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2011/2012 Scholarship Winners Announced Stephanie Lyon, Moapa Valley Telephone, daughter of Brad & Joyce Lyon Mallory Morgan, CC Communications, daughter of Jim & Marion Morgan Alexis Booth, CenturyLink, daughter of Cheryl Booth Paul Sieracki Named CalCom President RUS Now Accepting Applications for Rural Communities Broadband Grants The USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is now accepting applications for grants to provide broadband access in rural communities currently without broadband service. Eligible applicants include incorporated organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, state and local government bodies, and for-profit and non-profit cooperatives. Grants awarded will range from $50,000 to $1.5 million, and applications to extend existing projects are welcome. RUS to Host Broadband Funding Workshop April 20-21 The USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will hold a workshop focusing on the application process for its broadband funding programs, April 20-21 in Denver, Colo. This workshop also will be recorded and available on the RUS website at a later date. Rural Associations File Comments with FCC Regarding Form 477 Data Collection OPASTCO, the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) and the Western Telecommunications Alliance (WTA) yesterday filed with the FCC comments regarding the reform of Form 477 data collection.
The associations stated that although they understand the need for accurate data, they recommend that the Commission narrow its efforts and collect only the information for which it has a legitimate or statutory need. In addition, to the extent that other avenues for gathering information exist, the Commission should use them in order to eliminate duplicate filing requirements for service providers.
The associations also recommend that the expansion of Form 477 data collection should be geared toward helping determine whether or not "reasonably comparable" voice and broadband services and rates are available to rural consumers, and that it should not request data on other services and rates. Furthermore, the Commission should assure filers that competitively sensitive data will not be disclosed, and that filers should not be expected to collect or file information on their subscribers' social, racial or economic status. (Source: OPASTCO 411, 3-31-11) OPASTCO, Rural Representatives Meet with FCC to Discuss Concerns Regarding Call Completion OPASTCO, NECA, NTCA and WTA, as well as representatives from Consolidated Telephone Company, Park Region Mutual Telephone Company and Onvoy, met with the FCC to discuss their concerns for the completion of calls in rural exchanges due to call routing and signal practices. The rural representatives described how this problem adversely affects consumers and threatens public safety, and they explained that such practice inevitably degrades the integrity and reliability of the nation's telecommunications network. (Source: OPASTCO 411, 3/15/11) Rural Associations Call Termination Issues Archived Webcast Now Available The archived "Call Termination Issues" webcast, which was presented yesterday on behalf of the rural associations by the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) and the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), is now available online. This webcast provides an overview on the actions that OPASTCO, NECA, NTCA and the Western Telecommunications Alliance (WTA) are taking to address recent concerns regarding call completion. AT&T To Acquire T-Mobile In $39 Billion Transaction AT&T and Deutsche Telekom AG have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which AT&T will acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom in a cash-and-stock transaction currently valued at approximately $39 billion. The agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. But the deal requires approvals from both the Justice Department and the FCC, which obviously will take a long, hard look at combining the second- and fourth-largest carriers in the U.S. wireless market. Although this proposed transaction would offer certain network efficiencies, it would create a virtual duopoly that would not necessarily result in lower prices for consumers. Additionally, rural carriers likely will be affected by partnerships, roaming agreements, handset availability, and post-transaction divestiture requirements. (Source: BloostonLaw 3-23-11)
April 6th - FCC to Hold First USF/ICC Reform Workshop
May 6th Workshop - Broadband Availability Gap Providing access to the Internet for all
Americans was one of the goals of the National Broadband Plan. Staff of the
Federal Communications Commission will present an overview on May 6 of a
technical paper supporting estimates in the Plan of a $24 billion gap between
the cost of deploying broadband services to the 14 million or more Americans
living in unserved areas and the potential additional revenue generated from
the broadband investment. Staff will explain the economic model that generated
this estimate and answer questions about the paper, which is titled “The
Broadband Availability Gap.” ONLINE:
http://reboot.fcc.gov/live/ The
presentation is part of the FCC Omnibus Broadband Initiative’s
Working Reports Series and Technical Paper Series, which will present
analysis and research by FCC staff members performed in the process of
developing the National Broadband Plan. Proposed Second-Quarter 2011 USF Contribution Factor Published - 0.149 or 14.9 percent FCC Conditionally Approves CenturyLink/Qwest Merger The FCC granted conditional approval March 18 to CenturyLink's merger with Qwest. The Commission stated that based on the companies' agreement to certain binding and enforceable conditions, the merger's potential benefits likely would outweigh the potential harms to the public interest. These conditions include the creation of a broadband adoption program for low-income consumers; significantly expanding broadband deployment across the companies' networks; and advancing Universal Service Fund (USF) reform. Additional information can be found in the Memorandum Opinion and Order. Statements about this merger by all five FCC commissioners can be found at the FCC's website. Latest Data on Telephone, Internet Access Now Available The FCC released its most recent reports on Internet access and telephone subscribership, both of which use data collected by the Commission through June 30, 2010. national Broadband plan - USF Reform National Broadband Plan advocacy efforts Rural Associations Rebut Flawed USF White Paper OPASTCO, the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA), the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), the Western Telecommunications Alliance (WTA) and the Rural Alliance yesterday refuted inaccurate assertions in a recently released white paper that claims that a substantial portion of federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support goes to discretionary corporate expenses. Details of the associations' fact-based argument can be found in their joint press release. The associations also urged policymakers to take a more careful and complete look at the workings of the USF in considering its reform. FCC Requests USF, ICC Data from NECA for Reform
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FCC Proposes To Reform Lifeline/Link-Up Program The FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to reform and modernize the Lifeline/Link-Up program. (Source: BloostonLaw 3/09/11) Building on recommendations of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, the Government Accountability Office, and the National Broadband Plan, the Commission’s proposals include:
NTA Bill Tracking
What's New at BroadbandUSA.gov USDA Releases ARRA Report The USDA has published a report, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Working for Rural Communities, which examines how economic stimulus funding has affected rural technological, educational and health care access and opportunities in rural America. The report estimates that ARRA will have improved broadband access for approximately 7 million rural residents.
(Formerly known as Tyco & ADC) Tom Belmont (949) 582-5523, E-mail: tbelmont@tycoelectronics.com A leading global provider of engineered electronic components, network solutions, specialty products and sub-sea communication systems. Tyco designs, manufactures and markets products for customers in a broad array of industries including automotive, data communication systems and consumer electronics, telecommunications, aerospace, defense and marine, medical, energy and lighting.
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April 3-6, 2011 - WTA Spring Meeting,
Napa, CA For more information
click here.
April 12-14, 2011 -
NTCA IP Possibilities Conference and Expo, Kansas City, MO
April 20-21, 2011 - USDA Rural Utilities Service Broadband
Workshop, Sheraton Downtown Hotel, Denver, CO For more information
click here.
May 2-4, 2011 -
CalCom Spring Conference, Monterey, CA
July 17-20, 2011 -
NARUC Summer Committee Meetings,
Los Angeles, CA Seminar Series for 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011
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