WTA Discusses National Security Proceeding With Wireline Advisors

On Friday, February 22, 2019, WTA met with Nirali Patel, Wireline Advisor to Chairman Ajit Pai, and Arielle Roth, Wireline Advisor to Commissioner Michael O’Rielly to discuss developments in the Commission’s national security proceeding. Of note, WTA recommended that the Commission use its expertise to study the use of foreign equipment in rural networks further so that the Commission and industry could have a complete grasp of the costs of a transition away from equipment prohibited by the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. Such a study should also consider what types of equipment actually impact national security and should be banned versus what types of equipment are deemed to not be a threat. WTA restated its position that any funding to replace equipment should be in the form of a Congressional appropriation rather than drawing money from the limited Universal Service Fund.