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PLACE YOUR AD HERE! CONTACT US Effective Jan. 1, OPASTCO's mailing address will change to:
2020 K Street OPASTCO's phone number remain the same: 202/659-5990 (tel) and 202/659-4619 (fax). If you will need to be in contact with an OPASTCO staff member from Dec. 18 through Jan. 3, please refer to the "Contact Us" page on the OPASTCO Website.
New GAO Report on FCC Wireless Oversight The Government Accountability Office (GAO) this week released a report that recommended that the FCC improve its current oversight of wireless phone service. Specifically, the GAO suggests that the Commission should inform consumers that they may complain to the FCC about problems with wireless phone service and what they can expect as potential outcomes from this process, and expand the FCC's outreach to wireless consumers about such recourse. Please visit the GAO Website to access both the report and supplement of related surveys of consumers and state utility commissions. FTC Delays Enforcement of Red Flags Rule to June 2010 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced that it would delay enforcement of the "Red Flags" Rule until June 1, 2010. For more information, please visit the FTC's Red Flags Website.
FCC News
USF, Intercarrier Comp
Under Threat In FCC’s National Broadband Plan FCC
Identifies USF As "Critical Gap" In Path To Future Of Broadband Groups
Chime in regarding FCC’s Notice About USF, ICC Issues First Quarter 2010 Universal Service Contribution Factor Announced The FCC published Dec. 11 that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the first quarter of 2010 will be 0.141 or 14.1 percent. For more information, please refer to the related Public Notice. FCC Releases Semiannual Management Report on OIG Audits The FCC recently submitted to Congress its semiannual report on audits conducted by its Office of Inspector General (OIG). The report includes information pertaining to recent audit of the Universal Service Fund (USF). Comments on Petition for Rulemaking for CETC Access to ILEC Fiber Loops Due Jan. 22 The FCC issued Dec. 14 a Public Notice seeking comments on a petition for expedited rulemaking filed by Cbeyond, Inc., concerning access by CETCs to incumbent local exchange carriers' (ILECs) fiber loops. Specifically, Cbeyond seeks adoption of rules that would require ILECs to provide unbundled access to packetized bandwidth of hybrid fiber-copper loops, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) loops and fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) loops at the same rates that ILECs charge their own retail customers, for the purposes of serving small business customers. Comments are due Jan. 22, 2010. Reply comments are due Feb. 22, 2010. Comments on Broadband Financing Challenges Due Jan. 8 The FCC issued Dec. 18 its latest Public Notice soliciting public comments for use in the development of the National Broadband Plan. Comments addressing challenges to broadband deployment financing are due Jan. 8, 2010. The National Broadband Plan task force also released last week an interim report, the highlights of which are available at the FCC Website. Among its findings, the task force noted that "finding ways to better use existing assets, including Universal Service, rights-of-way, spectrum and others, will be essential to the success of the plan." A presentation of the plan's status was the focal point of the Commission's Dec. 16 open meeting. Comments on NCTA USF Petition Due Jan. 7 The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau is now accepting comments responding to a petition filed Nov. 5 by the National Cable & Telecommunication Association (NCTA) for rulemaking proposing new rules for the High-Cost program of the USF. Specifically, NCTA proposes that the Commission establish procedures to reduce the amount of High-Cost USF support provided to carriers in areas where there is extensive, unsubsidized, facilities-based voice competition and where government subsidies no longer are needed to ensure that service be made available to consumers. Comments are due Jan. 7. Reply comments are due Jan. 22. New FCC Telephone Subscribership Report Now Available The FCC released Dec. 15 its latest telephone subscribership report, based on Census Bureau Data collected in July. Highlights of the report include:
The full report can be downloaded from the FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Website. Latest ILEC Quality-of-Service Report Now Available The FCC released Dec. 24 its most recent report on the quality of service of incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs). The report summarizes the Automated Reporting Management Information System (ARMIS) service quality data filed by the regional Bell companies, Embarq, and other price-cap regulated ILECs for calendar year 2008, and the data track the quality of service provided to both retail customers (business and residential) and access customers (interexchange carriers). ITTA Urges FCC to Ensure Reasonable Pole Attachment Practices
Low-Income Broadband Access Bill Introduced in Senate Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W. Va.) introduced Dec. 11 The Broadband Opportunity and Affordability Act (BOAA) (S. 2879), which would extend USF support to provide for broadband access in low-income households. Specifically, a two-year pilot program would be created within the USF's Lifeline program to deploy broadband service, and the FCC would be requested by Congress to provide a report on expanding the USF's Link-Up program with the costs of securing computer equipment to start up broadband service. To read the bill, please visit the Library of Congress' THOMAS search engine.
