An en banc panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled yesterday that the FCC’s universal service program is unconstitutional. In a 9-7 opinion, the court found that the fees the Commission collects from interstate and international telecommunications carriers amount to an illegal tax. However, the Fifth Circuit opinion conflicts with opinions already handed down by to other circuit courts of appeals. It appears likely that the issue will eventually go the Supreme Court. https://lnkd.in/dK5W9W2y
NRTC
Telecommunications
Herndon, VA 13,216 followers
Member driven. Technology focused.
About us
NRTC is a member-driven cooperative that provides technology solutions to help more than 1,500 electric and telecom members bring all the advantages of today’s evolving technology to rural America. NRTC’s products and services meet the needs of rural providers and their customers, and include smart grid and utility solutions, broadband engineering, infrastructure and managed network services, mobile service solutions, and video solutions. NRTC helps providers grow by delivering end-customer technical support, network services, cybersecurity solutions and revenue-generating services leveraged by a powerful service delivery platform. It helps ensure member success by bringing national scope and scale to local, rural projects and helping integrate technology solutions with existing infrastructure. Visit www.nrtc.coop. Learn more on our website, www.nrtc.coop.
- Website
-
http://www.nrtc.coop
External link for NRTC
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Company size
- 501-1,000 employees
- Headquarters
- Herndon, VA
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1986
- Specialties
- Automated Metering Infrastructure, telecommunications, Broadband construction, network design, smart grid technologies, Viasat satellite internet, solar generation, energy storage, , internet managed services, video services, and mobile communications
Locations
-
Primary
2121 Cooperative Way
Herndon, VA 20171, US
Employees at NRTC
Updates
-
Under an NPRM adopted today, the FCC would require mobile phone service providers to “unlock” devices 60 days after activation. Consumers would be able to activate their phones on competing networks offering better prices or coverage, thus increasing competition in the wireless industry. One issue in the proposal is over the effect a 60-day rule would have on small cellular providers or mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). NRTC Mobile Solutions offers members MVNO services and access to phones on the secondary market. https://lnkd.in/dWWPaZjC
-
Gabb, a company based in Lehi, Utah, says that its newly released Gabb Phone 4 is “the perfect first phone for kids.” Since 2018, Gabb has been offering mobile phones for kids with functions to stay connected with parents while avoiding social media and some of the other more adult aspects of the internet. NRTC has developed a Gabb fulfillment system and provided other back-office support. https://lnkd.in/e27ystKD
-
NRTC Board Chairman Jimmy Todd, who also serves as board chairman of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), discussed the importance of fiber connectivity to rural areas during a recent FBA webcast. Todd described the scene in 1996, when Nex-Tech was the first telco to build FTTH to a rural community. He also described how building fiber connectivity remains an important goal for rural communities. https://lnkd.in/egVV2tpq
-
The sun officially set on NRTC Video Solutions on June 30. Video distribution to rural America has been a major part of NRTC’s activities dating back to its birth in 1986. Renée Harrison (pictured left) and Linda Kocher share some of their memories from 25 years with NRTC Video Solutions and the difference it made for rural viewers. https://lnkd.in/eHY3k6_H
-
In October 2023, the FCC adopted a Declaratory Ruling making Wi-Fi connections on school buses and other remote sites eligible for funding through the Universal Service Schools and Libraries program. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the FCC will vote on a Further NPRM July 18 to set more specific rules for administering remote Wi-Fi funding requests. https://lnkd.in/eF7yFBtM
-
The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the 40-year-old Chevron Doctrine, which directed courts to give deference to federal agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous statutes. The doctrine has been a case-determining factor in thousands of issues before the court, including telecommunications cases. Some believe that the FCC’s recent order reinstating Title II regulation for broadband providers could be at risk following the end of the Chevron Doctrine. https://lnkd.in/eX8q_6Ay
-
Comcast Business, which provides cable internet connections for enterprise customers, recently signed a strategic agreement to collaborate with Starlink, SpaceX’s low Earth orbit satellite broadband business. The union of the two technologies will extend internet connections to unserved or underserved rural enterprise offices and provide redundancy to all other Comcast enterprise customers. https://lnkd.in/dse_vr48
-
The FCC recently accepted comments in preparation for its report to Congress on the state of competition in the communications marketplace. Rural broadband associations raised several concerns, including the need for accurate broadband coverage data, the increase in broadband regulations and the need to identify spectrum for fixed wireless broadband services. https://lnkd.in/eN73XCR7
-
NRTC CEO Tim Bryan moderated a session with artificial intelligence pioneer Zack Kass (pictured right) during the recent CFC Forum in Indianapolis. Kass is a consultant who advises top companies developing AI strategies, including Coca-Cola and Morgan Stanley. Earlier he participated in AI start-ups and served as “head of go to market” for OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT. Also during CFC Forum, Dana Taylor, president of NRTC Broadband Solutions moderated a session on broadband financial management.