I got a couple of things from this 1) that in the 90s sausage making, the word "internet' was taboo, because nominally it was still a DoD / NSF project and thus would involve whole areas of government beyond telecom, thus the euphemism "advanced networks' was used 2) that E-rate, which provided many connections to schoold and libraries, only got funded because (Later Trump AG) Bill Barr totally fumbled the ball in court, and 3) yes, Al Gore was key. Please note that ISOC LIVE recaps are now mirrored at https://isoclive.substack.com/ [image: ISOC LIVE] <https://isoc.live/20296> VIDEO <https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlg8We3ePxcOa9iqDoBa3LbDo9lUNwA_H> | RECAP <https://www.patreon.com/posts/153570251/> | ARCHIVE <https://archive.org/details/benton-telecom-act> | PERMALINK <https://isoc.live/20296> On March 5, 2026, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society <https://www.benton.org/> marked the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Telecommunications Act <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_Act_of_1996> with an event ‘Telecom Act at 30: Universal Service as the North Star <https://www.benton.org/event/telecom-act-30-universal-service-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 VIDEO <https://youtu.be/4Ih2UY7_Meo> | AUDIO <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/01_Introduction.mp3> | RECAP EN <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/01_Introduction.EN.pdf> / ES <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/01_Introduction.ES.pdf> / FR <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/01_Introduction.FR.pdf> 02 Keynote Speaker – Ed Markey Ed Markey – U.S. Senator, Massachusetts VIDEO <https://youtu.be/hcna28d9O4g> | AUDIO <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/02_Ed_Markey.mp3> | RECAP EN <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/02_Ed_Markey.EN.pdf> / ES <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/02_Ed_Markey.ES.pdf> / FR <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/02_Ed_Markey.FR.pdf> 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 VIDEO <https://youtu.be/tmOrP3QhT_Q> | AUDIO <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/03_How_a_Bill_Becomes_a_Law.mp3> | RECAP EN <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/03_How_a_Bill_Becomes_a_Law.EN.pdf> / ES <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/03_How_a_Bill_Becomes_a_Law.ES.pdf> / FR <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/03_How_a_Bill_Becomes_a_Law.FR.pdf> 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 VIDEO <https://youtu.be/AHmokKQF4gU> | AUDIO <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/04_Best_Laid_Plans.mp3> | RECAP EN <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/04_Best_Laid_Plans.EN.pdf> / ES <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/04_Best_Laid_Plans.ES.pdf> / FR <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/04_Best_Laid_Plans.FR.pdf> 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 VIDEO <https://youtu.be/iMvOvizVnzk> | AUDIO <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/05_Philip_Verveer_and_Gigi_Sohn.mp3> | RECAP EN <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/05_Philip_Verveer_and_Gigi_Sohn.EN.pdf> / ES <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/05_Philip_Verveer_and_Gigi_Sohn.ES.pdf> / FR <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/05_Philip_Verveer_and_Gigi_Sohn.FR.pdf> 06 Conclusion Revati Prasad – Executive Director – Benton Institute for Broadband & Society VIDEO <https://youtu.be/mmRb49BGmcY> | AUDIO <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/06_Conclusion.mp3> | RECAP EN <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/06_Conclusion.EN.pdf> / ES <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/06_Conclusion.ES.pdf> / FR <https://archive.org/download/benton-telecom-act/06_Conclusion.FR.pdf> -- - -- -------------------------------------- Joly MacFie +12185659365 -------------------------------------- -