On March 2, 2017, the Rural Broadband Association (NTCA) and representatives from TDS Telecommunications met with FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Staff to advocate for the Commission to conduct an E-rate support applicant study of the voice phase down due to the E-rate Modernization Order. NTCA and TDS argued that the study would “enable schools and libraries to demonstrate the consequences of the voice support phase down on their operations and budgets.” NTCA and TDS are also encouraging the FCC to not only pause the voice phase down, but to restore the voice phase down levels to FY 2014 for support for voice services on a temporary basis while the FCC studies this further.
Further information on the NTCA and TDS FCC meeting can be viewed here.