Legislative Action Center
The 110th Congress is working on a variety of issues relating to network neutrality, cell phone consumer protection, community broadband, PEG programming availability, public safety spectrum, universal service, satellite tax, as well as holding a host of hearings on these and oversight issues. Be sure to visit NATOA’s Legislative Action Center for the latest information on what Congress is up to.
NATOA represents the needs and interests of local governments on cable, telecom, rights of way, public safety and interoperability and related matters. NATOA is actively involved in cases before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Courts, Congress and the states. NATOA seeks to ensure that the voice of local governments is heard, and that our position is understood.
On the Hill
NATOA Joins Other Local Government Associations in Letter to the Congressional Leadership on Rights-of-Way in the National Broadband Plan
Yesterday, NATOA joined
with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the National
Association of Counties, the Government Finance Officers Association, the
International City/County Management Association, and the International
Municipal Lawyers Association in sending a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), House Minority Leader
John Boehner (R-OH), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
The letter urged Congressional advocacy in favor of continued local management
of rights-of-way and warned against potential FCC actions in the National
Broadband Plan or the pending Level 3 proceeding that could jeopardize
local management of rights-of-way and local budgets. The letter also
highlighted Congress’s clear intent, when drafting the applicable law, to
prevent FCC interference with local management of rights-of-way.
The National Broadband
Plan is due to Congress on March 17th, but the FCC is expected to publically
release the Plan one day earlier at its Open Meeting on March 16th.
We have been asked to request our members send a copy of this letter to their individual Representatives and Senators. If you need assistance contacting your elected officials, please contact Matt Johnson at NATOA. The letter can be found here.
» More On The Hill Items
FCC Issues of Interest
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.
“Today’s report offers
important insights into the wireless industry and the FCC’s efforts to assess
industry competition and consumer protection,” said Rep. Markey. “The GAO
has noted that the FCC has made progress to improve its data collection and
assessment activities with more work to be done. Over the past decade,
consumers have benefited from significantly lower prices for wireless services
and better coverage. Still, issues such as early termination fees charged
by carriers – which raise concerns both from a consumer protection and a
competition standpoint – handset exclusivity arrangements, acquisition of
spectrum and industry consolidation all should be closely examined.”
The report, “Enhanced Data
Collection Could Help FCC Better Monitor Competition in the Wireless Industry,”
reviews the changes in the wireless industry since 2000 and how those changes
have benefited consumers through lower prices and better coverage.
However, industry consolidation has also reduced the ability of small and
regional carriers to be competitive, raising concerns that a lack of
competition in the market could result in higher fees and deteriorating service
for consumers.
Click here
to read the full report.
» More FCC Items
Court Actions
City of Chicago Loses Bid to Collect Revenues from Comcast
The Supreme Court of Illinois has ruled unanimously against the City of Chicago in its efforts to collect revenues related to the franchise fee from Comcast’s cable modem service. The decision, handed down November 20, 2008, relied heavily on the FCC’s 2002 interpretation excluding cable modem service from inclusion in a cable operator’s 5% gross revenues for franchise fee purposes (along with its definition of cable modem service as an interstate information service), along with several Federal district court decisions. The full text of the decision is available here.
» More Court Action Items
Policy Matters
NTIA and RUS Extend BTOP and BIP Deadlines for Infrastructure Projects
Today, NTIA and RUS
released a statement extending the deadlines for BTOP and BIP applications for infrastructure
projects. The previous deadline was March 15th. NTIA
extended the deadline for BTOP Comprehensive Community Infrastructure projects to March 26, 2010. RUS extended the deadline
for BIP infrastructure projects to March 29, 2010.
The deadline for
Last month, NATOA organized a letter
to NTIA and RUS requesting an extension of the BTOP and BIP deadlines.
Below is the full text of the NTIA statement.
NTIA Statement:
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
NTIA and RUS will grant a limited extension of time to file infrastructure
applications in the second funding round. Specifically, applicants for BTOP
Comprehensive Community Infrastructure projects will have until March 26th to
file their applications to NTIA. Applicants for BIP infrastructure projects
will have until March 29th to file their applications to RUS.
Applications in NTIA’s two other project categories -