ICYMI: Senator Markey Celebrates 30 Years Since the 1996 Telecommunications Act

Senator Markey alongside Michael Baldino, Jessica Rosenworcel and others

Boston (May 28, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and House author of the E-Rate program, held a summit alongside Michael Baldino, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, and former Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman and Executive Director of the MIT Media Lab Jessica Rosenworcel, celebrating 30 years since the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

"In 1996, I authored the Telecommunications Act with a simple conviction: that the internet should belong to everyone," said Senator Markey. "In the 30 years since, thanks to the pioneering work of the MIT Media Lab and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute's efforts to connect every corner of our Commonwealth, Massachusetts has been at the forefront of the digital revolution. I am proud that E-Rate and the Emergency Connectivity Fund alone have put over $1 billion into Massachusetts schools and libraries, proving that when we treat connectivity as essential infrastructure, we can close the digital divide. Today's summit was about making sure that same vision carries us through the next thirty years."

"For 30 years, Massachusetts has helped lead the digital revolution through investments in broadband infrastructure and programs that connect residents with educational, workforce and economic opportunities," said Massachusetts Broadband Institute Director Michael Baldino. "As we continue the work of closing the digital divide across our state, we are grateful to Sen. Markey and our partners at the local, state and federal levels for supporting programs to create a more digitally equitable future."

"The Telecommunications Act helped usher in the digital age," said Jessica Rosenworcel, Executive Director of the MIT Media Lab. "Thirty years on, it's the right time to ask what we can learn from this landmark law as we design what's next. The Media Lab is just the place to do it, because imagining a future where technology works for everyone is at the heart of our mission."

"The E-Rate program has been a quiet powerhouse for libraries across the country, connecting millions of patrons and students nationwide," said Maria McCauley, president-elect of the American Library Association. "For half of U.S. public libraries that depend on E-Rate discounts to keep their communities connected, the program is more than numbers on a spreadsheet. It's young people learning to do research, job seekers finding work, workers filing taxes, and seniors attending telehealth appointments. ALA is proud to partner with Senator Markey and the education community to keep E-Rate strong and expand access nationwide."

"As the world becomes more internet dependent, the summit reminded us of how far we've come and how far we still have left to go," said Virginia Benzan, Head of the Massachusetts Digital Equity Coalition.

"Thirty years ago, the Telecommunications Act promised to connect every American - and we've spent three decades trying to live up to that promise. Progress has been made, but communities are still underestimated," said Reverend Chris Hope, CEO of The Hope Group & Founder of The Loop Lab. "The next digital divide is AI: who builds it, who benefits, and who gets left behind. We have one window to write the AI future we want to see, and we need civil rights written in from the start - not as an afterthought thirty years from now."

"Westfield Gas and Electric/Whip City Fiber is proud to be part of the larger solution to bring broadband to the unserved and underserved communities, especially in the commonwealth's rural towns," said Joe Mitchell, Assistant General Manager of Westfield Gas and Electric/Whip City Fiber.

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