03.21.14 FCC Ex Parte - NTCA CEO Bloomfield's letter to FCC Chairman Wheeler, WC 10-90 et al

Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90; High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket No. 05-337; AT&T Petition to Launch a Proceeding Concerning the TDM-to-IP Transition; Petition of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association for a Rulemaking to Promote and Sustain the Ongoing TDM-to-IP Evolution, GN Docket No. 12-353; Technology Transitions Policy Task Force, GN Docket No. 13-5

In a letter to FCC Chairman Wheeler, Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association (“NTCA”), seeks to prompt action by the Federal Communications Commission in resolving concerns about implementation of the rule that requires small, rural rate-of-return-regulated local exchange carriers (“RLECs”) to increase their local casino voice services rates to a “rate floor” determined by a survey of rates in urban areas.  The strict implementation of this rule presents real challenges for rural consumers and could put at risk access to both quality voice and broadband services in many rural communities across the 40% of the United States landmass served by RLECs.

03.21.14 FCC Ex Parte - NTCA CEO Bloomfield's letter to FCC Chairman Wheeler, WC 10-90 et al