WTA Files Comments in Support of Several Petitions for Reconsideration of the FCC’s E-rate Modernization Order

Today, WTA filed comments in support of petitions filed by NTCA and Utah Rural Telecom Association, West Virginia Department of Education, State E-rate Coordinators Alliance, and Utah Education Network seeking reconsideration of the FCC’s revision of the definition of “rural” for purposes of determining whether any given school or library district qualifies for the additional rural discount under the E-rate program. In the comments, WTA illustrates the harm to rural communities if “urban clusters” are excluded from eligibility for the additional discount and urges the Commission to conduct a fact-based inquiry before the revision takes effect in funding year 2015.