High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Cable Communications Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-549) 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- General Provisions." After more than three years of debate, six provisions were enacted to represent the intricate compromise between cable operators and municipalities.