This page contains links to articles related to the FCC's 2011 Universal Service Reform proceeding. Readers, please feel free to submit articles to ruraltelecommentary@gmail.com or share them with me on Twitter @RuralTelComment.
Notice: Although I will no longer be adding regular new posts to Rural TeleCommentary, I will continue to update this page. 9/26/11.
Updated November 18, 2011
FCC Releases USF/ICC Reform Order and FNPRM on November 18, 2011. Click HERE to read the full document.
Cassandra Heyne for Rural TeleCommentary:
- FCC Chairman Genachowski Kicks off USF Reform Week at ITIF (Feb. 7, 2011)
- Understanding--and Advocating--the Importance of Rural America and Getting USF Reform Right (March 28, 2011)
- In the Matter of ICC Abuse and Arbitrage, a Battle Between Telcos and VoIP Ensues (April 4, 2011)
- FCC's Intercarrier Comp Workshop Stimulates Debate About Traffic Pumping, Phantom Traffic and VoIP (April 6, 2011)
- USF Reform Comments Showdown: In This Corner, Rural Carriers Stand Somewhat United (April 18, 2011)
- USF Reform Comments Showdown: In This Corner, Price Cap Carriers Want to Have it All (April 24, 2011)
- FCC's Second USF Workshop Tackles Broadband Technologies, Phase 1 CAF and the Dreaded Reverse Auctions (April 29, 2011)
- USF Reform Comments Showdown: In This Corner, the Joint Board Proposes a Very Reasonable Plan and Opposes Reverse Auctions (May 7, 2011)
- USF Reform Comments Showdown: The Rural Associations Propose Separate, "Evolved Rate-of-Return" RLEC Plan for CAF (May 13, 2011)
- OPASTCO Legislative & Regulatory Conference: Do Not Leave Rural America Behind in Broadband (May 17, 2011)
- FCC's Third USF Workshop in Omaha, NE: Many Questions, Few Solutions for Ideal Rural Broadband Policy (May 18, 2011)
- Refuting the FCC's Self-Serving Optimistic Conclusions about Reverse Auctions with International Examples (May 24, 2011)
- USF Reform Reply Comments Face-Off: Rural Carriers Defend Rate-of-Return and High Cost Support (May 25, 2011)
- USF Reform Reply Comments Face-Off: Rural Telecom Advocates Tackle Financial Risks, Reverse Auctions, Broadband Speeds and More! (May 30, 2011)
- USF Reform Reply Comments Face-Off: A Tale of Two Menacing Price Cap Carrier Plans (June 5, 2011)
- USF Reform Reply Comments Face-Off: The Rural Associations Question NPRM's Legal Stability (June 13, 2011)
- An Open Letter to the FCC: USF Reform Poses a Critical Threat to Rural America (July 11, 2011)
- USF Reform's Status Update: "It's Time to Come to an End." (July 27, 2011)
- My Initial Statement on America's Broadband Connectivity Plan (July 29, 2011)
- The Final USF/ICC Reform Lightning Round: Comments by Alexicon Consulting (August 24, 2011)
- The Final USF/ICC Reform Lightning Round: Comments by ITTA and 3 Mid-Sized Carriers (August 25, 2011)
- The Final USF/ICC Reform Lightning Round: Comments by the Rural Broadband Alliance (August 27, 2011)
- The Final USF/ICC Reform Lightning Round: Comments by Comcast (August 27, 2011)
- The Final USF/ICC Reform Lightning Round: Comments by Cellular South (August 27, 2011)
- The Final USF/ICC Reform Lightning Round: Comments by Gila River Telecommunications Inc. (August 29, 2011)
- The Final USF/ICC Reform Lightning Round: Comments by Satellite Broadband Providers (September 1, 2011)
- The Final USF/ICC Reform Lightning Round: Reply Comments by the Kansas Corporation Commission (September 6, 2011)
