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Vol. 11, No. 22
June 8, 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
POLE ATTACHMENTS
COMPTEL PLUS
AT THE FCC
ON THE HILL
COMPETITORS' RECEPTION
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
MEMBER NEWS






For more information about submitting member company news, please contact Gail Norris.
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June 11 

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TOP OF THE NEWS
COMPTEL, Level 3 Urge Commission to
Resolve Pole Attachment Rate Disparities
On June 5, COMPTEL and its member company Level 3 Communications filed comments urging the FCC to resolve the remaining disparities between pole attachment rates applicable to cable and telecommunications providers. The comments called for the FCC to grant the still-pending petition for reconsideration of the Commission's 2011 Pole Attachment Order.

The 2011 Pole Attachment Order recognized the importance of ensuring that all competitors had access to poles as the same, low cable rate - a point that the recent Open Internet Order reiterated. Granting the petition would simply fulfill this policy goal by finally completing the important work the FCC began four years ago.

COMPTEL noted that granting the petition will promote broadband deployment and protect against competitive distortions that these disparate rates can cause.
COMPTEL PLUS
Session Proposals Due Next Week
COMPTEL is now accepting session proposals for the COMPTEL PLUS Fall Business EXPO 2015, which will take place October 18-21 in San Francisco. We're looking for session proposals that encourage interactive discussions about current and future trends on topics. Visit our website to see suggested topics.

Session proposals are due Friday, June 19, 2015, and must be submitted online. For more information, visit the COMPTEL PLUS website. If you have questions, email Chris Ballman or Tara Smith.

Register Early for COMPTEL PLUS and Save
Early bird registration for the COMPTEL PLUS Fall Business Expo 2015, October 18-21 in San Francisco, is now open. Register before July 17 and take advantage of significant savings on full conference and networking passes.

With the full conference pass, you'll gain access to all COMPTEL PLUS has to offer, including admittance to keynote addresses, educational tracks, the expo, meeting rooms, COMPTEL PLUS Deal Center, networking receptions and other events, as well as conference materials. The networking pass is designed for attendees who are interested only in the expo and networking events.

While you're registering, you also can make your hotel reservations at our host hotel - the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.
AT THE FCC
COMPTEL Comments on Proposed TRS 
Contribution Factor for 2015-16 Fund Year
On June 4, COMPTEL filed comments on the proposed carrier contribution factor proposed by the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Administrator Rolka Loube Associates. For funding year July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, the proposed TRS contribution factor is 0.01635, which is 34 percent higher than the factor adopted by the Commission for the 2014-2015 fund year.

COMPTEL urged the Commission to closely examine the basis for this sharp increase, which places a substantial burden on carriers, and consider whether such a large increase is necessary. Moreover COMPTEL urged the Commission to revisit its apparent (though uncodified) prohibition against carriers identifying TRS contributions as line items on customer bills and/or declare that carriers are not prohibited from recovering TRS contributions in line items on customer bills.

COMPTEL Files Reply Comments on 
Local Number Portability Transition Plan
In reply comments filed on June 1, COMPTEL noted that it agrees with several common and recurrent themes found in the comments on the local number portability transition plan. Those themes include: the critical need to both solicit and obtain feedback and participation during the transition process from all stakeholders, including, but not limited to, small providers, competitive carriers, rural carriers, state regulators and consumers; the critical need for proactive Commission oversight of the transition process and contract negotiations; and the critical need for all parties involved in the transition (NAPM, the transition oversight manager, Neustar and iconectiv) to mitigate risks and to control the costs that will be borne by stakeholders.

COMPTEL said it is confident that, due to the important role that number portability plays in keeping telephone subscribers connected, facilitating consumers' ability to switch providers and promoting competition,the Commission will use its oversight authority to ensure that the transition of LNPA responsibilities from Neustar to iconectiv is as transparent, effective and seamless as possible and that stakeholders are kept fully informed of the processes each step of the way.
ON THE HILL
Rep., Kinzinger Introduces Legislation to Prohibit 
FCC from Regulating Broadband Rates
Last week, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) introduced the "No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act," a one-sentence piece of legislation that would prohibit the FCC from regulating broadband rates.

The legislation is cosponsored by Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), as well as Representatives Bob Latta (R-OH), John Shimkus (R-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Steve Scalise (R-LA), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Pete Olson (R-TX), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Billy Long (R-MO), Renee Ellmers (R-NC), Chris Collins (R-NY), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Joe Barton (R-TX).
COMPETITORS' RECEPTION
COMPTEL Seeks Sponsors for Competitors' Reception 
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) will host its Summer Committee Meetings July 12-15 at the New York Marriott Marquis. COMPTEL is planning to host a Competitors' Reception at New York Marriott Marquis on Saturday, July 11. Please note that the Competitors' Reception is not sponsored by NARUC nor is it a part of the Annual Meeting agenda.

If your company would like to sponsor, or you have questions, please email Karen Reidy or call 202-296-6650.
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.

June 9             Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy

June 16           Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy
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