Western Telecommunications Alliance

Today, WTA, NTCA and OPASTCO filed a joint letter with a group of other telecommunications companies explaining how their plan and the rural associations’ April 2011 plan can work in tandem to create an effective framework for reasonable USF and ICC reform.  This joint letter is the result of many months of work to seek potential compromise and consensus with a group of larger carriers to develop a consensus framework and complimentary set of reforms plans to advance the cause of sustainable universal service throughout rural America.  See full press release for more.

In separate op-eds in their local newspapers, Mike Foster of Twin Valley Telephone (KS) and Ron Laudner of OmniTel Communications (IA) informed readers of the serious problems with the FCC’s proposed reforms to the Universal Service Fund.

Read the op-eds:

Mike Foster: “FCC reform disastrous for rural broadband”

Ron Laudner: “Wrong time, wrong broadband plan”

In addition, Mike Foster has posted a video on YouTube on the subject.

On July 14th, WTA, NTCA and OPASTCO issued this press release.

Today, OPASTCO, WTA and NTCA filed comments at the FCC in a proceeding on how to implement the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, legislation designed to moderate the volume of television commercials.