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PLACE YOUR AD HERE! CONTACT US Time is running out to receive the discounted registration costs for our annual convention. The deadline for getting your registration to us is July 11, 2010. After that the rates increase by $50. CLICK HERE to register today!
Harvey's room block is only good through July 11, 2010. CLICK HERE to reserve your room! Electronic USF Payments Effective Aug. 31 Electronic disbursement of Universal Service Fund (USF) support payments will begin Aug. 31. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and the FCC remind USF recipients that should the required financial institution information be missing from FCC Form 498, USAC will not make support payments to the recipient until the required information is provided. AT&T Terminates DSL Metered-Billing Trials OPASTCO, Allies Meet with FCC to Discuss RoR, ICLS Concerns OPASTCO, NTCA, the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) and WTA On June 23rd met with the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau to discuss rate-of-return (RoR) regulation and interstate common line support (ICLS) concerns with respect to the FCC's April 21 Notice of Inquiry (NOI) and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). A summary of the issues discussed can be found in this notice of ex parte. (Source: OPASTCO 411, 5/24/10) Enablence Merges with Teledata Networks of Israel
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Teledata will become part of Enablence’s Systems Division. By combining complementary products, technology and market strengths, Enablence and Teledata now has all the major, Next Generation Access technologies and products in house, a portfolio unmatched by even larger competitors. With this merger, Enablence has doubled its resources to better serve its customers and deliver cutting edge, Next Generation Access solutions. These solutions will continue to enable service providers worldwide to provide the bandwidth required for triple play services to improve their revenues and reduce operating expenses. Enablence and Teledata products are deployed in 75 countries world-wide with some 480 carriers, including over 60 Tier 1 services providers. The product lines of both companies will continue to be supported without interruption. For both Teledata and Enablence customers in all markets, it will be business as usual. Please visit www.enablence.com for additional information. FCC to Host Comcast-NBCU Merger Public Forum July 13 The FCC will hold a public forum on the proposed merger of Comcast with NBC Universal (NBCU) on July 13, 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Northwestern University Law School in Chicago, Ill. The forum will feature two panel discussions, followed by time in which members of the public may ask questions and share opinions about the merger. Please visit the FCC's website for more information as it becomes available. Deadline for Annual Lifeline Verification Surveys, Certifications: Aug. 31 The FCC and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) remind all carriers that they either must submit certification attesting that the carrier has complied with state verification procedures (if in a state with its own state-based, low-income program) or annual Lifeline verification survey results (if in a federal-default state) to USAC by Aug. 31. For more information, please visit USAC's website. Third-Quarter Proposed USF Contribution Factor Released Proposed contribution factor for the third quarter 2010 is 0.136 or 13.6 percent Commission Creates New USF Group to Work on Broadband Issues FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski yesterday announced the launch of the Universal Service Working Group to provide a comprehensive, collaborative approach to the FCC's reform of universal service programs to better support broadband. The working group will be led by Sharon Gillett, chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau. In order to streamline the process for meeting with staff regarding Universal Service issues related to the broadband action agenda, the Commission has created a Web page for requesting meetings. (Source: OPASTCO 411, 6-15-10) FCC Releases New Local Telephone Competition Data - Including VoIP
The Federal Communications Commission released
its local telephone competition report including, for the first time,
comprehensive information about subscribership to interconnected Voice
over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. Interconnected VoIP service
represents an important and rapidly growing part of the U.S. voice service
market and the new data will provide the Commission with a comprehensive
picture of that market going forward. Interconnected VoIP service enables
voice communications over a broadband connection and allows users both to
receive calls from, and place calls to, the public switched telephone
network, like traditional phone service. Providers of the service include
companies like Vonage as well as cable and telephone companies that own
their own networks. Report highlights include:
NECA, NTCA, OPASTCO, WTA, Rural Alliance host Webcast July 7, 2010
This webcast will focus on the national broadband plan (NBP) and the serious threats that certain provisions of the NBP will have on the ability of rural telecommunications companies to continue delivering high-quality broadband services to their customers. Every company should participate to learn how this plan, as currently written, will impact your business and community, and what you and your employees can do to bring pressure on the FCC to modify the plan. You will learn about specific aspects of the plan that are most problematic. Presenters also will discuss how to participate in industry-wide efforts to educate other rural stakeholders about the plan, what it will mean to them and how they can join us in fighting for a plan that will deliver to rural communities across America the high-speed broadband services they need and deserve. The presentation will be offered on June 30 and repeated on July 7. Additionally, we will post the webcast online for future use.
