REDACTED VERSION ? FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION
FILED VIA ECFS1
December 8, 2010
Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554
Re: Ex Parte Meeting Notification
GN Docket No. 09-51; CC Docket No. 96-45; WC Docket No. 05-337;
WT Docket No. 05-265
Dear Ms. Dortch:
On December 7, 2010, Chief Executive Officer Johnie Johnson and Chief
Operating Officer Brian Spurgeon of Nex-Tech Wireless (?Nex-Tech?), along with
Gwendolyn O?Brien Donaldson, President, Donaldson Companies, on behalf of Nex-
Tech and Carolina West Wireless (?CWW?), met with Carol Mattey, Rebekah Goodheart
and Elise Kohn of the Wireline Competition Bureau (?WCB?), Margaret Wiener and Erik
Salovaara of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (?WTB?), and Steven Rosenberg
and Kevin King of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis (?OSP?) to
discuss two of the NBP?s proposals: the five-year phase-down of Universal Service Fund
(?USF?) support to wireless carriers and the imposition of reverse auctions on wireless
carriers.
Nex-Tech and CWW representatives provided information to Commission staff
demonstrating that the Commission?s proposed five-year phase-down of USF support
1 The confidential version of this ex parte filing is being filed separately via U.S. Mail. Confidential
treatment is requested of the attachments to this filing.
Marlene H. Dortch
December 8, 2010
Page 2 of 2
would severely threaten access to wireless services in rural areas. In that regard,
company representatives demonstrated how the cap on CETC high-cost support and the
Commission?s proposed phase-down of CETC high-cost support will impair service
enhancements in the rural communities served by each carrier. Company representatives
also discussed how network costs for the transition to 4G are becoming increasingly
unmanageable for smaller wireless carriers.
Nex-Tech and CWW representatives described the harm that exclusive handset
arrangements and each company?s inability to enter into data roaming agreements with
certain nationwide carriers are causing to their businesses. Nex-Tech Wireless
representatives also described their concerns regarding recent ETC ?amendment?
applications filed by Verizon Wireless around the country, including one filed with the
Kansas Corporation Commission.
Nex-Tech and CWW representatives discussed how reverse auctions would
unduly harm small businesses and render no measurable savings in the federal
procurement arena. Company representative described how reverse auctions
disproportionately hurt small businesses and proved unsuccessful when used by other
federal agencies.
Finally, in order to preserve and promote wireless broadband access in rural areas,
Nex-Tech and CWW representatives encouraged Commission staff to consider a targeted
exemption from future USF reforms for certain carriers and the minimal economic impact
that such an exemption would have on the size of the USF.
Pursuant to Section 1.1206 of the Commission?s Rules, this notification is being
filed electronically with your office.
Respectfully submitted,
Todd B. Lantor
Counsel to Nex-Tech Wireless and Carolina West Wireless
cc: Carol Mattey
Rebekah Goodheart
Elise Kohn
Margaret Wiener
Erik Salovaara
Steven Rosenberg
Kevin King
Enclosures
REDACTED VERSION ? FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION
ENCLOSURES ?
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