Equity · Friday, August 7, 2026
As a historian, Jill Lepore emphasizes exploring 'what ifs' and alternative paths not taken regarding the internet and personal computer development. She highlights the 1996 Telecommunications Act as a product of a specific political moment, influenced by Newt Gingrich, and contrasts it with potential earlier alternatives for the internet's structure.
“Absolutely. And we could have had. Right? One of the, one of the things that I'm, I'm a historian. I'm not a tech writer, not a tech journalist, um, not a computer scientist.”
“The the 1996 Telecommunications Act. I think a lot of people would say just was a mistake. Not not an act of sinister intent, right? People like, oh, maybe we should do this. And actually these libertarians have a point.”
“And you could see the same thing about the personal computer, right? So, to the degree that we can locate an origin point for the promise that better computer technology would make for better democracies.”