Archive for February, 2012

Working with RUS   ·   Post a comment

By Shirley Bloomfield - Last updated: Wednesday, February 29, 2012  ·  

NTCA and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) have always had an excellent working relationship, with RUS playing a key role in lending to the independent telecom industry. That relationship has become even more important as access to credit has tightened up with the lack of clarity on telco revenue streams. That is why I was  …View more

Filed in: Member Services

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GHP Trustee Focus on Value and Flexibility   ·   Post a comment

By Shirley Bloomfield - Last updated: Tuesday, February 28, 2012  ·  

Our GHP Trustees wrapped up their planning retreat and quarterly meeting today, out here in chilly California. (It must be me who brings along the cool weather out west, but it certainly beats the blizzard in the upper Midwest that our friends are experiencing.) If there was a theme for this meeting, it was the  …View more

Filed in: Health Care, Member Services

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The Power of Numbers   ·   Post a comment

By Shirley Bloomfield - Last updated: Saturday, February 25, 2012  ·  

I’m pondering the power of numbers – since we certainly have sheer numbers in our favor in the rural telecom industry.  Nearly 1000 independent telecommunications providers, hundreds of ILECs in the video and wireless business, well over 100 carriers who own 700 MHz assets, at least 26 state fiber networks owned by the ILEC industry  …View more

Filed in: Broadband, Member Services, Wireless

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Governor Dalrymple Weighs In With The FCC   ·   Post a comment

By Shirley Bloomfield - Last updated: Friday, February 24, 2012  ·  

It was really gratifying to see the letter that North Dakota Governor, Jack Dalrymple, sent to Chairman Genachowski at the FCC yesterday.  In his letter, Governor Dalrymple stated his concerns with the recent FCC Order on the matter of broadband build out coupled with potential further reform of the Universal Service Fund and Intercarrier Compensation.   …View more

Filed in: At the FCC, Member Services, On the Hill

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The State of Competition   ·   Post a comment

By Shirley Bloomfield - Last updated: Thursday, February 23, 2012  ·  

Filings at the FCC are flying on the recently announced deal between VZW and the large cable providers’ spectrum and marketing deal, mostly noting that the transaction would lead to less competition and higher wireless service fees for consumers.  It was interesting to see VZW cite the goals of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan as  …View more

Filed in: At the FCC, Broadband, Wireless

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