WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND for WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND
What was lobbied
2 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Telecommunications TEC
Universal Service Reform -- WTA continued meeting with policymakers to discuss the effects of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) 2011 USF-ICC Transformation Order. Specifically, we discussed concerns with the increased obligations for companies to provide more broadband but within the FCC's limited "targeted" budget; concerns regarding the imposition of a local voice service rate benchmark which is based off of an average of voice rate service in urban areas; the need for a Connect America Fund (CAF) for rate of return (ROR) carriers that is broadband-focused and that allows carriers to obtain USF support for their customers that only want the carrier's broadband service and not voice service; and support for the targeted reinstallation of safety net additive support (SNA) for a limited number of companies. IP-Transition -- WTA continued to share information with policymakers about how ROR carriers continue to implement IP technologies into their underlying network infrastructure. E-Rate Modernization -- WTA continued to express its support for modernizing the E-Rate program. It expressed concerns regarding consortiums having sole authority over which entities participate in the process of determining how schools and libraries receive broadband connections using e-rate funds. WTA members shared stories of being excluded from the participating in the bidding process and how that actually affected pricing of services for schools. Call Completion -- WTA continued advocating that calls to rural areas be completed as the problem has not been eliminated. We lobbied in support of S. 2125, the Public Safety and Economic Security Communications Act of 2014, which would require all voice calls to be terminated regardless of whether they were destined for urban or rural areas. WTA also lobbied in support of two Sense of Congress Resolutions in the House and Senate calling on calls to be terminated in rural areas. Net Neutrality -- WTA shared its views on this matter with policymakers. In particular, WTA expressed the need and desire to be able to effectively manage its network so that all of its customers have a quality broadband experience, but also expressed the need to be able to gain access to content and to do so at reasonable costs. Rural Broadband Experiments -- WTA lobbied in support of the FCC's rural broadband experiments. We shared insight on how these experiments may help to extend broadband service in high-cost rural areas where it is either below the current minimum speeds or non-existent at this time. Municipal/Public Broadband -- WTA met with policymakers to share its concerns regarding the municipal broadband systems. Communications Act Update -- WTA responded to the House Commerce Committee's CommAct Update paper regarding the nation's competition policy and the role of the FCC. The association spent time talking with congressional staffers about its position.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| NOAH KAI CHERRY | — |
| ERIC KEBER | — |
| DERRICK B OWENS | — |
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 (STELA) Reauthorization -- WTA continued advocating for policies within these pieces of legislation that would provide some relief for rural local exchange carriers (RLECs) that are offering video programming to their customers. The association's advocacy has focused on retransmission consent agreements and changes that need to be made to ensure RLECs are receiving comparable retrans pricing agreements to larger carriers, better access to content; elimination of forced-tying arrangements regarding programming; and allowing for DMA's to be redrawn to more accurately reflect the programming desires of the communities in the area.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| NOAH KAI CHERRY | — |
| ERIC KEBER | — |
| DERRICK B OWENS | — |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.