WTA Supports the Texas Carriers’ E-Rate Petition

On July 1, WTA filed comments in support of the Petition for Rulemaking filed by the Texas Carriers on May 22. In their Petition, the Texas Carriers request the Commission to initiate a rulemaking to review and amend Part 54 of the Commission’s rules for the narrow purpose of requiring additional review and scrutiny of E-Rate special construction projects that would overbuild and duplicate existing fiber facilities that that have been constructed and are being operated with the assistance of substantial federal high-cost support. WTA believes that the proposed changes are narrow and reasonable. WTA agrees with the Texas Carriers and argues that reform is necessary to ensure that the Universal Service Fund does not build duplicative fiber networks.