WTA News

Rural Associations File Comments on ARC and Fairpoint Call Signaling Waiver Petitions

wta — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:55:42 +0000

Today, NECA, WTA, NTCA and OPASTCO filed comments on two petitions requesting waiver of the FCC’s call signaling rules. The Alaska Rural Companies requested a broad waiver of the rules, and, in their comments, the rural associations “do not oppose grant of the requested waiver for the four specified circumstances described in the petition, subject to certain conditions as described herein.”

In the second petition, Fairpoint Communications requests a waiver “with respect to certain1SS7 network elements and multifrequency signaling equipment.” In their comments, the rural associations “do not oppose grant of a waiver to FairPoint that is limited to circumstances identified in its petition.”

Save Rural Broadband Campaign Wins Awards

wta — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:28:02 +0000

On April 30th, the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA) announced the winners of the 2012 Communicators Awards, which include the Save Rural Broadband campaign. The SRB campaign won three awards for the video it produced featuring Valley Telephone Cooperative in Texas. The campaign won the following awards:

Activism – Award of Excellence

Documentary – Award of Distinction

Viral – Award of Distinction

The videos were produced by Double R Productions, based in Washington, D.C. IAVA is a 550+ member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts.

Members of Congress Send Letters to FCC on USF/ICC Rulemakings

wta — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:06:49 +0000

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

Rural Associations File Comments on ACS Call Signaling Waiver Petition

wta — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:25:46 +0000

Today, WTA, NECA, NTCA and OPASTCO filed comments in a proceeding regarding the petition for waiver by the Alaska Communications Systems Group of the FCC’s newly-adopted call signaling rules with respect to certain SS7 network elements, multi-frequency signaling equipment, and IP traffic exchanges. The rural associations “do not oppose grant of a waiver to ACS that is limited to circumstances identified in similar petitions filed by AT&T, CenturyLink, and Hawaiian Telcom, provided that such waiver is subject to the same limitations and conditions as those the Associations recommended…”

Rural Associations File Separations Freeze Reply Comments

wta — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:25:15 +0000

Today, WTA, NECA, NTCA, OPASTCO, ITTA and ERTA filed reply comments noting that “the exception of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) and Sprint, all parties endorse the Commission’s proposal to extend the freeze2 as it continues to implement changes to its intercarrier compensation (ICC) and Universal Service Fund (USF).”

Rural Associations File Comments on Hawaiian Telcom Waiver Petition

wta — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:42:04 +0000

Today, WTA, NECA, NCTA and OPASTCO filed comments with the FCC stating that they “do not oppose grant of the requested waiver for the two specified circumstances described in the petition, subject to certain conditions as described herein.” Hawaiian Telcom had requested a waiver of newly adopted call signaling rules in two specific instances.

Rural Associations Support Separations Freeze

wta — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:09:12 +0000

Today, NECA, WTA, NTCA, OPASTCO, ITTA, and ERTA filed comments with the FCC supporting a two year extension of the current freeze of Part 36 category relationships and jurisdictional cost allocation factors. The associations wrote that “This two-year period should provide adequate time for the Joint Board and interested parties to determine how existing separations rules should be conformed to the new ICC and USF/Connect America Fund (CAF) rules.”

WTA, Wheat State Telephone and Madison Telephone meet with FCC

wta — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:22:51 +0000

On March 29th, representatives from WTA, Wheat State Telephone (KS) and Madison Telephone (KS) met with FCC officials from the Wireline Competition Bureau as well as staff from the offices of Commissioners McDowell and Clyburn. A notice of ex parte was filed.

Rural Associations File Comments on GCI Waiver Request

wta — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:17:03 +0000

Today, WTA, NECA, NTCA and OPASCTO filed comments on a petition by GCI request for a limited waiver of the FCC’s call signaling rules. The associations do not oppose granting “the requested waiver for the four specified circumstances described in the petition, subject to certain conditions as described herein. The associations oppose, however, GCI’s request for a broader waiver as unreasonably vague.”

Rural Associations File Reply Comments on ICC Portions of FNPRM

wta — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:20:53 +0000

Today, NECA, WTA, NTCA and OPASTCO filed reply comments on the intercarrier compensation portions of the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.