id,filing_uuid,filing_type,registrant_name,registrant_id,client_name,filing_year,filing_period,issue_code,specific_issues,government_entities,income_amount,expense_amount,is_no_activity,is_termination,received_date
1487831,33bbc72a-7d7d-4a4e-a52d-5199273f8d8b,Q4,WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND,293836,WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND,2013,fourth_quarter,TEC,"Universal Service and Intercarrier Compensation Reform -- WTA continued to share information with policymakers about how the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) 2011 USF/ICC Transformation Order, specially the use of the Quantile Regression Analysis (QRA), was negatively impacting rural local exchange carriers (RLECs) abilities to invest in broadband to meet their customers' information and communications needs.   WTA also expressed its opposition to providing USF reimbursement support to RLECs based off of a model that does not take such carriers' uniqueness (e.g., size, service territory terrain, geography, etc.) into account.

Data Only Broadband (DOBB) and Capital Budget Mechanism (CBM) --  WTA continued to advocate support for its DOBB and CBM plans.  Specifically, the DOBB plan would allow RLECs to receive USF reimbursement support for their customers who choose to only take the company's broadband service.  WTA lobbying effort focused on why this was important to helping increase broadband take-rates in rural areas and why this helps to meet the provisions in the Communications Act which call for comparably reasonable rates between urban and rural areas.  In regard to the CBM, WTA's advocacy focused on its use as an alternative to and substitute for the current application of the QRA.

USF Contributions Reform -- WTA continued to talk with policymakers about why addressing USF Contributions Reform (e.g., the way consumer contribute into the universal service fund) was appropriate as well as the benefits of doing so, especially since the Federal Communications Commission has already addressed the way USF funds are distributed through its 2011 USF/ICC Transformation Order.

Evolution of the Public Switch Network (PSTN) from TDM to Internet Protocol (IP) -- WTA continued to share stories with policymakers about how RLECs' networks have evolved over the years and that they now transitioning from TDM-based to IP-based networks.  WTA continued to express its support for limited broad based technical trials as a way to understand technical problems that may arise as networks incorporate more IP.  WTA expressed it opposition to such trials as a way for companies to by-pass current rules and regulations.

E-Rate Modernization -- WTA continued to lobby in support of reforming the E-Rate program in an effort to better use the limited E-Rate funds.  Its advocacy supported leveraging existing infrastructure as a way to enhance and expand the delivery of broadband services while also advancing rules and regulations against using limited USF dollars to build duplicative infrastructure where pre-existing federal programs and recipients of support are in the process of providing broadband to community anchor institutions.

Rural Call Completion -- WTA continued to share stories from its members regarding calls that are not being completed in their service territories.  WTA continued to express its support for the implementation of newer rules and regulations that require all calls going to rural areas be completed.  The association also emphasized its support for stronger penalties against those carriers that prevent those calls from be completed in rural areas. 

Federal Communications Commission Process Reform -- WTA lobbied in support of policies and procedures that bring make the agency more effective and efficient in the way it performs its duties and in the ways in which it seeks information from the entities it regulates.","Agriculture, Dept of (USDA),Federal Communications Commission (FCC),HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,Natl Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST),SENATE",85000,,0,0,2014-01-19T16:00:56.137000-05:00