Rep. Terry (R-Neb.) urged FCC to add ‘Rural Issues Div.’ to each ...
Rep. Terry (R-Neb.) urged FCC to add “Rural Issues Div.” to each bureau to improve communications between rural telecom providers and FCC. “I have spent many hours listening to and discussing the frustrations many rural telecommunications providers have with…
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the FCC,” Terry said in letter to FCC Chmn. Powell Tues.: “The most frustrating issue… is the apparent inability to talk to and deal with someone at the FCC who understands the needs and issues of rural companies.” He said one or 2 people could be assigned to such division in each bureau “to coordinate and speak out on the issues currently facing rural telecommunications providers, especially when new rules and regulations are addressed that would affect rural… providers.” He said div. also could be contact point for small companies to “get answers and updates” about rural issues. OPASTCO praised Terry for trying “to make the Commission more responsive to the needs of rural telecommunications providers.” On same day, Terry wrote to House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) requesting hearing on HR-1171, which would lift caps on high-cost universal service support system. Bill was introduced by Rep. Deal (R-Ga.) and co-sponsored by Terry and others. “The current universal service caps imposed by the FCC are a cap on investment,” Terry wrote: “These caps hinder the ability of small rural telecommunications providers to invest in new infrastructure that is considered a key to their rural economic development.”