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Vol. 10, No. 3       January 21, 2014
In This Issue
TOP OF THE NEWS
COMPTEL PLUS
AT THE FCC
ON THE HILL
NARUC
MEMBER BENEFITS
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
MEMBER NEWS





For more information about submitting member company news, please contact Gail Norris.
FCC DEADLINES

January 21

January 28

February 5

February 13

February 18

February 28

SOCIALIZE WITH COMPTEL

 

@COMPTEL 

@COMPTELPLUS 

@COMPTELADVOCACY
                          

Diamond Rio publicity shot

 
TOP OF THE NEWS

COMPTEL Files Petition for Reconsideration in 

Rural Call Completion Proceeding 

On January 16, COMPTEL filed a petition for reconsideration in the rural call completion proceeding, asking the FCC to reinstate the small carrier exemption proposed in the NPRM, which would have exempted providers with 100,000 or fewer subscribers from compliance with the new recordkeeping, reporting and data retention rules. The rule as adopted limits the exemption to providers with 100,000 or fewer subscriber lines and will increase the number of providers subject to the new rules by 150 percent.  
 
COMPTEL asked for reconsideration because the FCC failed to give adequate notice of the change, and did not give affected long distance providers an opportunity to comment on the substantially narrower definition of small carrier that was ultimately adopted in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. 
COMPTEL PLUS
Educational Sessions Announced for Spring Convention 
COMPTEL last week announced its educational agenda for the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2014 Convention & EXPO, which is taking place March 16-19 at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. 
 
The agenda will include tracks focusing on "Innovative Strategies to Boost Revenue Streams," "Forecasts for the Policy Climate in 2014" and "Cutting-Edge Technology Trends for Gaining a Competitive Edge. Visit each track online to see the various sessions. The sessions will start our Monday educational  program at 9:15 a.m., followed by the keynote address featuring Windstream CEO Jeff Gardner at 11:15 a.m. and the EXPO opening at 12:30 p.m. The convention will conclude with a half-day workshop on Wednesday, March 19 from 8 a.m. to 11a.m., hosted by Kelly Drye, which will explore "The Next Big Thing: Capitalizing on Emerging Trends at the Intersection of Public Policy and Business."

Discounted Registration Still Available
There is still time to save on registration to COMPTEL PLUS by taking advantage of our discounted rates.  Register today, and then book your room at our host hotel, the Aria.


AT THE FCC
FCC Gives 30 Day Notice for Duty to Query NLAD 
Last week,the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau gave eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) 30-days notice of their obligation to begin querying the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD). ETCs will have a duty to query the NLAD to determine if a prospective subscriber is currently receiving Lifelines-supported service in accordance with the schedule released by USAC.
ON THE HILL
Past FCC Chairs Testify at #CommActUpdate Hearing
On January 15, former FCC Chairmen Michael Copps, Reed Hundt, Michael Powell and Richard Wiley testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology at a #CommActUpdate hearing. The hearing sought to gain unique insight into the workings of the expert agency and the challenges faced in implementing the Act as amended at different times during the agency's past. 
 
For testimony and additional information from the hearing, visit the subcommittee's website. Follow #CommActUpdate on Twitter to stay on top of all the committee's work on this topic.
NARUC
COMPTEL Seeks Sponsors for NARUC Reception
COMPTEL is seeking sponsors for its popular Competitors' Reception during the NARUC Winter Committee Meeting, which is taking place February 9-12 in Washington, D.C. 
 
For more information, or to secure your sponsorship, e-mail Karen Reidy or call 202-296-6650.
MEMBER BENEFITS
COMPTEL to Host January 29 Webinar on 
New HR Solutions Offering from UNITEL
COMPTEL recently announced a new member benefit offered through UNITEL Insurance: an innovative human resources advisory services to member companies called UNITEL HR Solutions.  COMPTEL members will be able to purchase the service to help them navigate the constantly changing health care environment, including new Affordable Care Act requirements, as well as hundreds of complex employment law issues relating to hiring, termination, discrimination, pay and classification, time off/FMLA continuation, COBRA, employee relations and employee safety.

UNITEL HR Solutions is comprised of three main components:
  • HR Hotline - Calls answered live by senior level, experienced HR professionals with Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification, as well as national and state-level expertise. Written summaries of the calls are provided with links to valuable resources. Email support is offered as an alternative to live telephone support team.
  • HR Library - Access to thousands of online tools, forms, templates and compliance guides for state and Federal employment law.
  • HR Training - Unlimited access to more than 200 courses through which subscribers can train employees and management. These professional, online courses were developed by the training experts at Business & Legal Resources (BLR). With this training, users can track and receive reports on progress, and provide certificates of completion.

In addition to these core components, UNITEL HR Solutions package includes HRIC-approved webinars, whitepapers and state/Federal compliance alerts.

Learn More During January 29 Webinar
COMPTEL members are invited to join UNITEL Insurance account executives Carl Zeutzius and Mike Reed for a live webinar on Wednesday, January 29 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. The webinar will provide members with an opportunity to learn more about how UNITEL's outsourced HR advisory service can reduce costs and overall risk related, and ask questions about the program.

To register for the webinar, visit the COMPTEL Webinar Program page.  COMPTEL webinars are powered by PGi.    

COMMITTEE MEETINGS 
All COMPTEL Committee meetings are held at the Association's headquarters, 1200 G St NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005, unless otherwise noted.  All times listed are Eastern. For more information, call 202-296-6650.

January 28      Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy

February 4      Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy
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