Just a quick update from the Brainerd Dispatch on the folks from Consolidated Telecommunications Co. (CTC) headed to Washington DC for the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association’s Legislative & Policy Conference and to speak with the offices of Minnesota Rep. Chip Cravaack and Sen. Al Franken about their concerns with recent changes and proposed changes with the FCC…

Larson and Wetzel [Kevin T. Larson, CEO/general manager, and Mike Wetzel, Consolidated Board director] urged their congressional delegates to help them continue to provide the services their community needs at an affordable rate by removing regulatory uncertainty and urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconsider the deep cuts and other extreme modifications it is proposing to impose on the Universal Service Fund (USF). Larson and Wetzel said cuts to this important fund could put existing investment in rural broadband at risk and discourage future investment in new broadband-capable networks by small companies, leading to increased rates for telephone, broadband and other services.