What the Telecommunications Act of 1996 teaches the federal government about governing AI
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ByDon Parente,
Vice President, Sales & Solution Architecture, MetTel Federal
July 9, 2026 05:38 PM ET
COMMENTARY | The federal government's responsibility is to establish clear rules before markets become entrenched.
Thirty years ago, Congress confronted a transformational technology challenge. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 — which spawned MetTel — sought to open telecommunications markets to competition, lower costs and stimulate innovation. Its goals were ambitious and largely bipartisan. Yet the law also provides a cautionary lesson for today's policymakers as they grapple with regulating artificial intelligence.
The challenge facing the federal government is not whether AI should be regulated. The challenge is whether policymakers can create a framework that is unambiguous, encourages innovation, protects national interests and provides market certainty without repeating the costly mistakes that followed telecom reform.
The Telecommunications Act created enormous opportunity. New entrants poured into the market,...
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