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FCC commissioners struck a bipartisan tone as they celebrated 30 years since the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

It was a friendly atmosphere between FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Republican, and Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, the FCC’s lone Democratic member, as the agency marked 30 years since the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

In his opening remarks, Carr thanked Gomez for putting together a webinar and reception reflecting on the act’s passage.

As he spoke, Carr also said he considers Gomez a good friend and has enjoyed working with her on the FCC.

“Everything we do, in my opinion, is improved greatly by having her here and her ideas,” he said.

He also said the work of the act continues to this day, as convergence between technologies continues to be a main theme in the communications sector.

“More than ever before we are actually seeing that convergence now,” he said.

In her remarks, Gomez said she has also enjoyed working with Carr.

“Your support for the FCC has been excellent,” she added.

In regard to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Gomez said the act was the last major effort by the federal government to construct a new regulatory framework for the technology, media, and telecom sectors.

She said the act supported competition to the benefit of consumers.

Passage of the act also made for an extraordinarily busy time at the FCC, Gomez said, as policy experts sought to implement it.

“I felt and feel extremely lucky to have been on the ground floor at a pivotal time for communications history,” she said, reflecting on her own lengthy career.

The webinar commemorating the passage of the act also brought together numerous communications policy experts that were involved in the act’s passage.

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