NATOA promotes community interests in communications. A national trade association based in Alexandria, VA , NATOA represents local government jurisdictions and consortiums, including elected and appointed officials and staff, who oversee communications and cable television franchising.
Upcoming Events
- September 13,2010 - eNATOA - Communications Technology Ascertainment: Best Practices
- September 29,2010 - 2010 Annual Conference
- October 18,2010 - eNATOA - What's the Future of Cable Television?
- November 8,2010 - eNATOA - Small, Medium and Large Communities: Social Media Practices
- December 13,2010 - eNATOA - 2010 Retrospective: 2011 Preview: Hot issues in Communications
Top Issues
GAO Report Examining Changes to Wireless Industry in Last Decade Released
On August 26, Rep. Edward J. Markey, Rep. Rick Boucher, and Rep. Henry A. Waxman released a GAO report examining changes in the wireless industry over the past decade. The report recommends that the FCC expand its data collection on such metrics as special access rates, prices, and capital expenditures in order to improve its monitoring and annual reporting on competition in the wireless market.
» More…
NATOA Files Comments on the FCC’s Third Way Proposal for Reclassification
Yesterday, NATOA filed comments with the FCC on the legal framework for the Commission’s oversight of broadband Internet. After the recent Comcast decision by the D.C. Circuit called into question the ability of the Commission to enact its broadband agenda under Title I of the Telecommunications Act, the FCC started a proceeding that would potentially reclassify broadband connectivity service (but not the Internet itself) as a “telecommunications service” under Title II of the Act.
» More…
NATOA Calls on FCC to Act on Pending PEG Petitions
Earlier today, at an Appropriations oversight hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Jose Serrano (D-NY) called on FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski to take actions to protect Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) channels that are currently being harmed by industry actions.
» More…
$1.8 Billion in BTOP and BIP Awards Announced
Yesterday, Vice President
Biden announced 94 additional BTOP and BIP broadband funding awards. The
awards were made to projects in 34 states and were for a total of $1.8
billion. Over the next month, NTIA and RUS are expected to award an
additional $1.5 billion. Another award announcement is expected on September
6th and a final award announcement is expected on September 27th.
The full list of the
awards made yesterday is available here.
Of those 94 awards, 5 of
them were for public safety projects. Additional information on these
awards is available here.
The full list of grants
awarded since the beginning of the BTOP program is available here. A full
list of grants awarded through BIP is available here
(search the database for status: “awarded”).
NATOA Files Reply Comments on E-Rate
Yesterday, NATOA, joined
by the National Association of Counties and the New America Foundation’s Open
Technology Initiative, filed reply comments with the FCC on proposed changes to
the E-Rate program starting in Funding Year 2011. In addition to
prioritizing broadband under the revised program, the FCC has proposed to make
dark fiber leasing eligible for E-Rate funding (including the leasing of dark
fiber from a municipality). Our comments defended the dark fiber proposal
from significant industry attacks that were made in the initial round of
comments. Our comments also followed up on our earlier comments by asking
the FCC to also allow E-Rate funds to be used for lit municipal fiber, so that
schools and libraries are given the maximum amount of options so that they can
choose to spend E-Rate funding in the most efficient, and practical manner for
their specific circumstances.
The full text of the comments is available here.
Save $100 on registration to the NATOA Annual Conference
September 29 - October 1, 2010
The Washington Court Hotel, Washington, DC
Did you know you can register now and save $100 off of NATOA’s regular registration rates? This discount will be applied automatically at checkout and is valid through August 1, 2010. For more information, visit the NATOA 2010 Annual Conference Page now.
NATOA Offers Individual Promotional Membership for 2010 and 2011
On July 1, 2010, NATOA approved offering an individual membership for new members at a
promotional rate of $100 for the remainder of 2010 and $250 for 2011
plus one free eNATOA to be used by December 31, 2010. This is a
limited time offer and must be a commitment for 2010 and 2011. It is
open only to those that are not existing members in any fashion. Feel
free to contact NATOA Headquarters at (703) 519-8035 or info@natoa.org for more information on this limited
time promotional offering. Download a membership application HERE
NATOA Files Comments on PEG in Set Top Box Proceeding
Yesterday, NATOA, joined
by the New America Foundation, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Illinois NATOA,
SEATOA, CAPATOA, WATOA, MACTA, and SCAN NATOA, filed comments with the FCC on
the importance of treating PEG channels the same as other channels on
multichannel video programming distributor systems (MVPDs). The comments
highlight the increased role PEG channels play in providing information to the
public and managing emergency situations. Finally, the comments propose a
draft rule to create equivalence in the treatment of PEG and non-PEG
programming, based on language in the franchise agreements between
The full text of the comments is available here.