming" Rules Now in Effect - Summer 2001
• State Legislatures Pass New 9-1-1 and E 9-1-1 Legislation- Summer 2001
• States Pass "Do Not Call" Telemarketing Legislation - Fall 2000
• Telephone Advertising Guidelines Issued by the FCC and FTC - Spring/Summer 2000
• Protection for Consumers from Telephone Abuses - Spring 2000
• 9-1-1 and Emergency Telephone Services - Spring 2000
• Recent Developments on Telecommunications Rights of Way - Fall 1999
• Regulating Telemarketing Practices - Fall 1999

NCSL Policy Resolutions

• NCSL Policy on Twenty-First Century Telecommunications

Court Cases

Recent Court Cases

• AT&T vs. Iowa Utilities Board
• AT&T Corp. of the Southwest

Laws & Legislation

• State "do-not-call" statutes
• State statutes on slamming and cramming

• 2001 Wireless Telecommunications Enacted Legislation

• 2000 Telecommunications Laws

• 1999 Telecommunications Laws
• 1999 Enacted Slamming Bills

• State Telecommunications Laws Passed in 1998 - January 1999

• State Telecommunications - Laws Passed 1997 - January 1998

"Hot Topics"

• Regulation of Electronic Communication Devices on School Property
• Electronic Surveillance
• State "do-not-call" statutes
• State statutes on slamming and cramming
• Digital Divide
• How Wide is the Digital Divide? (News from the States article)

Internet Links

• AmeriTech
• AT & T
• BellSouth
• Consumer Federation of America
• Council of State Government (CSG) States News
• Excel
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• Intrado
• Legislatures Live!
• National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)
• Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO)
• Qwest
• Reciprocal Compensation: Selected Materials
• SBC Communications
• Sprint
• Verizon
• Worldcom

NCSL Staff Contacts

For additional information, please contact Bob Boerner at 303-364-7700, or by e-mail at Bob.Boerner@ncsl.org. For information on federal telecommunications activities and NCSL Policy Resolutions, please contact Neal Osten at (202) 624-5400 or by e-mail at Neal.Osten@ncsl.org.

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