The NTA is pleased to announce the sixth edition of Technology Day to be held on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at the Interstate Holiday Inn in Grand Island. This event has become a day to look forward to and provides an opportunity to learn about the latest trends in technology presented by NTA Associate Members. This year features a special focus on Ethernet. Technology Day is designed to be educational and not simply a "commercial" for the presenter.

Hear presentations by:

• Calix
• Cisco
• Graybar
• MetaSwitch
• Nortel
  
• Pannaway Technologies
• RVW, Inc.

Plus, each company making a presentation will also have a tabletop display featuring specific information about their products. In addition to the companies listed, Rep Com International and Falcon IP/Complete have also reserved a tabletop display to showcase their products and services.

NTA Technology Day promises to provide up-to-the minute information on the hottest topics of the day. Don't miss out! The agenda is shown at the end of the right-hand column, and registration information is available on the NTA web site at www.ntaonline.net (User Name: NTA; Password: network)

You spoke, we listened! Based on the results of the recent survey of NTA Promarks participants, the Promarks Planning Subcommittee decided to hold two meetings per year and retain the current format of a one-day meeting preceded by a reception the night before. The survey showed April and September ranked as preferred meeting times.

The next NTA Promarks Marketing Roundtable will be held April 8 & 9 in Lincoln. Something new--the meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel.

.....The North Platte Telegraph ran a story on January 30, 2008 that discussed the current initiative petition circulating around the state. The article was based on an interview with Paul Schumacher and includes many points that the telecom industry disagrees with. If you would like a copy of the article, please call or e-mail the NTA office.

.....The January - March 2008 edition of Western Harvest highlighted the importance of Internet access to farms and termed it a "valuable resource". According to the article, high revenue farms are more likely to have Internet access and use a computer for farm business.

Findings cited:
--In 2007, 75 percent of U.S. farms with sales and government payments of $250,000 or more reported having access to the Internet, and 66 percent use a computer for farm business.
--61 percent of farms with sales and government payments between $100,000 and $249,999 have Internet access, and 51 percent use a computer for farm business.
--53 percent of farms with sales and government payments between 10,000 and $99,999 have Internet access and 36 percent use a computer for farm business.

There is little difference in Internet and computer usage between crop and livestock producers. The article concludes that "farms using the Internet as a resource may gain a significant competitive advantage over those that do not."

Goodbye to Theron Jensen. Theron left Hemingford Cooperative Telephone Co. January 11 to pursue an engineering opportunity in the oil and gas industry in the Denver area. Theron had been with the company almost 12 years.

Hello to Randy Dannar, Director of Operations, and Tonya Mayer, CFO, who were named co-managers of Hemingford. Both Randy and Tonya have many years experience with the company and were active participants with Theron Jensen in managing the company.

Welcome back to Mike Urdahl. Mike has returned to the telecom industry as Eastern Regional Manager for Signal Telecom. Signal owns and operates 10 local exchange companies in eight states, including Dalton Telephone Co. and Elsie Communications in Nebraska.

Regulatory News. "You can't connect the dots on this one." That was the surprised comment on the NUSF 50 proceeding this week by an industry representative. Unfortunately the only notice we heard of companies receiving was when companies got their NUSF payment for January.

The NTA contacted the director of the NUSF program to help us understand what exactly had transpired and what to expect next. The NTA does not sign any non disclosure agreements (NDA) so we are never privy to individual company situations. Because of that, the director could not discuss specific details but did report that the Commission staff is examining the method used to calculate payments for January 2008. While they do not anticipate revising January payments, there will most likely be some modifications in payments from February forward. Companies should receive notification from the Commission staff next week regarding revised payments. The NTA will monitor the process and work to make sure NTA members are treated fairly.

More from the PSC. There is a very good chance that the hearing on Rule and Reg. #170 will be postponed. We have heard that the Legislature may introduce an interim study on the subject of access to railroad right of way for crossing purposes. The NTA Regulatory Committee met this week and asked the PSC to wait for action at the Legislature before proceeding with the rule and reg. As of this writing no official decision has been made.

Legislative Action. LB 755 will likely be the Transportation & Telecommunications Committee's primary telecom bill this year and is also  expected to be a committee priority bill. The NTA has no problems with the bill if it advances as amended by committee. As amended, according to the committee statement of intent, the bill will  "prohibit a wireless carrier who receives funds from the Wireless E911 fund from assessing any costs associated with the implementation of enhanced wireless 911 service to any public safety answering point (PSAP), county, or municipality without the Public Service Commission's consent. This replaces language in the original bill authorizing the PSC to determine whether rates for services related to the provisions of enhanced wireless 911 service are fair and reasonable. The new language narrows the scope of the PSC's regulation without putting the burden of paying for the implementation of enhanced wireless 911 service on the local governments."

The bill is on General File.

LB 916 is still being held by the Revenue Committee, but the Committee is expected to take up the bill next week. This is the bill that tries to allow the state to collect sales tax on the installation of satellite equipment, even if the customer pays nothing for the installation. NTA members and the Association have talked to committee members and asked that portion of the bill be stricken. This may seem innocuous, but it is possible to argue that anyone compensated by other sources for installation of satellite equipment would be subject to this sales and use tax. Using this argument one NTA member was asked to pay over $30,000.

Today the session took a new course, and this was a recess day! The Nebraska Supreme Court struck down the electric chair as being cruel and unusual punishment. Yesterday Senator Chambers' bill to abolish the death penalty came out of the Judiciary Committee. Add to the mix Speaker Flood who represents the community where five murders occurred during a bank robbery. He has said he will "work on a solution ... to reinstate capital punishment" Clearly, these events will have an effect on the pace of the legislature.

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