The National Telecom Co-op Assn. (NTCA) approved a resolution exp...

Justice, the FCC and state regulators to require the new “conglomerates” to provide service to small, rural telecom companies at reasonable rates. NTCA also urged regulators to prohibit “non-disclosure agreements in contracts involving access to the IP backbone, video content and the interconnection of networks.” The resolution said these mergers pose a “significant threat to rural consumers,” possibly enabling the bigger companies to dictate prices and terms for a variety of communications services. “Additionally, these new conglomerates will possess the ability to control both content and distribution facilities in the markets they serve and have the means and opportunity to manipulate those markets, engage in predatory pricing and implement discriminatory practices against their competitors, particularly small independent carriers.” Another NTCA resolution said the association would work to assure its members had “nondiscriminatory access to video content, equipment and pricing to enable the membership to become major video service providers and to compete in the cable television marketplace.” In another resolution, NTCA said it would aim its advocacy efforts at passing laws and regulations to insure its member companies receive cost recovery for investment in a variety of technologies: “Providers serving rural, insular and high cost areas require many different technologies, products and services to address the needs of their customers and appropriate policies are needed to ensure those carriers can provide access to advanced services and new technologies.” The resolution reflected the fact that there are now limits on the kind of technology eligible for universal service funding.