Western Telecommunications Alliance

On May 28th, WTA, OPASTCO and NTCA hailed Reps. Sam Graves (R-MO), Betsy Markey (D-CO) and 38 other members of the House of Representatives for voicing their concerns about the potential negative impact of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) on rural America.  The press release can be found here and a copy of the letter they sent can be found here.

On May 18, 2010, WTA, OPASTCO, NTCA, ITTA and RICA filed comments at the FCC in response to its Public Notice on a petition requesting that the FCC institute a proceeding to amend and supplement its retransmission consent rules.  WTA and its allies support the petition saying “the record clearly demonstrates that the current retransmission consent regime is detrimental to consumers, insulates broadcasters from market forces, and impedes broadband deployment and adoption.”  The filing supports “updates to the rules in order to facilitate even-handed, market-based negotiations for retransmission consent rights.”  The text can be found here.

On May 14, 2010, WTA and other associations and telecommunications companies filed comments at the FCC in response to a petition for declaratory ruling filed by US Telecom and CTIA.  US Telecom and CTIA had requested that the FCC clarify several issues involving the scope and meaning of the “lowest corresponding price” rule element of the E-rate program.  The filing can be found here.

On May 3, 2010, WTA, OPASTCO and NTCA issued a press release coinciding with a letter urging Congress to request that the FCC alter its proposed National Broadband Plan to prevent a digital divide.  The release can be found here.