it’s time that we update our laws to reflect that.
Update communications law to reflect the realities of today’s economy and technology.
Occurrences
Our legislation that passed the House this week prioritizes transparency, investment, and reliability as we streamline permitting and strengthen our emergency response systems
hold a hearing to review the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and examine how Congress can modernize communications policy for today’s economy.
I look forward to a conversation about modernizing our regulations so bureaucracy and red tape do not prevent another great American century.
Evidence
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“The communications marketplace has transformed dramatically in the thirty years since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed into law,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson.
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“The world of 1996 looks nothing like the world of today, and it’s time we update our laws to reflect that,” said Chairman Hudson. “Congress needs to consider how we should modernize our communications policy framework to reflect the technologies of today in a way that will also work for the technologies of tomorrow.”
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Today’s hearing is an opportunity to look back at the Telecom Act — as well as the law it amended, the Communications Act of 1934 — and find out what continues to work and what does not.
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[discussion of] the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to better align federal policy with today’s broadband ...
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“American innovators are at the leading edge of technological advancements ... However, our laws governing satellite technologies often do not reflect our ability and shared goal to continue that progress,” said Chairman Hudson.
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The hearing will discuss the impact of the following legislation: H.R. 8255, the SAT Streamlining Act ... WHAT: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing on updating satellite regulations
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“Secure, innovative, and reliable communications infrastructure underpins the foundation of the modern economy ...” and the House passed legislation including H.R. 7386, the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026, and H.R. 5201, the Kari's Law Reporting Act.
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The official vote summary for the September 1, 2026 Communications and Technology Subcommittee markup lists six communications bills and records final passage by voice vote for H.R. 8255, H.R. 9129, H.R. 6152, H.R. 2805, and H.R. 4950, with H.R. 7294 agreed to as amended by voice vote.
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Hudson's official opening statement describes the proceeding as a subcommittee markup of six bipartisan telecommunications bills to strengthen communications networks, modernize satellite regulation, address AI network security, improve broadband coordination, and update broadband mapping for agricultural areas.
Assessments
Hudson chaired hearings and a subcommittee markup directly aimed at modernizing communications law, including satellite regulation, broadband mapping, robocalls, AI network security, and telecom infrastructure. That is serious same-term legislative effort and some House/subcommittee progress, but the evidence does not show enactment of a communications-law update or broad modernization of the 1996-era framework. In federal context, subcommittee approval and House passage of related bills are not enough to count the law as updated.
Evidence shows Hudson actively pursued modernization of communications law in his House subcommittee role by announcing and chairing hearings reviewing the 1996 Telecom Act and satellite regulations, and by advancing telecom-related House legislation. That demonstrates serious, on-the-record legislative effort closely aligned with the promise. However, the record provided does not show that a broad update to communications law was enacted into federal law, and the cited House passage of narrower telecom bills is only partial progress toward the larger promise. Because there was meaningful action but no clear completed delivery of the promised outcome, partial credit is most appropriate.