In the wake of the US Telecommunications Act of 1996, the true impact of this sweeping legislation is becoming increasingly evident. This text provides coverage of the radical effects this reform has had on the telecommunications industry. It shows how dramatic regulatory changes have shaped developments such as the entry of local telephone companies and BOCs into long distance service. Telecommunications and the law are discussed, including the history and economics of the industry; core principles and debates in US telecommunications regulation; historical development of industry competition; and key international regulatory issues as they pertain to both domestic regulation of international carriage and foreign ownership.