As defined in the U.S.Telecommunications Act of 1996,"the offering of telecommunications for a fee directly to the public, or to such classes of users as to be effectively available directly to the public, regardless of the facilities used." As interpreted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), broadband wireline services such as digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable modem service are information services, rather than telecommunications services. See also broadband, cable modem, DSL, FCC, information services, Telecommunications Act of 1996, and wireline.