You are cordially invited to join The CommLaw Group at the 2023 Telestrategies Communications Tax Conference being held in New Orleans from May 3rd – 5th!
CommLaw’s Managing Partner, Jonathan Marashlian, will moderate the keynote presentation, featuring a panel of Washington, D.C. telecom attorneys and special guests Greg Guice, Director of Government Affairs at Public Knowledge, and Lindsay Stern, Attorney & Public Policy at INCOMPAS. Public Knowledge is non-profit, public interest policy and advocacy group whose mission includes advocating before government agencies to ensure universal access to affordable and open networks, as well as upholding and protecting consumer rights. INCOMPAS, the internet and competitive networks association (formerly COMPTEL), is the leading trade association advocating for competition policy across all networks; INCOMPAS represents internet, streaming, communications and technology companies both large and small, advocating for laws and policies that promote competition, innovation and economic development.
Last year, Public Knowledge and INCOMPAS were two active members of a coalition comprised of over 300 broadband providers, industry associations, public interest groups and anchor institutions that called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reform the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) contribution mechanism, arguing the program is in danger of collapse.
The keynote panelists will update the audience on developments impacting the future of the USF program, as we now know it:
ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO REFORM THE USF PROGRAM: SERIOUS TROUBLE LURKS IN THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE
What goes up, but doesn’t come down? The Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution factor! The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) missed a golden opportunity to reform the Universal Service Fund (USF) last summer, once again choosing to kick the can down the road. Rather than exercise its authority to expand the contribution base to add broadband internet access services revenue and drive the contribution factor from an average 30% down to below 5%, the FCC handed the ticking time bomb to a highly polarized Congress, where legislation in the public’s interest goes to die. Nearly a year has passed since the FCC abdicated its statutory duty to ensure the sufficiency and durability of the fund. A lot of developments outside of the FCC have been taking shape, many are quite concerning. What’s been happening on the Hill? What’s happening in the Courts? What does the future of the USF look like? Will chaos ensue? An esteemed panel of experts who advocate before the FCC and Congress and who have been closely monitoring developments in the Courts will help fill in the blanks.
DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE: Clients and other friends of the firm are invited to take advantage of a variety of special discounts. If you are interested in attending and would like a discount code prior to registration, please respond to this message. Available discounts will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Respond to this Advisory or email Jonathan S. Marashlian at jsm@commlawgroup.com for more information.
COME MEET THE TEAM!!
If you are planning to attend the TeleStrategies conference and would like to meet up with our Team, please contact Jonathan S. Marashlian at jsm@commlawgroup.com or reach out to any of our other Team members who will be in attendance.
