Membership Dues

Note: In accordance with NTCA Bylaws, the Board shall periodically review and may amend membership dues among all categories of Members in a fair and equitable manner. Members will be notified of any proposed changes to membership dues at least six (6) months prior to their effective date.

Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) Member

An ILEC Member is an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) according to section 251(h) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, that on the date of enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was the local exchange carrier that was: (1) providing telephone exchange service in an area; and (2) deemed to be a member of the National Exchange Carrier Association, or is a person or entity that on or after the date of the Act’s enactment became a successor or assignee of the ILEC. A local exchange carrier that the Federal Communications Commission has by rule provided for the treatment as an incumbent local exchange carrier may also be an ILEC Member. Any new ILEC Member must provide fixed voice and/or broadband Internet access services to less than 50,000 customers on the date it joins the Association. However, a Member may retain membership if it subsequently exceeds the 50,000 customer limit.

The ILEC may be structured as either a cooperative association or commercial company which must be designated on the membership application. A Member is classified as a cooperative entity if it is a cooperative association, mutual association, or other nonprofit corporation incumbent local exchange carrier. A Member is classified as a commercial entity if it is a stock corporation, a limited liability company, or any other form of for-profit corporate structure incumbent local exchange carrier. Communications companies who are eligible for ILEC membership are not eligible for other classes of membership. ILEC Members are voting members of the Association.

Dues for ILEC members are calculated as follows:

$5.15 per fixed broadband subscription within the ILEC service area (with a minimum dues amount of $525 and a maximum dues amount of $26,250).

PLUS

$0.50 per fixed broadband subscription provided by the ILEC or an affiliate outside the ILEC service area (with a maximum dues amount of $3,500).

For both of these calculations, the maximum and minimum dues amounts from the prior year shall apply, subject to an annual inflation factor.

BECOME A MEMBER      ILEC DUES CALCULATOR

Commonly Owned or Controlled Member

A commonly owned or controlled (COC) member is an organization with common ownership and/or control of two or more telecommunications providers that would otherwise separately qualify for ILEC membership. The controlling/holding company is not required to join (unless it has employees participating in any NTCA benefit plan, in which case it would be a non-voting member and would be assessed dues at the non-ILEC subsidiary Member rate below).

All affiliated ILECs in the COC group must join, but only the largest ILEC (by fixed broadband subscriber count) must pay full dues as calculated for ILEC members and holds the voting rights associated with the COC membership. COC members are assigned to the region where the largest ILEC is located. 

Any individual ILEC owned by multiple entities must join as a separate, full dues paying ILEC member.

Dues for COC Members are calculated as follows:

For the largest ILEC in the COC group (by fixed broadband subscriber count): 

$5.15 per fixed broadband subscription within the ILEC service area.

PLUS

$0.50 per fixed broadband subscription provided by the ILEC or an affiliate outside the ILEC service area (with a minimum dues amount of $525 and a maximum dues amount of $26,250).

For all other affiliated ILECs within the COC group:

$5.15 per fixed broadband subscription within the ILEC service area.

PLUS

$0.50 per fixed broadband subscription provided by the ILEC or an affiliate outside the ILEC service area (with a minimum dues amount of $525 and a maximum dues amount of $3,500).

In addition to the company-specific calculations above, the following maximum dues amounts apply to the entire COC group:

  • COC member with 2–10 subsidiary ILEC companies: $39,375.
  • COC member with 11–99 subsidiary ILEC companies: $59,063.
  • COC member with 100+ subsidiary ILEC companies: $65,625.

To become a member with NTCA as a COC, please contact [email protected].

Alliance Member

An Alliance Member is an organization formed by partnerships of NTCA ILEC Members to offer communications infrastructure and services to customers and communities in a collaborative and efficient way. Alliance Members have no voting rights.

Dues for Alliance Members are calculated as follows:

  • 1-10 Employees: $525
  • 11-50 Employees: $1,050
  • 51-100 Employees: $2,100
  • 100+ Employees: $3,150

If you believe your company qualifies for NTCA’s alliance membership and would like to join, please contact member services at [email protected] or (703) 351-2118

Non-ILEC Subsidiary Member

A Non-ILEC Subsidiary Member is an entity affiliated with an ILEC Member that was created to provide telecommunications services including, but not limited to: cable television; wireless companies, interexchange carriers, video providers, Internet service providers and competitive local exchange carriers with fewer than 50,000 customers. Non-ILEC subsidiary members have no voting rights.

Any ILEC owned by multiple entities must join as a separate, full dues paying ILEC Member as noted above.

COC holding companies participating in any NTCA benefit plan are assessed dues at the Non-ILEC Subsidiary Member rate.

Dues for Non-ILEC Subsidiary Members are calculated as follows:

  • 1-10 Employees: $525
  • 11-50 Employees: $1,050
  • 51-100 Employees: $2,100
  • 100+ Employees: $3,150

Holding companies participating in any NTCA benefit plan are assessed dues at the non-ILEC subsidiary Member rate.

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Associate Member

An Associate Member is a supplier of goods and services to the communications industry. Suppliers include, but are not limited to entities such as insurance companies, manufacturers, other rural utilities, statewide providers of equal access, accounting consultants, engineering consultants and law firms. Associate members do not have voting rights.

Dues for Associate Members are calculated as follows:

  • 1-10 Employees: $593
  • 11-50 Employees: $1,349
  • 51-100 Employees: $2,704
  • 101+ Employees: $4,069

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General Broadband Provider Member

General Broadband Provider Members include any internet service providers that are not associated with a NTCA ILEC Member. General Broadband Provider Members do not have voting rights and cannot serve on NTCA policy committees. Membership applications for general broadband providers will be reviewed and approved by the NTCA Board of Directors. In the event a membership application is not approved, any dues paid by the prospective member will be refunded in full. 

Dues for General Broadband Provider Members are calculated as follows:

  • 1-10 Employees: $578
  • 11-50 Employees: $1,313
  • 51-100 Employees: $2,625
  • 100+ Employees: $3,938

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Association Member

An Association Member is a local, state or regional association of communications companies. Association Members do not have voting rights.

Dues for Association Members are calculated as follows:

$26 per year if participating in the any NTCA benefit plan; otherwise, membership is free.

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International ILEC Member

An International ILEC Member is an ILEC providing fixed voice and/or broadband Internet access services to fewer than 50,000 customers outside the United States and its territories. International ILEC Members do not have voting rights.

Dues for international ILEC members:

$525 per year.

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Individual Member

A person who was an employee of, or who was associated with, a member of any category of membership is eligible for membership as an individual member. Individual Members do not have voting rights and are not eligible to enroll in any NTCA benefit plan.

To join as an individual, please contact member engagement at [email protected] or (703) 351-2118.

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