Smithville Leaders Take Rural Voices to Capitol Hill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ELLETTSVILLE, Indiana As congressional representatives look at telecom topics like Internet Protocol (IP) enabled services, rural infrastructures and deregulation issues, representatives from Smithville Telephone Co. wanted to make sure legislators heard from rural Americans on these issues. They did that last week at a legislative conference in Washington, D.C. Cullen McCarty, Smithville Telephone’s Executive Vice President, said the conference gave representatives from Smithville Telephone the opportunity to visit with Rep. John Hostettler; Rep. Mike Sodrel; Rep. Dan Burton and Sen. Evan Bayh about the importance of telecommunications in rural areas.
“In all of Rural America today, there are only a handful of ambassadors like Smithville Telephone who are willing to come face to face with our nation’s leaders to make sure they fully understand how their decisions will directly impact the farmer, the small rural business owner and the families who live miles from their schools, shopping centers and even their neighbors,” said McCarty “The issues that are before our legislature today will determine the future of Rural America perhaps more so than at any other point in our nation’s history. Technology and the process to provide that technology to rural areas are what drive our interest in this conference. We attended because we believe it is essential to make sure our national leaders understand the importance of ensuring rural areas of the country have access to these new technologies. We discussed with our congressional delegation the status and possible outcomes of legislation that is pending today in Congress, as well as vital issues such as Universal Service that ensures rural areas are not absent from the widespread availability of technology.”
Sponsored by the National Telecommunications Cooperatives Association (NTCA), the conference provided rural telcos an opportunity to meet with local Congressional representatives one-on-one as well as in general meetings.
According to McCarty, topics discussed included:
- Advanced Infrastructure – Rural local exchange carriers like Smithville Telephone are actively providing and deploying broadband to their communities. The conference gave rural telecom service providers an opportunity to present the work they’re doing.
- Intercarrier Compensation Revisions – A carrier that uses another carrier’s network should compensate for that use regardless of the technology utilized. As Congress looks at new technology like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), any intercarrier compensation program must eliminate opportunities for regulatory arbitrage that could adversely affect the cost rural families pay for service. We also recommended a mandate to identify all traffic regardless of technology utilized, minimizing the cost increases to consumers.
- Universal Service – We support the expansion of the base of revenues that are assessed for universal service contributions, or identifying other alternatives that ensure all segments of the industry share in the support of the program. Universal Service is a longstanding commitment that ensures the existence of the nationwide integrated telecommunications network. The success of Universal Service has resulted in rural Americans receiving the most advanced technologies – i.e. Internet, broadband, video, and wireless.
- Nondiscriminatory Access – All providers should continue to have the obligation to allow other providers to interconnect with their networks. In order to have nondiscriminatory network interconnection, default rate, terms and conditions for access to, and use of the network facilities must be maintained as technology evolves.
Other topics discussed:
- Consideration of the flexibility of deregulation as it relates to the unique nature of rural markets.
- The rate of return available to rural carriers must be part of deregulation.
- Elimination of the federal excise tax on voice services, or make it applicable to all sectors of the industry to make the playing field level. Prohibition of government-based competition in the form of newly built, tax payer-subsidized communications systems.
Guest speakers for the event were Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN). Also, the regulatory portion of the conference featured two panels of FCC advisors who discussed wireless, broadband, VoIP and other issues.
Michael Brunner, chief executive officer for NTCA, said the organization provides this opportunity to its members each year to carry a message to congress.
"The Legislative and Policy Conference is an important event for NTCA, because it allows us to draw on the strength of our membership and communicate with national policymakers at the grassroots level, which remains our best vehicle for advancing our interests," said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Michael E. Brunner. "We are pleased that so many of our members nearly 600 individuals joined us in Washington to establish and refresh alliances with our lawmakers and regulators on Capitol Hill and at the Federal Communications Commission."
About Smithville Digital
Smithville Digital was formed in 2003 to offer the highest technological services for businesses and networking throughout the state of Indiana. Smithville Digital provides a fiber-optic means of digital data transmission to its customers. Fiber-optic technology allows for “last mile” connectivity as well as network management solutions to help customers meet their data transmission needs. For more information about Smithville Digital visit www.smithvilledigital.net.
Smithville Digital was formed as a spin-off of Smithville Telephone Company. Founded in 1922, Smithville Telephone has grown to be Indiana’s largest independent telecom company. Smithville Telephone Company has expanded its services to include Smithville Digital as well as DSL services. The headquarters are located in Ellettsville, Ind. For more information please visit www.smithville.net.