Jay Rockefeller: “It took Congress a decade to forge consensus necessary to pass the 1996 Telecommunication Act. This bold law was…”

“It took Congress a decade to forge consensus necessary to pass the 1996 Telecommunication Act. This bold law was designed to promote competition in the dynamic telecommunications industry, but such competition is to be balanced by maintaining the commitment to universal service, a fundamental principle which has ensured affordable access to communications for every American, especially those in rural areas. I voted for this historic legislation because in my view it struck the right balance. I support competition, but I will insist on universal service. And I will insist on time to fully implement the Act. This bold law seeks to move the $200 billion telecommunications industry to a more competitive market, but it will not happen overnight. President Clinton signed this major legislation into law in February 1998, just two years ago. This started the telecommunications industry on the path toward competition, but there have been some road blocks along the way with implementation snags, mergers instead of competition, and excessive litigation. The current result, unfortunately, is confusion. I do not want to reopen the Telecommunications Act, but I do want to relieve the confusion among consumers who seem to be bearing the brunt of this transition. Today, I am introducing bipartisan legislation called the Consumer Protection Act to ensure 'truth in billing.' I believe that consumers deserve to have the truth, the whole truth about changes in billings.”