Rural Telecom Educational Series

As part of the foundation’s ongoing effort to promote rural telecom and educate those who will determine its future, in spring 2005, FRS launched its Rural Telecom Educational Series. With Congress preparing to reconsider telecom legislation, the foundation believes that this series will help to play a vital role in educating both national and local policy-makers on the issues facing community based telecom providers. FRS plans to publish papers on an on going basis that will highlight a variety of pressing issues critical to rural telecommunications. 

The first paper, entitled One Nation Indivisible: The Case for Universal Service and Rural Connection in the Broadband Age, was unveiled at a briefing on Capitol Hill on April 4, 2005. The educational paper underscores the benefits the nation has reaped from its long-held commitment to universal service and the national consequences if that commitment is abandoned. FRS would like to thank John Staurulakis, Inc. for developing this paper on behalf of FRS.

The second paper, entitled Demystifying VoIP: Rural America's Connection to the IP-Enabled National Telecommunications Network, was unveiled at a briefing on Capitol Hill on Monday, December 5, 2005. The educational paper addresses the evolution of voice over Internet-protocol (VoIP) and the network infrastructure upon which such IP-enabled services ride. FRS would like to thank Vantage Point Solutions for developing this paper on behalf of FRS.

The third paper, entitled Wireless Needs Wires: The Vital Role of Rural Networks in Completing the Call, was released at a briefing on Capitol Hill on Friday, March 3, 2006. The educational paper provides an overview of wireless systems and their reliance on the public switched telephone network. FRS would like to thank GVNW for developing this paper on behalf of FRS.

The fourth paper, entitled The Capital Connection: Financing's Role in Rural Telecom, was released at a briefing on Capitol Hill on Friday, March 24, 2006. The educational paper provides an overview of the need for access to capital if the infrastructure necessary to deliver tomorrow's advanced services to all Americans is to be put in to place. FRS would like to thank RTFC for developing this paper on behalf of FRS.

The fifth paper, entitled Telecommunications Deregulation: A Balancing Act for Rural America, was released at a briefing on Capitol Hill on Monday, April 24, 2006. The educational paper discusses the impact of competition and deregulation on the rural telecommunication industry and the many questions facing policy-makers as communication services migrate from traditional services to broadband. FRS would like to thank Guillory & Hjort for developing this paper on behalf of FRS.

The sixth paper, entitled The Video Dynamic: Strengthening Rural Communications for the Future, was released at a briefing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, June 20, 2006. The educational paper outlines the history of television entertainment, discusses the different delivery options for video including IPTV and the role telco's play in the video market, as well as the challenges faced in rural America. FRS would like to thank the Pivot Group for developing this paper on behalf of FRS.

The seventh paper, entitled Net Neutrality: Neutralizing the Neutrality, was released at a briefing on Capitol Hill on Monday, January 22, 2007. FRS would like to thank Consortia Consulting for developing this paper on behalf of FRS.

The next paper, a special supplement to the series, Rural Economic Development: Building a Sustainable Community, was released on Monday, September 22, 2008 at Concurrent Sessions during NTCA's 2008 Fall Conference. FRS would like to thank GVNW Consulting and NREDA for developing this paper.

America's Broadband Connection: Universal Service Rediscovered was launched via webcast on Friday, March 20, 2009. FRS would like to thank the staff of John Staurulakis, Inc. for the writing of the paper.

The Truth About Cable Rates was issued in late March of 2009 to provide greater insight about the cost consumers incur from cable television providers. Thank you to the Digital Policy Insitute of the Ball State Foundation for writing this paper on behalf of FRS.

Providing World-Class Broadband: The Future of Wireless and Wireline Broadband Technologies was issued in March 2010 during NTCA's Legislative and Policy Conference. FRS would like to thank Vantage Point Solutions for developing this paper.

The Foundation would like to thank the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC) for its generous support of the comprehensive Rural Telecom Educational Series.

Anyone interested in the educational series may receive one free copy of each paper. Additional papers are available for purchase by both NTCA members as well as non-members. Please visit the FRS Marketplace to place an order. For questions about this series, please contact FRS at 703-351-2026 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Pricing

NTCA Members:

$2.50 per copy for orders of 10 papers or more
$3.00 per copy for orders of 10 papers or less

Non-Members:

$5.00 per copy for orders of 10 papers or more
$6.00 per copy for orders of 10 papers or less