WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission last week vowed to continue efforts to eliminate market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and small businesses, a commitment mandated in the 1996 Telecommunications Act.
In addition, the FCC said it would complete a comprehensive study this year on the participation of women and minorities in the telecommunications industry.
“Enactment of this new rule will likely result in increased opportunity for so many, which reflects the true spirit of American commerce,” said Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), sponsor of the amendment to remove market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
In a 1995 decision curbing federal affirmative action programs, the Supreme Court said such a study would be required to support gender- and race-based preferences. As a result of that ruling, the FCC discontinued female and minority auction preferences for personal communications services licenses.
The FCC has taken other steps, such as allowing geographic partitioning of licenses and disaggregation of spectrum, to foster wireless ownership diversity. In addition, Congress established a Telecommunications Development Fund.
