NTTA Backs Proposed Alaska Middle Mile Petition

The National Tribal Telecommunications Association backed a petition for rulemaking filed by the Alaska Remote Carrier Coalition that would address the middle-mile transport expenses in "ultra-high" cost areas of Alaska, in comments posted Friday in docket RM-11938. The proposed Alaska middle-mile expense support plan would assist carriers participating in the Alaska Plan, Alternative Connect America Model and the Connect America Fund Phase II programs. NTTA asked the FCC to consider expanding eligibility beyond those covered in the petition, noting that middle-mile costs aren't supported "in any way by federal or state universal service programs" for many providers and are "essentially treated as 'non regulated' costs to be borne by the unregulated internet service provider."