WTA Western Telecommunications Alliance

Rural Associations Discuss Call Completion with FCC

On June 17th, representatives from WTA, NTCA and NECA met with representatives from the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau and Enforcement Bureau to discuss several issues pertaining to rural call completion.

Rural Associations File Comments on Standalone Broadband

Today, WTA, NECA, NTCA and ERTA responded to the FCC’s request for comment on two proposals intended to spur broadband investment in rural America: allowing RLECs to receive support for standalone broadband and to seek Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II model support.  In the filing, the rural associations submitted specific amendments to the FCC’s rules [...]

Rural Associations File Comments on Section 54.313 Reporting Requirements

On June 11th, NECA, WTA, NTCA and ERTA filed comments in response to oppositions to USTelecom’s petition for reconsideration and/or clarification of various reporting requirements contained in Section 54.313 of the FCC rules.

Rural Associations File Reply Comment on Call Completion

On June 11th, NECA, WTA, NTCA and ERTA filed joint reply comments with the FCC in the rural call completion proceeding.  The associations state that “it is nothing less than suspicious – even galling – when, despite the extensive record and voluminous evidence available, and the clear and present danger to the public, certain parties attempt [...]

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Rural America Remains a Challenge as Broadband Expands

06.14.2013

Today the White House released a report summarizing the state of broadband since President Obama took office, claiming credit for policy initiatives and outlining opportunities for future action.

White House Report Links Growth to Policy Initiatives

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Connect America Fund Order Will Help Rural Americans

05.22.2013

Today the Federal Communications Commission approved an order making up to $485 million in Connect America Fund money available to customers in rural areas.

Background: Today the Federal Communications Commission approved an order making up to $485 million in Connect America Fund money available to customers in rural areas.

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FCC Grants Part of USTelecom's Forbearance Petition

05.17.2013

Today the Federal Communications Commission granted relief for 10 of the 17 categories of outdated rules that USTelecom asked the commission last February to eliminate.

Contact: Anne Veigle
Work: 202.326.7344

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USTelecom Supports Bipartisan Internet Governance Bill

05.15.2013

On May 14, 2013 the House passed H.R. 1850, a bipartisan bill which affirms that the policy of the United States on Internet governance is to preserve and advance the multi-stakeholder model.

Background: On May 14, 2013 the House passed H.R.

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What's New at NTIA

Mapping NTIA's Broadband Investments

June 18, 2013

To illustrate the impact of the $4 billion Recovery Act investment in the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and State Broadband Initiative (SBI), NTIA has developed a user friendly online tool to visualize the high-speed broadband networks, public computer centers and Internet training programs funded across the country.

The BTOP map went live in 2012 with data submitted by NTIA’s grantees in their 2011 progress reports. And we recently updated the map using data from last year’s progress reports.

As of the end of 2012, our projects had built or upgraded more than 86,000 miles of high-speed network infrastructure and connected more than 12,000 schools, libraries and other anchor institutions. They had installed more than 41,000 workstations in public computer centers, provided more than 12 million hours of computer and Internet training to more than 4 million people, and recorded more than 521,000 new residential broadband subscriptions.

Topics: 

• Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
• National Broadband Map
• Broadband
• Grants

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NIST and NTIA Announce Plans to Establish New Center for Advanced Communications

Topics: 

• 500 MHz Initiative
• Spectrum Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

June 14, 2013

News Media Contact: 

Juliana Gruenwald, (202) 482-2145, jgruenwald@ntia.doc.gov

 

Gail Porter, NIST

(301) 975-3392

gail.porter@nist.gov

BOULDER, Colo. - The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced plans to establish a national Center for Advanced Communications in Boulder, Colo. The new center will implement a key provision of a memorandum President Obama issued earlier today on “Expanding America’s Leadership in Wireless Innovation.”

The two agencies recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the establishment of the center. The MOU  states that the center will leverage the “critical mass of NIST and NTIA research and engineering capabilities concentrated in Boulder” to form a “unique national asset,” and includes the infrastructure and collaborative environment needed to address a wide range of advanced communications challenges. This joint effort will increase the impact of existing efforts already under way in both agencies.

“Advanced communication technologies drive product development in telecommunications, IT, energy, and many other critical economic sectors. This new center will combine NIST’s and NTIA’s research and technology support for U.S. industry so that it can rapidly evaluate and exploit exciting new opportunities in the field,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Patrick Gallagher. 

A key focus of the center will be to promote interdisciplinary research, development and testing in radio frequency technology and spectrum sharing for public safety and commercial broadband applications.

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Administration Advances Wireless Spectrum for Economic Growth

Tom Power and Lawrence E. Strickling

June 14, 2013

President Obama today issued a Presidential Memorandum that builds on the Administration’s commitment to make additional spectrum available for wireless broadband to drive innovation, expand consumer services, and increase job creation and economic growth.  The memorandum establishes a set of measures that Federal agencies, in collaboration with industry and other stakeholders, will now take to more aggressively enhance spectrum efficiency and enable access to more spectrum for consumer services and applications. 

Many of the new measures are common-sense ways to improve spectrum efficiency.  Under the memorandum, an agency that requests a new spectrum assignment or that seeks to procure a spectrum-dependent system will have to document its consideration of alternative approaches and verify that it is pursuing the most spectrum-efficient method, in consideration of all relevant factors including cost and agency mission. 

Topics: 

• 500 MHz Initiative
• Spectrum Management

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Statement of Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling on the Spectrum Presidential Memorandum

Topics: 

• 500 MHz Initiative
• Spectrum Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

June 14, 2013

News Media Contact: 

NTIA, Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-7002, press@ntia.doc.gov

 

“The President’s action today confirms and strengthens the efforts of NTIA, working with other federal agencies, to allocate 500 megahertz of spectrum by 2020 for wireless broadband services while balancing the spectrum needs of federal agencies. Spectrum is an important driver of economic growth and innovation. The Presidential Memorandum will encourage greater collaboration between industry and the government necessary to facilitate greater sharing of spectrum and ensure that agencies will utilize spectrum as efficiently as possible.”

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