The
Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 (codified at ) was an
act of Congress passed on October 30, 1984 to promote competition and deregulate the cable industry. The act established a national policy for the regulation of cable communications by federal, state, and local authorities. Conservative Senator
Barry Goldwater of Arizona wrote and supported the act, which amended the
Communications Act of 1934 with the insertion of "Title VI—Cable Communications". After more than three years of debate, six provisions were enacted to represent the intricate compromise between cable operators and municipalities.