Webcast Logistics Date: Wednesday, July 7 Time: 12:00 p.m. (PT) Where: Your Desktop Presented by: NECA, NTCA, OPASTCO, WTA, Rural Allliance Cost: Free!
Attendance This webcast is open to all members. There is no cost to participate, and no pre-registration is required. You can join the webcast starting 30 minutes before the event. The link should take you directly to the meeting, however if you are asked, the meeting ID is NNOWRBRD. (note: case sensitive)
Audio Information Please note that audio will not be streamed to your speakers. To access the conference bridge dial: 641-594-7543, passcode: 1035275#
Trouble Logging In? Please call 877-405-8070 and provide the login URL and the meeting ID.
Logistical Questions? Contact Steve Fravel at 703-351-2012 House Members Send Letter to FCC Chairman Genachowski Expressing Concern for National Broadband Plan Recommendations So far, 45 members of the House of Representatives have sent letters to the FCC chairman regarding concerns about the National Broadband Plan. (Source: OPASTCO 411) Here are some examples:
OPASTCO, Rural Associations Meet with FCC Wireline Competition Bureau to Discuss National Broadband Plan Recommendations On June 3, OPASTCO, the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA), the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), the Western Telecommunications Alliance (WTA) and the Rural Alliance met with the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis to discuss the National Broadband Plan. Specifically, this discussion focused on the potential for the proposed Connect America Fund to harm rural rate-of-return carriers; the potential for a new digital divide should universal broadband service be defined as 4 Mbps while 100 Mbps is pursued in urban areas; and the lack of transparency in the FCC's current proposed broadband cost model and how it does not accurately reflect rural carriers and high-cost areas' actual costs. (Source: OPASTCO 411, 6/8/10) Wilson Testimony Points to Flawed FCC Plan that Undermines USF
In testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation, Delbert Wilson, general manager of Hill Country Telephone
Cooperative, said that the National Broadband Plan (NBP) fails to recognize the
value of cost-recovery mechanisms in bringing the promise of high-speed
broadband to all Americans. Wilson testified on behalf of OPASTCO, the National
Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) and the Western
Telecommunications Alliance (WTA) at the committee's hearing, "Universal
Service: Transforming the High-Cost Fund for the Broadband Era" (411,
June 22).
House Passes Calling Card Consumer Protection Act The House of Representatives passed H.R. 3993, the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act. This legislation would require calling card companies to provide accurate and understandable information to consumers, including the provider's contact information, the number of minutes available, and the applicable fees, additional charges, limitations or expiration dates associated with use of the cards. The Federal Trade Commission would have the authority to enforce these disclosure requirements. (Source: OPASTCO 411, 6/24/10) What's New at BroadbandUSA.gov Connected Nation Publishes Broadband Maps for Nevada
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July 18-21, 2010 - NARUC Summer Committee Meetings, Sacramento,
CA
http://summer.narucmeetings.org/
July 24-28, 2010 - Seattle Washington - OPASTCO 2010 Summer
Convention and Tradeshow - The Westin. For more information
CLICK HERE
July 29, 2010 - USTelecom Free Webinar - Smart Grid
Policy and Business Opportunities for Broadband Providers -
Federal and State Smart Grid Policies and Initiatives
August 10-12, 2010 -
Nevada Telecommunications
Association Annual Convention
September 12-15, 2010 - WTA 2010 Fall Meeting,
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. For more information
CLICK HERE Seminar Series for 2010
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