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, the association focused on the following: Legislative and regulatory issues related to gigabit opportunity zones.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA)

Retirement RET

The association monitors and reacts to policy concepts that may impact its ability to continue providing 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: S. 270 - Pension and Budget Integrity Act of 2017 - All sections. H.R. 761 - Pension and Budget Integrity Act of 2017 - All sections.

Contacted: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office

Bills named: H.R. 761 (115th), S. 270 (115th)

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: S.19 - MOBILE NOW Act - All sections. S. 96 - Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017 - All sections. S.228 - Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2017 - All sections. S.277 - Rural Telecommunications and Broadband Service Act of 2017 - All sections. S.421 - PSC Oversight Act of 2017 - All sections. S.770 - MAIN STREET Cybersecurity Act - All sections. S.3408 - B-CROP Act of 2016 - All sections. H.R.22 - FAST Act - Title XLI. H.R.288 - Small Business Broadband Deployment Act - All sections. H.R.460 - Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017 - All sections. H.R.1139 - PSC Oversight Act of 2017 - All sections. H.R.1224 - NIST Cybersecurity Framework, Assessment, and Auditing Act of 2017 - All sections. S.J.Res.34 - A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to "Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services" - All sections. H.J.Res.86 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to "Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services" - All sections. Legislative and regulatory issues related to FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted March 31, 2016: Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services. Legislative and regulatory issues related to implementing Connect America Fund Phase II. Legislative and regulatory issues related to FCC Order adopted March 23, 2016 concerning USF support for rate-of-return carriers. Legislative and regulatory issues related to USF contributions. Legislative and regulatory issues related to USDA/RUS Telecom Loan Portfolio. Legislative, regulatory and executive issues related to the national infrastructure conversation.

Contacted: White House Office; SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Bills named: H.R. 1224 (115th), S. 421 (115th), S. 3408 (115th), H.J.Res. 86 (115th), S. 19 (115th), S. 770 (115th), H.R. 1139 (115th), H.R. 460 (115th), S. 96 (115th), S.J.Res. 34 (115th), H.R. 22 (115th), H.R. 288 (115th), S. 228 (115th), S. 277 (115th)

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, the association focused on the following: S.1186 - Move America Act of 2015 - All sections. Legislative and regulatory issues related to infrastructure spending. Legislative and regulatory issues related to federal permitting.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); SENATE; White House Office; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Bills named: S. 1186 (115th)

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: S.584 - Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act - All sections. H.R.5 - Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017 - All sections. H.R.33 - Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2017 - All sections. Legislative and regulatory issues related to PL-107-204, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Section 404. Legislative and regulatory issues related to PL-112-106, Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act - section 12(g).

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office; SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA)

Bills named: S. 584 (115th), H.R. 5 (115th), H.R. 33 (115th)

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: Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations discussions regarding the perspective of rural broadband providers as they relate to: - U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service Telecommunications Loan and Grant program funding; applicant review and approval sequencing; and applicant compliance with related National Environmental Protection Act and National Historic Preservation Act requirements - U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Business Cooperative Service Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program - U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service budgets and policies for permitting access to federal lands and property - Federal Communications Commission oversight of Universal Service Fund and related policies as well as policies tied to other aspects of rural communications operations - Federal Election Commission regulations dealing with solicitation prior approvals S.2956 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 - Title III (Rural Development Programs). S.3067 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017 - Sections 501, 502, 633. H.R.5054 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 - Title III (Rural Development Programs). H.R.5485 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017 - Sections 631, 636, and section dealing with trade association prior approvals under FEC rules.

Contacted: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); White House Office; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); SENATE

Bills named: S. 2956 (115th), H.R. 5054 (115th), H.R. 5485 (115th), S. 3067 (115th)

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: H.R. 1628 - American Health Care Act.

Contacted: White House Office; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); SENATE; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Bills named: H.R. 1628 (115th)