FCC Broadband Study Argues for Open Access Oct 17, 2009
"While Congress adopted various open access provisions in the almost unanimously approved Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC decided to abandon this mode of regulation for broadband in a series of decisions in 2001 and 2002," the researchers argued. "Open access has been largely treated as a closed issue in U.S. policy debates ever since.". (SmallBusinessComputing)
Jack Thompson Sues Facebook Over Video-Game Backlash Oct 2, 2009
Facebook is immunized from liability by a section of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that says Web sites are not liable for user-supplied content, Goldman said. "It doesn't matter if Facebook receives notice of a problem and fails to act, or if Facebook has acted in similar situations and hasn't acted here," he continued. (Yahoo News -- Technology)
FCC Diversity Chief: GOP Hurts Civil Rights Aug 29, 2009
The worst blow, according to Lloyd, was delivered by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. While touted as a landmark bill updating the sixty-year-old Communications Act for the benefit of U.S. consumers, the T96 Act was created by and for a communications industry dominated by global conglomerates, Lloyd argued in his essay. (Newsmax)
FCC Begins Latest Probe of Broadband Access Aug 8, 2009
This is the sixth so-called "706 Inquiry" since the process was mandated by Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and the first one under the Obama administration. Under a law passed last year, the inquiry will now be carried out annually. (Yahoo News -- Technology)
Cell towersstir concern in West Windsor Aug 6, 2009
Monday, West Windsor township attorney Michael J. Herbert told the residents Congress limited municipalities' power over cellular towers with the Telecommunications Act of 1996. He said municipalities can't ban the towers, but can regulate their locations by zoning. (NJ.com -- Times)
New Mexico-Based Computer Assets Inc. Agrees to Settle Jul 31, 2009
The E-Rate program, which Congress created in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, provides funding for needy schools and libraries to connect to and utilize the Internet. Under the program, which is supported by fees collected from telephone users, schools apply for funds to pay for hardware and monthly connectivity service fees. (PR Newswire)
Kansas Woman Pleads Guilty to Making False Statement to FBI in E-Rate Fraud Investigation Jul 3, 2009
The Schools and Libraries Universal Service Fund, a federally funded program known as E-Rate, was created by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. E-Rate is a program through which the Universal Services Administrative Company, a not-for-profit corporation, acting under oversight of the FCC, subsidizes the provision of Internet access and telecommunications services, as well as internal computer and communications networks to economically disadvantaged schools and libraries. (PR Newswire)
Cell tower foes argue for alternate sites Jun 20, 2009
But Town Attorney Tal Rappleyea responded, The Telecommunications Act of 1996 ruled there were no adverse side effects to electromagnetic waves. Schweigard said: Each carrier can support 12 antennas. (Catskill Daily Mail, NY)
LA County Calls for Repeal of Federal Cell Tower Health Preemption Jun 17, 2009
LOS ANGELES, June 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in early June to actively seek and support federal legislation to repeal portions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that limit the authority of state and local governments to regulate cell towers and related wireless facilities on the basis of their health and environmental effects ... "For almost 15 years, local planning and zoning officials, City Council members and Supervisors... (PR Newswire)
Tighter rules on cell phone towers? May 15, 2009
Queens Chronicle - Tighter rules on cell phone towers. Tighter rules on cell phone towers. (Queens Chronicle, NY)
Tower permit will be issued Apr 17, 2009
It is clear in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that the federal government has preempted the ability of local governments to regulate the location of cellular towers based on health and environmental issues. We cant change the federal ruling. (New Iberia, LA)
Former Michigan School Official Sentenced to Serve 46 Months in Jail for Role in Fraud Scheme Mar 27, 2009
The program was created by Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and is administered by Universal Service Administrative Company, a non-profit corporation, under the auspices of the Federal Communications Commission. As a result of the Antitrust Division's investigation into fraud and anticompetitive conduct in the E-Rate program, a total of seven companies and 18 individuals have pleaded guilty or have been convicted and found guilty or entered civil settlements. (PR Newswire)
Cell tower decision next week Feb 26, 2009
In regard to the safety part of the criteria, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 prevents health issues from being used to deny a special permit to a communications company. Only discussion of safety in terms of the installation and whether the building materials could fall and cause harm, for instance, may be used. (North Andover Citizen, MA)
