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On March 5, 2026, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society marked the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Telecommunications Act with an event ‘Telecom Act at 30: Universal Service as the North Star‘ in Washington DC. Policymakers, advocates, academics, and industry leaders convened to examine how the law, drafted at the dawn of dial-up internet, codified the national commitment to universal connectivity. Participants explored how the act has shaped today’s broadband landscape and what universal service must mean in the next era of connectivity.
01 Introduction
Senator Al Gore & Lily Tomlin (video)
Revati Prasad – Executive Director – Benton Institute for Broadband & Society
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02 Keynote Speaker – Ed Markey
Ed Markey – U.S. Senator, Massachusetts
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03 How a Bill Becomes a Law
Katie King – Former Special Counsel, Federal Communications Commission
Chip Pickering – Chief Executive Officer, INCOMPAS
Gina Keeney – Founder, Keeney Consulting
John Windhausen Jr. – President, Telepoly
Moderator: Andy Schwartzman – Benton Senior Counselor
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04 Best Laid Plans
Rachelle Chong – Former Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Larry Irving – President & Chief Executive Officer, Irving Group
Jim Kohlenberger – President, JK Strategies
Christopher Wright – Partner, Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP
Blair Levin – Policy Advisor, New Street Research
Moderator: Mignon Clyburn, Former FCC Commissioner
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05 Fireside Chat – Philip L. Verveer & Gigi Sohn
Philip L. Verveer – Former Deputy Assistant Secretary and Ambassador, U.S. Department of State
Gigi Sohn – Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate
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06 Conclusion
Revati Prasad – Executive Director – Benton Institute for Broadband & Society
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#Benton #telecomact #universal service