Western Telecommunications Alliance

Over the past month, Senators and Representatives have sent the following letters to the FCC regarding the USF/ICC Order and FNPRM:

April 3rd – Letter sent by Senators Mark Begich (AK) and John Thune (SD) and 17 other Senators

April 4th – Letter sent by Congressman Luetkemeyer (MO) and 53 other Representatives

April 16th – Letter sent by Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken of Minnesota

April 18th – Letter sent by Congressman Cory Gardner and Scott Tipton of Colorado

April 19th – Letter sent by Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman of Arkansas

April 20th – Letter sent by Senators John Thune, Tim Johnson and Congresswoman Kristi Noem of South Dakota

Today, WTA submitted testimony to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies on RUS’ Telecommunications and Broadband Loan Programs.

Today, Senator Tim Johnson (SD) lead a group of 24 Senators in sending a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski requesting he and the FCC take the “necessary actions to protect consumers and ensure that the widespread and frequent occurrence of undelivered calls to rural areas is addressed.”

Yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing entitled “Universal Service Reform-Bringing Broadband to All Americans” at which Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA, testified on behalf of the three rural associations.

Shirley Bloomfield’s testimony

Rural Association Press Release

Archived webcast of the hearing

Today, WTA, NTCA and OPASTCO sent letters (click here for an example) to the Leadership of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees requesting that in their upcoming recommendations to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction they remember the important role RUS programs play in helping bring broadband to rural America.

Today, WTA, NTCA and OPASTCO sent letters (click here for an example) to the Leadership of the Senate and House Commerce Committees requesting that in their upcoming recommendations to the Select Committee they include specific language outlining why USF is separate and distinct from the U.S. Treasury and why the panel should refrain from the further consideration of the privately held USF as a source of federal debt reduction.  The associations also issued a press release.