Telecommunications Policy Reform

Office of the Vice President -- January 11, 1994 -- New technologies and market forces have led to a convergence of once separate communications industries, and this convergence requires a new framework to ensure that the United States remains a leader of the information age. This new framework is the Administration's legislative agenda on communications outlined by Vice President Gore. It is only one in a series of steps to encourage the development of the National Information Infrastructure (NII), a seamless web of communications networks, computers, databases, and consumer electronics that will put vast amounts of information at users' fingertips.

The Administration's legislative agenda on telecommunications seeks to facilitate greater economic growth by removing regulatory barriers, and to create new jobs, new business opportunities and expanded diversity of choice for American consumers. An advanced information infrastructure will bring into millions of homes information that will enrich people's economic, social, and political lives. Ensuring that this technology is used to promote education, health care, and information access for the benefit of all Americans is a major goal of the legislative initiatives.

Specifically, the initiatives aim to create a flexible, adaptable approach to the communications industry that will encourage the development of the information infrastructure -- a network that eventually will link homes and businesses together in multimedia community networks. The legislative initiatives promote what is known as a broadband interactive network, or a network that enables vast amounts of information to flow back and forth. In addition, the legislation will:

• Increase competition and private investment in communications by removing unnecessary regulations and artificial barriers to participation by private firms in all communications markets. For example, the Administration proposes to permit cable companies and others to provide local telephone service;
• Secure open access to the network for consumers and service providers. For example, the legislation requires all local telephone companies upon reasonable request to interconnect their networks with the facilities of competing providers on nondiscriminatory terms;
• Preserve and advance universal service for all Americans across all sectors of society. Because full and productive participation in American society will increasingly depend on access to information, the Administration is committed to promoting the availability of information resources to all people at affordable prices;
• Develop a new regulatory framework that is flexible and fair by allowing the FCC to reduce regulation for telecommunications carriers that lack market power.

The Administration's legislative agenda outlines a comprehensive approach to communications. It is a broad vision of the future of the information infrastructure, with a commitment to using communications technology to improve and enhance the lives of all Americans.

Office of the Vice President
The White House