Rural Associations Request FCC to Exclude Certain Form 481 Certifications for 2016

Yesterday, WTA and NTCA filed comments under the Paperwork Reduction Act urging the FCC refrain from including certifications regarding the E-rate reasonably comparable benchmark and bid requirement for the July 1, 2016 Form 481 filing. Because the new E-rate benchmarks have yet to be developed, RLECs should not have to certify compliance in this year’s filing. The Rural Associations also requested that the FCC waive the requirement for RLECs to include updates to their five-year plans with their July 1, 2016 Form 481 as the FCC decided to eliminate altogether the narrative five-year plans in its High Cost Reform Order adopted in March.