NARUC Meetings Focus on Stimulus, DTV Transition February 18th, 2009
Robert Mayer

USTelecom attended the winter meetings of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) held in Washington, DC this week. Among the leading topics at the conference was administration of the economic stimulus bill just signed into law, particularly the $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus.  The broadband programs include, among other things grants and loans for broadband build-out to un-served and under-served areas, broadband mapping, funding for outreach and demand stimulation programs, and support for applications such as telemedicine and education.

Representatives of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the Department of Commerce and the Rural Utilities Services (RUS) of the Department of Agriculture, the federal agencies responsible for administering the broadband programs, spoke on panels at the conference.  The agencies indicated that they have a great deal of work to do in a short period of time to define terms, determine eligibility, set up an administrative structure, and distribute the funds.  NTIA and RUS officials encouraged participation in the process from the public and from state commissions. In addition, key House and Senate staffers cited oversight of the stimulus spending as a top priority for the year.

Verizon Executive Vice President, Tom Tauke, focused his keynote address on the stimulus package.  He urged states to be active in helping the federal agencies to determine how to quickly target the funds to un-served and under-served areas.  Mr. Tauke noted that, while the private sector invests nearly $70 billion per year in broadband networks, the cost of serving un-served areas is still too high and would likely require a 50% – 60% match.

The DTV transition deadline, extended to June 12, was also a popular topic, with federal regulators and congressional staff overseers indicating that the transition would also be a top priority this year.

The NARUC Telecom Committee endorsed several resolutions, including:

• Supporting states’ role in broadband mapping and encouraging states to consider public-private partnerships, if technologically neutral.
• Supporting establishment of a three-year pilot program extending federal low-income telephony support programs to broadband, and asking the FCC to allow the states a larger role in eligibility.
• Supporting FCC reform, including encouraging the FCC to use more fact-based inquiries and adjudications, to adopt a timetable for action, and to review of various processes for federal-state cooperation.

These resolutions will go to the NARUC Board for consideration before the Winter meetings conclude today.

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