- The Final USF/ICC Reform Lightning Round: Reply Comments by the FTTH Council, LARIAT, LightSquared (September 8, 2011)
- The Final USF/ICC Reform Lightning Round: Reply Comments by Iowa RLECs, Iowa Municipals, Blooston Rural Carriers (September 11, 2011)
- Dorgan Weary, Levin Optimistic of FCC's USF Reform Proposals (June 6, 2011)
- USF Reform - Their Two Cents: FTTH Council (June 8, 2011)
- USF Reform - Their Two Cents: Satellite Broadband Providers (June 13, 2011)
- USF Reform - Their Two Cents: Hargray Telephone Company (June 16, 2011)
- Rural Telcos Illustrate Impact of USF Reform (June 22, 2011)
- USF Reform - Their Two Cents: Home Telephone Company (June 28, 2011)
- Comments Show Little Consensus on USF Reform Issues (July 5, 2011; includes a comparative matrix illustrating viewpoints on key USF issues from 57 stakeholders)
- Tribal Carriers Propose Native Nations Broadband Fund (July 8, 2011)
- It is 2018: Where's the PSTN? (July 11, 2011)
- Rural Associations Launch "Save Rural Broadband" (July 14, 2011)
- Price Cap Carriers Release "ABC Plan" for USF with Rural Support (August 1, 2011)
- The End is Near on USF Reform Rulemaking (August 22, 2011)
- Western RLECs Support "Separate by Integrated" RLEC and ABC Plans (August 25, 2011)
- $300m Mobility Fund is Arbitrary and Inadequate, Claims RTG (August 28, 2011)
- ACA: ABC Plan Inconsistent with FCC's Goals for USF/ICC Reform (August 29, 2011)
- Nebraska PSC Advocates States' Role in USF (September 1, 2011)
- Transitioning to CAF: RLEC Plan Steps and Impact (September 7, 2011)
- Six ILECs Defend Rights of First Refusal Proposal (September 8, 2011)
- Rural Associations Urge FCC to Reject Last-Minute USF "Wish Lists" (September 15, 2011)
- New Mexico Study Depicts Life Without USF (September 27, 2011)
- Former Commissioner Questions FCC's Desire for RLEC Mergers (September 27, 2011)
- State USF Reform Impact Studies Predict RLEC "Death Spiral" (October 4, 2011)
- Finally- Genachowski's Big Announcement on USF/ICC Reform (October 6, 2011)
- Response to USF/ICC Rules Varied, but Everyone Wants More Details (October 9, 2011)
- Net Neutrality Fight Intensifies - In Washington Anyway (October 11, 2011)
- Senate Hearing on USF/ICC: What is Fair Reform? (October 13, 2011)
- Rural Panelists Discuss Call Termination Problems - Causes, Effects, Solutions (October 24, 2011)
- FCC Approves Still-Unseen USF/ICC Reform Order (October 27, 2011)
- Will the FCC Stay Committed to Rural America? (Byron Dorgan, The Hill's Congress Blog. June 3, 2011)
- Google Weighs in on USF Reform, Pushes .0007 Access Rate (Joan Engebretson, Telecompetitor. June 13, 2011)
- Golden West Concerned with FCC Broadband Proposal (Rapid City Journal. June 13, 2011)
- Sens. Warner, Kerry Urge FCC to Close Gaps in Broadband Coverage (The Hill's Hillicon Valley. July 5, 2011)
- Melick: New FCC Plan Threatens Access in West Liberty, Rural America (West Liberty Index, July 7, 2011)
- Proposed FCC Regs could Cripple Rural Telephone Companies (Estherville Daily News, July 15, 2011)
- Terry Expects Rural Internet Progress (Omaha World Herald. July 15, 2011)
- Rural Telecom Firms Fear New FCC Rules Will Hurt Small Towns (Tulsa World. July 16, 2011)
- Telecoms Increase Push for Rural Broadband (Knoxville News Sentinel. July 17, 2011)
- Telecom Carriers Oppose Proposed Subsidy Cuts (PCWorld. July 18, 2011)
