Western Telecommunications Alliance

On August 19th, WTA joined NTCA and the FACT Coalition (made up of OPASTCO, NRTC and RICA) in filing additional comments opposing the proposed NBC/Comcast merger without eight conditions being met.

On August 16th, WTA joined NTCA, OPASTCO, and ERTA in filing comments at the FCC in regards to an Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on its rules regarding pole attachments.

Today, WTA joined OPASTCO, NTCA, ITTA and RICA in filing reply comments at the FCC regarding its NOI on video set-top boxes.  Initial comments by the rural associations were filed on June 14th.

On August 11th, WTA, NECA, OPASTCO, NTCA, and the Rural Alliance submitted reply comments to the FCC on its National Broadband Plan Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry.  41 State Associations concurred with the filing.  The group also issued a press release to accompany the comments.

Today, WTA, NECA, OPASTCO, NTCA and ERTA filed comments at the FCC stating that VoIP providers should be subject to the same service outrage reporting standards as other voice service providers.  The associations also stated that the FCC should not apply these standards to Internet service providers until it completes pending proceedings on the appropriate legal framework for regulating broadband Internet access services.

Today, WTA joined NECA, OPASTCO, NTCA and ERTA in filing comments in response to the FCC’s Notice of Inquiry requesting comments on three potential approached for the legal framework for regulation of broadband Internet service.  The comments can be found here.

WTA, along with NECA, OPASTCO, NTCA, and the Rural Alliance filed comments with the FCC regarding its Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Notice of Inquiry on the National Broadband Plan.  38 state telecom associations “concurred” with the comments.  The group also issued a press release.

On June 21, 2010, WTA and NTCA filed joint comments opposing the NBC-Comcast merger.  The two associations recommend several conditions be placed on the merger should the FCC consider approving it.  The comments can be found here.

Today, WTA, OPASTCO, NTCA, ITTA and RICA filed comments at the FCC in support of an OPASTCO/NTCA petition for a waiver for IPTV providers of proposed rules meant to ensure that security elements are separate from the basic navigation devices.  A copy of the comments 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.