Western Telecommunications Alliance

On October 19th, 13 state telco associations wrote to the FCC in support of the industry Consensus Framework.  They write that “it is of importance that the Rural Plan portion of the Industry Consensus Framework not only proactively addresses universal service reform and intercarrier compensation reform, it maintains the strong benefit to the economy provided by rural incumbent local exchange carriers.”  Read more…

This week, representatives from WTA, NTCA, OPASTCO and NECA met with Wireline Bureau and FCC Commissioner staff on several occasions to relay our concerns about the proposed Order due for a vote at the end of the month.  The notices of ex parte can be found below:

October 17th meeting with staff for Commissioners McDowell, Copps and Clyburn

October 18th meeting with Chairman Genachowski’s staff and Wireline Bureau staff

On October 5th, representatives from WTA, OPASTCO, NECA and NTCA met with staff at the FCC to discuss call termination problems and present data from NECA’s test call project.  The Notice of ex parte can be found here.

Today OPASTCO, NTCA, WTA, ITTA and RICA filed comments in response to the FCC’s Public Notice regarding Regional Sports Networks.  In their filing, the associations “urge the Commission to acknowledge in its RSN Report that small and mid- sized multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) continue to encounter significant barriers to obtaining access to must-have RSN programming, and that these barriers impede the ability of these MVPDs to compete in or even enter the video marketplace, which, in turn, impedes broadband adoption and investment.”

On September 6, 2011, OPASTCO, WTA and NTCA submitted comments to the FCC in response to its Notice of Inquiry into broadband deployment required by Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act.

Today, NECA, WTA, NTCA and OPASTCO filed joint reply comments in response to the FCC’s Public Notice on three USF and intercarrier compensation reform plans submitted by the Rural Associations, a group of larger carriers and the state members of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service.  An associated press release was also issued.

Today, NECA, WTA, NTCA and OPASTCO filed joint comments in response to the FCC’s Public Notice on three USF and intercarrier compensation reform plans submitted by the Rural Associations, a group of larger carriers and the state members of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service.  An associated press release was also issued.

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.

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.

OPASTCO, WTA, NTCA, ITTA and RICA submitted comments in response to the FCC’s Notice of Inquiry into the “Status of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video Programming”.