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Boucher, Terry Release Draft Universal Service Bill U.S. Reps. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) and
Lee Terry (R-Neb.) have released a discussion draft of legislation to reform the
universal service provisions of the Communications Act. Called the Universal
Service Reform Act of 2009, the draft bill includes the following:
• In areas where at least three mobile wireless communications service providers are eligible to participate in competitive bidding, the FCC shall issue a request for proposals identifying the area a winning bidder must serve and the minimum requirements for serving the area. The FCC shall select up to two winning mobile wireless communications service providers in each ser-vice area and should consider the amount of the bid and minimum proposed broadband speeds as primary factors when evaluating applications. Winning bidders shall receive a flat amount of subsidy per year for up to 10 years, as deter-mined by the FCC. • In areas where fewer than three mobile wireless communications service providers are eligible to participate in competitive bidding, the FCC shall continue to provide universal service support at the per-line level in effect prior to the date of enactment. Capping the fund. Caps the total amount of high-cost universal service support (i.e. USF other than support for the schools, libraries, rural health care, Lifeline, Link-Up, and toll limitation programs). The USF is capped at its current level plus the amount that the switch to wire center averaging and elimination of the parent trap increase demand for universal service support. It is also subject to an annual growth factor based on the annual percentage change in the total number of rural incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) working loops, if that number is positive, plus the annual percentage change in the Gross Domestic Product-Chained Price Index. There is also a one-time, permanent increase in the cap if the FCC re-vises the intercarrier compensation regime and shifts some or all of access charge recovery into the USF. Switching to wire center averaging. Changes the calculation methodology for the non-rural, high cost portion of the fund from geographic to wire center averaging. Ensures that no provider will receive less funding after the date of enactment than it is receiving under the cur-rent methodology. After the first year, the difference between what a provider was receiving under statewide averaging and what it would receive under wire center averaging phases out over 10 years. Consistent treatment for certain price capped providers. Allows a price capped provider that is regulated on a forward-looking cost basis for all services other than USF contributions to opt to have the FCC also calculate its USF contributions on a forward-looking cost basis, so that price capped companies may be regulated on a price cap/forward-looking cost basis for all services. Contributions. The draft bill would assess contributions on: (1) any entity that pays into the USF under the cur-rent system; (2) any service provider that uses telephone numbers, IP addresses or their functional equivalents to provide or enable real time voice communications and in which the voice component is the primary functions; and (3) any provider that offers a network connection to the public.The FCC would determine the contribution methodology (based on numbers, revenues, connections or a combination thereof). Other matters. The draft bill also: • Directs the FCC to complete a proceeding to reform intercarrier compensation within one year of the date of enactment. • Addresses the problem of traffic pumping by prohibiting access charge recovery when an entity that has a business, financial, or contractual relationship with a LEC relating to switched access revenues from such services offers a free or below-cost service. • Requires carriers to identify all traffic which originates on their networks and requires all intermediate carriers to pass through that identification so that carriers which terminate that traffic can seek appropriate intercarrier compensation. • Eliminates the "parent trap." • Permanently exempts the USF from the Anti-Deficiency Act. • Prohibits the FCC from adopting a primary line restriction. (Source: BloostonLaw 11-11-09) Back to top Rockefeller Introduces Bill To Extend Universal Service For Broadband To Low Income Households Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement after introducing The Broadband Opportunity and Affordability Act (BOAA), S. 2789, a bipartisan piece of legislation, which would amend the Communications Act to extend the universal service program at the FCC to provide sup-port for broadband