NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION for NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

The association monitors and reacts to policy concepts that may impact the ability of its members to function in an operationally sound and successful manner as well as measures that may affect the ultimate transfer of such businesses. During the reporting period, no issues or introduced measures in this category were focused upon.

Contacted: SENATE; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); White House Office

Retirement RET

The association monitors and reacts to policy concepts that may impact its ability to continue offering its high quality Retirement Security Plans to members, their employees, and the association staff at affordable rates and on reasonable terms and conditions. During the reporting period, the association focused on the following: Presidents FY17 Budget Proposal - Sections pertaining to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Contacted: White House Office; SENATE; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)

Telecommunications TEC

The association bases its approaches on whether or not policies are flexible in their application to rural carriers that have different needs and capabilities and that have far different economies of scale and competitive opportunities than larger carriers. During the reporting period, the association focused on the following: H.R.22 - FAST Act - Title XLI (Federal Permitting Improvement sections). H.R.1560 - Protecting Cyber Networks Act - All sections. H.R.1641 - Federal Spectrum Incentive Act - All sections. H.R. 2029 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 - Division N. H.R.2205 - Data Security Act of 2015 - All sections. H.R.2566 - Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2015 - All sections. H.R.2583 - Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2015 - All sections. H.R.2666 - No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act - All sections. H.R.3103 - Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act of 2015 - All sections. H.R. 3638 - Family Telephone Connection Protection Act - All sections. H.R.3805 - Broadband Conduit Deployment Act - All sections. H.R.4596 - Small Business Broadband Deployment Act - All sections. H.R.4884 - CURB Lifeline Act of 2016 - All sections. S.280 - Federal Permitting Improvement Act - All sections. S.417 - Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act of 2015 - All sections. S.754 - Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 - All sections. S.827 - Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2015 - All sections. S.2163 - Streamlining and Investing In Broadband Infrastructure Act - All sections. S.2283 - Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2015 - All sections. S.2555 - Mobile Now Act - All sections. S.2644 - FCC Reauthorization Act of 2016 - All sections. Legislative and regulatory issues related to FCC CHAIRMAN PROPOSAL TO UNLOCK THE SET-TOP BOX: CREATING CHOICE & INNOVATION. Legislative and regulatory issues related to FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services, released 04/01/2016. Legislative and regulatory issues related to implementing Connect America Fund Phase II.

Contacted: SENATE; White House Office; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Bills named: S. 2163 (114th), S. 2644 (114th), H.R. 1641 (114th), H.R. 4884 (114th), S. 280 (114th), H.R. 22 (114th), H.R. 3805 (114th), H.R. 2205 (114th), S. 2555 (114th), H.R. 4596 (114th), H.R. 2583 (114th), H.R. 2029 (114th), S. 754 (114th), S. 417 (114th), H.R. 2666 (114th), H.R. 1560 (114th), H.R. 3638 (114th), H.R. 2566 (114th), S. 827 (114th), S. 2283 (114th), H.R. 3103 (114th)

Economics/Economic Development ECN

The association monitors initiatives tied to rural and community economic development which typically have a direct connection to the type and level of communications services that may be available in a rural community or market area, and that are often important to the survival of such communities and market areas. During the reporting period, no issues or introduced measures in this category were focused upon.

Contacted: SENATE; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); White House Office

Small Business SMB

The association monitors and reacts to policy concepts that may impact the ability of its members to function in an operationally sound and successful manner as well as measures that may affect the ultimate transfer of such businesses. During the reporting period, the association focused on the following: H.R.9 - Innovation Act - All sections. S.1137 - PATENT Act - All sections.

Contacted: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); White House Office; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); SENATE

Bills named: S. 1137 (114th), H.R. 9 (114th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

The association follows the federal budget and appropriations process as it relates to agencies, and their respective policies, that have jurisdiction over rural telecommunications matters. Primarily the association monitors the Federal Communications Commission(FCC),the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and the budget, programs, and policies of each. During the reporting period, the association focused on the following: Presidents FY17 Budget Proposal and yet unintroduced developing appropriations bills - Issues tied to the Rural Utilities Service Telecommunications program; the Rural Business-Cooperative Service Economic Development program; the National Forest Service operations budget; the Federal Communications Commission, Universal Service Fund, and spectrum matters; and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Contacted: SENATE; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); White House Office

Insurance INS

The association monitors and reacts to policy concepts that may impact its ability to continue providing its high quality Group Health Plan to members, their employees, and the association staff at affordable rates and on reasonable terms and conditions. During the reporting period, the association focused on the following: Presidents FY17 Budget Proposal - Sections pertaining to the Affordable Care Act Cadillac tax. H.R. 2029 - Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 - Sections pertaining to the Affordable Care Act Cadillac tax. H.R.4442 - CONNECT for Health Act - All sections. H.R.4469 - Health Savings Act - All sections. H.R. 4832 - Health Savings Protection Act - All sections. S.2484 - CONNECT for Health Act - All sections. S. 2499 - Health Savings Act - Sections pertaining to Health Accounts. S. 2698 - Preserving Consumer Health Accounts Act - All sections.

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; White House Office; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)

Bills named: H.R. 4469 (114th), H.R. 4832 (114th), H.R. 2029 (114th), H.R. 4442 (114th), S. 2698 (114th), S. 2484 (114th), S. 2499 (114th)