- Mike Foster: FCC Reform Disastrous for Rural Broadband (by Mike Foster, Twin Valley Tel, The Wichita Eagle. July 24, 2011)
- Guest View: Wrong Time, Wrong Broadband Plan (by Ron Laudner, OmniTel Communications, Globe Gazette. July 24, 2011)
- Area Telecommunications Companies Worried about Rural Broadband Access (Globe Gazette. July 26, 2011)
- Hello America's Broadband Connectivity Plan (Telecompetitor. July 29, 2011)
- Industry Sends FCC a 'Compromise' Plan for Phone Subsidies (National Journal. July 29, 2011)
- Guest Column: Threat to Kansas (Mike Foster; The Topeka Capital Journal, August 2, 2011)
- Blue Valley Challenged by New Rules (The Marysville Advocate, August 3, 2011)
- Preserve Rural Broadband Access (Catherine Moyer, The Garden City Telegram, August 3, 2011)
- Small Town America May Lose Internet Access (Mid America Ag Network interview with KanOkla CEO Greg Aldridge)
- The FCC and Broadband: Will Rural Areas be Left Behind? (Byron Dorgan, MinnPost, August 16, 2011)
- Small Iowa Telephone Companies Face Prospect of Losing Funding (Business 380. August 23, 2011)
- FCC Proposal Would Hurt South Dakota (ArgusLeader.com. August 28, 2011)
- Pending FCC Action Threatens Rural Areas (Great Falls Tribune, August 29, 2011)
- Tri-County Telephone Association Customers Could Lose Service Under Proposed FCC Rules (Marion County Record. August 31, 2011)
- Disconnect: Rural Phone Companies Oppose Funding Changes (Cedar Valley Business. September 5, 2011)
- 5 Ways to a Path to USF Reform (Video, TIA)
- Universal Service and Intercarrier Compensation Reform: Comments End; Serious Action Begins (The Calix Blog; Thomas Cohen. September 6, 2011)
- Rural Broadband Funding Changes Proposed (Matthew Hedger, Ledger-Dispatch, September 9, 2011)
- Rural Telephone Companies Fight Fed Broadband Plan (Quad-City Times, September 14, 2011)
- Universal Service Reform: By The Numbers (Joan Engebretson, Connected Planet. September 15, 2011)
- Letter: FCC Plan Flawed (Mike Foster, The Topeka Capital Journal. September 18, 2011)
- ABC Plan will Keep Rural Areas Connected (Tom Young, Columbia Daily Tribune. September 22, 2011)
- Rural Broadband Access Could Take Huge Step Backwards (John Hemphill, Hells Canyon Journal. September 21, 2011)
- Why USF Reform Matters (Carol Wilson, Light Reading. September 26, 2011)
- Phone Subsidy System Faces Overhaul (Wall Street Journal. October 4, 2011)
- Your Opinion: Don't Dilute the Speed of Rural Broadband (Jefferson City News Tribune. October 5, 2011)
- FCC Chairman Proposes Changes to Phone Subsidy System (Wall Street Journal. October 6, 2011)
- Ex-senator Worried USF Reform will Leave Rural Consumers Behind (The Hill's Hillicon Valley. October 18, 2011)
- Rural Broadband is Critical to California (Rhonda Armstrong, Stephen Frank's California Political News & Views. October 21, 2011)
- Rural America Needs Broadband Access (Jon Stouffer, The Joplin Globe. October 23, 2011)
- Rural Broadband Alliance: USF Refunds Skewed Towards Incumbents (Multichannel News, October 24, 2011)
- Telecom Chief Slams Interest Groups for FCC Lobbying (The Hill's Hillicon Valley. October 25, 2011)
- FCC Set to Unveil Rules for Rural Broadband Funding in Big Telecom Reform Push (Associated Press / Washington Post. October 26, 2011)
- FCC Clears Overhaul of Subsidy Fund (Wall Street Journal. October 27, 2011)
