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Inside Telecom: VoIP is Access Billable

When the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Intercarrier Compensation (ICC) Reform Order is released by the FCC, the order is expected to identify that Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) usage terminating to the Public Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN) is billable at interstate access rates.  Identifying that VoIP is access billable is a huge step, one [...]

Honor Flight, A Memorable Day in D.C. With My Dad

In March of 2010, I was watching our local news channel early one morning and was drawn to a live story about an organization called, Honor Flight of St. Louis. The volunteers from this organization were gathering a group of elderly men at Lambert St. Louis Airport for a flight to Washington D.C. As I [...]

Inside Telecom: FCC Approves USF/ICC Reform Order

The FCC has been trying to reform the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Intercarrier Compensation (ICC) for many years. On October 27, 2011, the FCC unanimously approved an Order to begin meeting this goal. Here are some of the key items included in this Order: A firm and comprehensive budget will be established for the [...]

Exploring the Possibility of a Local Smart Grid Partnership

This fall, NISC’s CEO Vern Dosch is traveling to NRECA’s electric co-op regional meetings and the annual Fall Conference hosted by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association. If recent history holds true, he will be talking about the growing importance of robust, two-way, everywhere communications links in the utility world, and the desire of independent telecoms [...]

Inside Telecom: FCC Chairman’s Speech on USF/ICC Reform

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Genachowski announced on October 6 that he will be circulating a plan to his fellow Commissioners to reform Universal Service Fund (USF) and Intercarrier Compensation (ICC). The plan will be on the agenda for a vote at the next FCC open meeting on October 27. Genachowski referenced proposals that were [...]

The Great Smart Meter Conspiracy: Pity the Poor Power Thief

“Smart Meters” might not rise to folk lore status like the JFK conspiracy, Big Foot sightings, UFO crashes, or the President’s country of birth, but they are being demonized on the Web by consumer and fringe advocacy groups. It’s the utility industries’ Big Brother” moment, they say. Unlike a time, long, long ago, nothing is [...]

Hurricane Irene

As Hurricane Irene moves closer to land, the East Coast prepares for the worst. The Category 3 storm, with winds estimated at 115 miles per hour, will hit eastern North Carolina today and evacuations as far north as New Jersey are expected. The governors of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and New York have [...]

FCC Seeks Comments on Reform Proposals

Earlier this month, the FCC released a Public Notice seeking comment on three USF/ICC Reform Proposals: – RLEC Plan filed by the Joint Associations (NTCA, OPASTCO and WTA) – America’s Broadband Connectivity Plan (ABC Plan) filed by six Price Cap Companies (AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink, Frontier, Windstream and FairPoint Communications) – Plan submitted by the State [...]

Google PowerMeter and Microsft Hohm: A Good Try, But a Flawed Premise

It wasn’t a surprise to hear that both Google and Microsoft turned off the juice on their consumer energy monitoring services, PowerMeter and Hohm. Some columnists suggested that the failure of two big, cutting-edge software companies to make a dent in the electric energy business spelled the end of efforts to engage consumers in tracking [...]

Inside Telecom: USF/ICC Reform

NTCA, OPASTCO and WTA (Rural Group) have filed a joint letter supporting an industry consensus framework for universal service fund (USF) and intercarrier compensation (ICC) reform.  The other undersigned parties of the joint letter are United States Telecom Association, AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink, Frontier, Windstream and FairPoint Communications. The letter explains how two plans – one [...]