WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND for WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND

Agriculture AGR

H.R. 2642, Agriculture Act of 2014 -- WTA lobbied in support of the Farm Bill, specifically the provisions that dealt with the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service Program which provides lending opportunities for small rural local exchange carriers (RLECs) enabling them to invest in telecommunications infrastructure in rural communities.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST); SENATE; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Bills named: H.R. 2642 (113th)

Telecommunications TEC

Universal Service and Intercarrier Compensation Reform -- WTA continued sharing information with policymakers about how the Federal Communications Commission's 2011 USF/ICC Transformation Order is affecting rural local exchange carriers (RLECs) and their abilities to use universal service funds to invest in advanced networks to provide better broadband and extending it further into their service territories. WTA has also advocated for policymakers to begin to address USF Contribution Reform -- the mechanism by which consumers contribute to the Universal Service Fund. WTA also focused its attention on a provision within the 2011 Transformation Order which requires the FCC to conduct a survey of urban telephone rates as a means of setting the "floor" for such rates in rural areas. The association continued focusing its efforts on promoting the Data Only Broadband Plan which would help increase broadband take-rates in rural communities. The Plan also meets the requirements in the Communications Act which calls for reasonably comparable rates and services between urban and rural communities. Evolution of the Public Switch Network (PSTN) to Internet Protocol (IP) -- WTA continued sharing with policymakers stories and anecdotes about how RLECs continue to incorporate more IP technology into their networks as a way to maximize limited resources and to provide additional services to their customers. E-Rate Modernization -- WTA supports modernizing the E-Rate program and has offered many key suggestions to reforming the program. In particular, WTA continued advocating against using E-Rate funds to build new networks when existing infrastructure can be leveraged to expand and meet the broadband needs of schools and libraries. Communications Act Update -- WTA commented on the House Energy and Commerce's Communications and Technology's Subcommittee's White Papers regarding updating the Communications Act of 1934 (as amended). WTA shared its comments and thoughts with the Members of that Subcommittee and others interested in communications matters. Call Completion -- WTA lobbied in support of S. 2125, Public Safety and Economic Security Communications Act of 2104. The legislation would require all voice calls to be terminated regardless of whether they were destined for urban or rural areas. Specifically, it requires an intermediate provider that offers the capability to transmit certain voice communications and signaling information from one destination to another, and that charges a rate to any other entity (including an affiliated entity) for the transmission, to: (1) register with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and (2) comply with service quality standards to be established by the FCC.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); SENATE; Natl Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST); Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Bills named: S. 2125 (113th)

Intelligence INT

S. 1353 (Cybersecurity Act of 2013) and H.R. 624 (Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act) -- WTA continued advocating for key liability protections that should be in place for small telecommunications carriers in an effort to enable information sharing between private industry and government agencies. The association continued advocating the National Institutes of Standards & Technology's (NIST's) Cybersecurity Framework should remain voluntary and non-prescriptive, that incentives encouraging adoption should be geared toward helping to defray the costs of implementing the plan.

Contacted: Natl Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: S. 1353 (113th), H.R. 624 (113th)

Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV COM

H.R. 3719, Video Choice Act of 2013; H.R. 3720, Next Generation Television Marketplace Act; Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization -- WTA continued its advocacy supporting these pieces of legislation which would provide some relief for rural local exchange carriers (RLECs) that are providing video services to their customers. Specifically, WTA advocacy focused on RLECs being able to gain better access to content; obtaining better pricing arrangements regarding transmission consent agreements; and eliminating forced tying arrangements regarding programming. WTA also advocated for the adoption of rules that prohibit joint negotiations by broadcast stations with different owners.

Contacted: Natl Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST); SENATE; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA)

Bills named: H.R. 3720 (113th), H.R. 3719 (113th)