in low-income households. There is concern that the passage of this bill could put significant additional pressure on the Universal Service Fund, as foreshadowed by the substantial jump in the contribution factor when the Low Income program costs rose over the last quarter. "Today, millions of low-income American families are left at a disadvantage because they cannot afford broadband Internet access or the necessary supporting computer equipment," said Chairman Rockefeller. "As more aspects of 21st century life become dependent upon Inter-net access, it is crucial we help to provide all families with the high-tech resources they need to succeed in the workplace and in school – and for the United States to continue to be a competitive, global economic leader." The BOAA would be designed to help low income con-sumers in two ways: (1) It creates a two-year pilot program to expand the FCC’s Lifeline program to support the recurring cost of basic broadband service for eligible low-income house-holds. The FCC’s existing Lifeline program subsidizes the recurring expenses of maintaining basic phone ser-vice in low-income households. (2) It asks the FCC to provide Congress with a report on expanding the related Link-Up program to assist with the costs of securing computer equipment to start up broad-band service. The FCC’s existing Link-Up program subsidizes the start up costs of beginning basic phone ser-vice for low-income consumers. Also backing the bill is Senate Commerce Ranking member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.). Rockefeller's bill is similar to one introduced by Rep. Doris Matsiu (D-Calif.) last fall, HR 3646. Her bill also asks the FCC to help low-income families in rural and urban areas get affordable broadband service by providing a subsidizing a discount on their broadband service. (Source BloostonLaw ) Back to top NTCA Releases 2009 Broadband/Internet Survey Results The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association’s (NTCA's) 2009 Broadband/Internet Availability Survey found that nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents with a fiber deployment strategy intend to offer fiber to the node to more than 75% of their customer base by 2011. Fifty-five percent plan to offer fiber to the home to more than half their customers in that same time frame-more than doubled from just 26% last year. Rural areas are seeing significant gains in broadband speeds, primarily due to the increased fiber availability in their communities, according to the survey. Fifty-three per-cent of respondents indicated their customers can now receive broadband service of between 3 and 6 Mbps (up from 46% last year), and 39% can receive service in excess of 6 Mbps-an increase from just 25% one year ago. Survey respondents indicated an increase in take rates for the higher broadband speed tiers as well. Fiber deployment costs remain a significant impediment facing rural carriers, cited as an obstacle by 93% of survey respondents. Rugged terrain, distance and low customer density exacerbate the problem. Three-quarters (75%) of respondents now offer a video play, up from 68% last year. Of those, 93% offer video under a cable franchise. An additional 11% indicated they plan an offering in the future. Most (89%) respondents indicated they face competition in the provision of advanced services from at least one other service provider, including national Internet service providers, cable companies and wireless Internet service providers. NTCA sent the 2009 survey electronically to all telco members in its e-mail database and 156 companies (31%) responded. Fifty-six percent of respondents' service areas are 500 square miles or larger; 27% are at least 2000 square miles. Sixty-seven percent of those have customer densities of 10 residential customers or less per square mile, with nearly one third (31%) reporting customer densities of just two or fewer residential customers per square mile. (Source: BloostonLaw)
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NTIA Responds to FCC’s PN
On Public Safety, Homeland Security, Cybersecurity
Websites/Articles Relating to Broadband Stimulus Much is being published regarding the broadband-related funding portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A good source of timely articles and information can be found at Benton Foundation Website http://www.benton.org/node/20455; http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/
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April 18-21, 2010 - WTA "Seasoned to Perfection" 2010 Spring Annual
Meeting, Las Vegas, NV. For more information
CLICK HERE Seminar Series for 2010
November 2009 October 2009 September 2009
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