The December 1st reduction of the SLC to $5.25 per month will not allow full cost recover to many RLECs under the FCC’s High-Cost program. So said NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association – to a number of FCC representatives in recent meetings, saying the shortfalls incurred may be unrecoverable under existing rules. It offered … Read More
Rural Associations Ask for Ten Years of Legacy Support Under 5G Order
The Rural Wireless Association (RWA) and NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association – recently had discussions with FCC staff concerning the Commission’s Draft Order on the 5G Fund for Rural America. The main point of contention concerned the FCC’s proposal to end legacy support just five years after conclusion of the 5G Phase 1 Auction. … Read More
NTCA to FCC: Do Not Extend Price Cap Carrier Proposal to RLECs
NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association in a recent discussion and follow-up letter with the FCC, responded to a proposal made by USTelecom – The Broadband Association on behalf of Price Cap carriers in the Commission’s 8YY Access Charge Reform Docket. USTelecom had suggested that a “sufficient recovery mechanism” for Price Cap companies would be … Read More
NTCA, RWA Continue to Promote the Advancement of Rural Broadband
In a videoconference and follow up letter, the Rural Wireless Association (RWA) and NTCA – the Rural Broadband Association, urged the FCC to “establish a 5G Fund for Rural America “ by allowing “rural carriers currently receiving frozen legacy support to continue…receiving legacy support at increased levels totaling $1.5 billion over 10 years.” In return, … Read More
NTCA, WTA, USTelecom to Congress: Do Not Eliminate ETC Designation at This Time
In a recent letter to Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Representatives Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.), the three major broadband associations representing rural carriers expressed serious concerns about the proposed bill that would eliminate the ETC designation for certain broadband providers. Calling the proposal “a solution in need of … Read More
USTelecom Requests Changes in Budget Control Mechanism for RLECs
In early June, USTelecom – The Broadband Association, joined NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, in asking the FCC for changes to the budget control mechanism as it impacts RLEC loop support – for both CAF-Broadband Loop Support and/or High Cost Loop Support recipients. In a letter to the FCC, UST supports NTCA’s previous request … Read More
NTCA Plays Key Role in Expanding USF Support
NTCA –The Rural Broadband Association, has become the undisputed national champion of small, rural telecommunications and broadband service providers. In our May 14th blog, we partially quoted NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield’s enthusiastic endorsement of the proposed House bill to add broadband services to the USF contribution base. Now, in a recently released study, NTCA has … Read More
Proposed Bill Would Include Broadband Services in USF Contribution Base
Finally, legislation has been introduced in Congress to impose USF support payments on broadband service providers. The Universal Broadband Act, sponsored by Congressmen Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Don Young (R-AK) and supported by a bipartisan group of eight other Representatives, will – if passed – expand the USF contribution base to include all broadband services. … Read More
A Farewell to . . . Rate Floors?
In a recent news release, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the Commission will vote on eliminating rate floors at its upcoming April meeting. These floors were frozen by the FCC in 2017 to help mitigate their harmful effect on RLECs and their customers. Now, the Chairman is advocating their total elimination. Calling rate floors … Read More
The Time to Rationalize Broadband USF Support for Rate of Return Carriers is NOW
The telecommunications industry, the FCC, state regulators, Congress and a plethora of other interested parties have been discussing, offering opinions, arguing, filing and commenting on, and endlessly debating the insufficiency and unpredictability of broadband universal support for RoR carriers. For far, far too long. This uncertainty has deterred investment, negatively affected rural carriers and their … Read More
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