ABOUT US
Small Company Coalition
Who We Are
The Small Company Coalition (SCC) is an alliance of rural telecommunications companies formed to educate and empower small rural ILEC communications providers on methods to influence and eliminate harmful regulations and legislation. We endeavor to influence and revise regulations and legislation that would impede our ability to provide advanced telecommunications service to our communities. The SCC, which is an initiative led by small company executives, strives to ensure that the voice of small companies is heard by those who have a genuine interest in protecting and enhancing the communication service needs of rural Americans.
SCC Policy Points:
The SCC believes the following principles and policy proposals embody the best interests of all Americans, not just those in rural communities:
1) Shared Networks Require Shared Responsibility
All users of the broadband network should pay for their usage. With the current mechanisms, certain entities enjoy a free ride on networks built by broadband providers across the nation. These providers must pay for the deployment and continued maintenance of these networks. Congress and the FCC must require all users of the national broadband network to help pay for its construction and upkeep.
2) Maximizing Impact, Minimizing Waste in Broadband Infrastructure
We need to ensure effective targeting of rural broadband funding. With increased federal funding comes the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse. Funds must be monitored closely to ensure that the end-goal of serving communities with state-of-the-art broadband infrastructure is met, while also verifying that funds are not used to over-build existing high-speed Internet facilities.
3) Connecting Communities,
Not Complicating Progress.
While accountability is crucial, overlapping and outdated regulatory requirements should be aggressively streamlined or abolished.
Any new reporting requirements should be viewed from a value-added perspective and evaluated against the time they take to complete.
4) Accountability Matters:
Calling the FCC to Act Responsibly
We must raise awareness of the need to hold the FCC accountable. One of the founding principles of the SCC was to hold the FCC accountable. Over the years, there have been numerous examples of the FCC’s inability or unwillingness to render timely decisions and imposing unnecessary regulations on the small broadband providers.
Empowering Broadband Expansion Through Smart Oversight
We must administer all funding programs with a careful eye not to unduly burden broadband providers with excessive paperwork, as well as vigilantly ensure that federal money reaches its intended targets.
Join Us In Taking Action
Meetings
The items mentioned are all well underway, but we continue to meet with Congressional and FCC offices on these issues throughout the year on the Hill and locally.
Research/Documentation
We continue to provide real data from actual companies with statistical backing accompanied by workable solutions.
Member Updates & Meetings
Through monthly member calls, quarterly newsletters, D.C. visit recaps and annual meetings, we keep our members engaged and active.