Telecommunications Reform

Objective

Advocate for updated telecommunications laws that better reflect the competitive nature of the industry, spur economic development, and encourage the deployment of new technologies and services.

Summary of the Issue

Only with competitive technologies can the United States participate fully in the global economy. Without them, U.S. companies may be forced to move jobs overseas. Unfortunately, the nation’s telecommunications laws have failed to keep pace with advances in technology, stifled new investment, and hindered the deployment of new technologies. In rankings of global broadband deployment, the United States has fallen to 16th place, down from 13th in 2004 and 5th in 2000. Therefore, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has formed the TeleCONSENSUS coalition to educate Congress, the business community, and the public about the need for updated federal telecommunications laws. 

TeleCONSENSUS’ efforts will be guided by the following six principles: 

1. Federal telecommunications laws must be updated to foster innovation, expand consumer choice, spur investment, create jobs, enhance efficiency, and increase productivity.
   
2. Telecommunications markets should be driven by consumer demand, advances in technology, and competition between telecommunications companies, while encouraging public safety, consumer protection, access for people with disabilities, and other public interest goals.
   
3. Universal service, which ensures affordable basic telephone service for all Americans and Internet access in the nation's schools and libraries, is an important national commitment and must be preserved.
   
4. Government should not burden consumers with discriminatory or excessive telecommunications taxes, nor should obsolete regulations limit Americans' access to innovative services and choices.
   
5. Consumer choice and private-sector investment should drive the deployment of high-speed Internet access into our communities.
   
6. Additional spectrum should be allocated for innovative wireless services.

U.S. Chamber Strategy

• Host forums on the importance of telecommunications and broadband to the U.S. economy.
  
• Recruit new trade associations, chambers of commerce, telecommunications providers, equipment manufacturers, businesses, and consumers for TeleCONSENSUS.
  
• Lobby Congress and the administration to pass updated telecommunications laws that embody the above six principles.