Native American Connectivity Act

H.R. 3146 and S. 1349 To eliminate certain local cable franchising requirements HRes 230 To express the Sense of the House on Broadband over Powerlines H.R. 5027 Universal Service Reform Act of 2006 H.R. 5085 America Broadband for Communities Act H.R. 5252 Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006 H.R. 5352 Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2006 S. 241 To Exempt Universal Service from the Anti-Deficiency Act S. 284 To distribute non-rural universal service support according to a new formula S. 497 Rural Access to Broadband Service Act S. 535 Native Americans Connectivity Act S. 1147 To amend the IR code to provide for the expensing of broadband Internet access expenditures S. 1294 To preserve the ability of local governments to provide broadband services without restrictions S. 1504 To establish a market-driven telecommunications marketplace through deregulation S. 1583 To strengthen the universal service program and support mechanisms S. 1932 Deficit Reconciliation Omnibus Act of 2005 and H.R. 4241 Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 with emphasis on advancing the digital television migration provisions as the association members would like to utilize the 700 megahertz spectrum the broadcasters vacate. S. 2113 Digital Age Communications Act - emphasis on its universal service programs S. 2256 Internet and Universal Service Act of 2008 S. 2327 Wireless Innovation Act of 2006 S. 2686 Communications, Consumer Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 S. 2332 American Broadband for Communities Act S. 1349 The Video Choice Act of 2005 H.R. 5414 Internet Freedom and Non-discrimination Act of 2006 S. 2917 Internet Freedom Preservation Act S. 2178 and H.R. 4709 Law Enforcement and Phone Privacy Protection Act of 2006 To pursue a regulatory environment that allows the association's incumbent rural telecom providers to continue serving the high cost markets no other entities have cared to, without facing uneconomic, artifically induced competition. The association believes in a strong universal service program and full cost recovery via that program, intercarrier compensation, and consumer rates. The association further believes that competitive entrants to the business should be willing to live up to the same industry responsibilities surrounding these concepts that incumbent carriers have met for decades. In addition, the association strongly advocates for fair access to all forms of content and infrastructure whether in voice, video, or data format. The association has also worked as a partner with the Coalition to Keep America Connected to educate the public and in limited circumstances, the Congress, about these issues. The association also works with relevant regulatory bodies and other federal policymakers to ensure the operating environment for small businesses is of a nature that will allow them to successfully fulfill their mission of service to rural consumers. Specific emphasis was directed toward discussing elements of the ongoing full enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley statute that has the potential to create many financial burdens on small business entitites such as rural communications providers. The association's interest in all of the measures listed below stems from these perspectives. H.R. 102 Children's Access to Technology Act H.R. 144 Rural America Digital Accessibility Act H.R. 146 Grants for Broadband Economic Development H.R. 214 To promote deployment and investment in Internet Protocol oriented advanced Internet communications services H.R. 1479 Rural Access to Broadband Services H.R. 1730 To Reinstate FCC Authority to Regulate Cable Rates H.R. 2418 and S. 1063 To promote and enhance public safety with regard to Internet Protocol enabled voice services H.R. 2533 and S. 241 To exempt universal service funds and programs from the federal Anti-Deficiency Act H.R. 2726 To prohibit municipal governments from offering telecommunications, information or cable services except in certain cases With regard to the measures listed below, the association has the following interests: