NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

The association follows the federal budget and appropriations process as it relates to agencies, and their respective policies, that have jurisdiction over rural telecommunications matters. Primarily the association monitors the Federal Communications Commission(FCC), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration(NTIA), and the Rural Utilities Service(RUS), and the budget, programs, and policies of each. During the reporting period, the association focused on FY2027 appropriations discussions regarding the perspective of rural broadband providers as they relate to the following: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service telecommunications and broadband loan and grant programs funding and funding for administrative expenses.

The association bases its approaches on whether or not policies are flexible in their application to rural carriers that have different needs and capabilities and that have far different economies of scale and competitive opportunities than larger carriers. During the reporting period, the association focused on the following: S. 674 - Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act - all sections. S. 1651 - Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act of 2025 - all sections. S. 3084 - ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 - all sections. S. 4448 - Accelerating Broadband Permits Act - all sections. S. 5003 - ACCESS Rural America Act - all sections. S. 5015 - Broadband MAP Act of 2026 - all sections. H.R. 1873 - Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act - all sections. H.R. 2289 - American Broadband Deployment Act - all sections. H.R. 3119 - ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 - all sections. H.R. 4032 - Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act of 2025 - all sections. H.R. 8413 - SECURE Data Act - all sections. H.R. 9541 - FIREWALL Act - all sections. Legislation to reform the Universal Service Fund contribution and distribution systems. Legislative and regulatory issues related to USDA/RUS telecom/broadband loan and grant programs, including the ReConnect Program and reauthorization of the Farm Bill. Legislative and regulatory issues related to broadband mapping. Legislative and regulatory issues related to broadband permitting applications. Legislative and regulatory issues related to the Broadband, Equity, Access & Deployment Program. Legislation to streamline the deployment of telecommunications or broadband service facilities in public rights- of-way and the rights-of-way of railroad carriers. Legislation related to telecommunications outage reporting requirements.

The association monitors and reacts to policy concepts that may impact its ability to continue providing its high quality Group Health Plan to members, their employees, and the association staff at affordable rates and on reasonable terms and conditions. During the reporting period, no issues or introduced measures in this category were focused upon.

The association monitors and reacts to policy concepts that may impact its ability to continue providing its high quality Retirement Security Plans to members, their employees, and the association staff at affordable rates and on reasonable terms and conditions. During the reporting period, no issues or introduced measures in this category were focused upon.

The association monitors initiatives tied to rural and community economic development which typically have a direct connection to the type and level of communications services that may be available in a rural community or market area, and that are often important to the survival of such communities and market areas. During the reporting period, the association focused on the following: Legislative and regulatory issues related to federal permitting.

The association monitors and reacts to policy concepts that may impact the ability of its members to function in an operationally sound manner as well as measures that may affect the ultimate transfer of such businesses. During the reporting period, no issues or introduced measures in this category were focused upon.

The association monitors and reacts to policy concepts that may impact the ability of its members to function in an operationally sound and successful manner as well as measures that may affect the ultimate transfer of such businesses. During the reporting period, the association focused on the following: S. 5003 - ACCESS Rural America Act - all sections.

The association monitors agriculture policy as it relates to agencies that have jurisdiction over programs and funding for rural telecommunications, primarily the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). During the reporting period, the association focused on the following: Legislative and regulatory issues related to USDA/RUS telecom/broadband loan and grant programs, including the ReConnect Program; Community Connect Program; Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program; and reauthorization of the Farm Bill.