Visit the websites of each forum for transcripts, presentations, and audio archives.
Internet Telephony
September 4, 1997
The Internet Telephony forum focused on the use of the Internet to provide telephone service. Speakers shared their visions for providing competitive telephone service over the Internet. Participants debated the regulatory, technical, and economic issues and hurdles surrounding this technology. Internet telephony entrepreneurs demonstrated their services at a concurrent exhibit sponsored by the VON coalition.
Wireless Local Loop
December 17, 1997
The Wireless Local Loop forum examined the development of wireless technologies that can provide a competitive alternative to existing local telephone service. Providing local telephone service using wireless technology also may present an affordable alternative for remote or rural areas of the country where often farmers, ranchers, and Indian tribes currently have limited or no service. Similarly, wireless local connections could be an economical way to upgrade service in inner cities with outdated wired telephone networks. These goals -- Universal Service, and competition -- are at the core of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The Cellular Telephone Industry Association sponsored a concurrent demonstration of new wireless technologies.
New Directions in Telecom
February 4, 1998
On the second anniversary of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, Assistant
Secretary Larry Irving chaired a roundtable discussion of the relative
success of the Act in meeting its goals of competition and universal service
in telecommunications. The Telecom Act was the most substantial change to
the United States' basic law governing telecommunications since the
Communications Act of 1934. Participants heard from new entrants,
competitors and regulators about the new opportunities and choices in
telecommunications created by the Telecom Act.
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