Resources: Committee on Telecommunications

  • Competitive Issues in Special Access Markets
    January, 2009
    Peter Bluhm, NRRI with Dr. Robert Loube, Rolka Loube Saltzer Associates
    The National Association of Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC) passed a resolution in 2007 commissioning a study of special access. This report was prepared by NRRI under contract with NARUC. This report addresses whether ILECs have market power over wholesale special access services in some or all areas and, if they do, whether that market power harms customers or competition. The report also addresses whether the FCC's current regulatory policies are effective at protecting consumers and sustaining a competitive market. Finally, the report addresses the FCC's knowledge of special access markets and how the FCC might improve data collections to support more effective regulatory policies.
    » Click here for the report (pdf 406kb)
     
  • Testimony filed in Vermont PSB 2008 Examination of VOIP
    October, 2008
    » Click here for more information (pdf 2653kb)
     
  • Mobile Technologies
    February, 2007
    Wireless Workgroup
    This white paper provides an informational resource for commissioners and staff to utilize in familiarizing themselves with wireless technologies, policies and State activities.
    » Click here for more information (pdf 255kb)
     
  • Federalism and Telecom
    July, 2005
    » Click here for more information (pdf 124kb)
     
  • Promoting Broadband Access Through Public Rights-of-Way and Public Lands
    July, 2002
    The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) has recognized that while governmental entities have a legitimate and important role in managing their rights-of-way and public lands, the rights-of-way practices of certain governmental entities have emerged as a barrier to the deployment of advanced telecommunications and broadband networks. NARUC believes that it has a key public policy role to support a pro-deployment, pro-consumer policy that ensures timely and cost-based access to rights-of-way. This policy role was recognized through the passage of a resolution at the NARUC Annual meetings held in Washington D.C. on February 13, 2002.
    » Click here... (pdf 663kb)
     
  • Pole Attachments: Ad Hoc Group of the 706 Federal/State Joint Conference on Advanced Services
    July, 2001
    Pole attachment rates in this country are generally established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). These rates are approximately $6 per pole attachment per year. 1 Due to recent court decisions, there is the potential that the FCC will be displaced as the arbiter of pole attachment rates for both Internet and wireless connections. Should the Supreme Court of the United States decide that the FCC has over-stepped its authority, there is the potential that pole attachment rates could increase significantly. We believe this could have a detrimental effect on the deployment of advanced services to all Americans. If the FCC loses its jurisdiction over this rate setting activity, we believe the States should assert jurisdiction over pole attachments and maintain the currently established rate structure. We further believe that current rates are both fair and reasonable and that they promote facilities based competition. This paper contains a draft recommendation that model legislation from California may be considered by other States that may assume jurisdiction over the rate making process for pole attachments.
    » Click here... (pdf 509kb)