Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association Inc

TO BE THE PREMIER STATE ASSOCIATION OF WISCONSINS DIVERSE TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS UNITED TO: LEAD AND EXCEL IN SERVICE QUALITY, RELIABILITY AND INFORMATION SECURITY; ADVOCATE EFFECTIVELY FOR LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY REFORM; BUILD CONSENSUS BY PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE FORUM FOR INDUSTRY DISCUSSION; PROMOTE AN ADVANCED INTEGRATED INFRASTRUCTURE; PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESOURCE TO INFORM AND EDUCATE MEMBERS, REGULATORS, LEGISLATORS AND CUSTOMERS; SUPPORT APPROPRIATE ENHANCEMENTS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY.

EDUCATION - WSTA SERVES AS THE LARGEST EDUCATION RESOURCE FOR ITS MEMBER COMPANIES. DURING 2021, WE HELD 2 MAJOR CONVENTIONS ATTENDED BY ACTIVE AND ASSOCIATE MEMBER COMPANIES AND GUESTS PROVIDING NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES TO NETWORK. THE MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER ON COMMITTEES TO PLAN AND PROVIDE SPEAKERS AND EXHIBITORS AT THOSE CONVENTIONS. WE ALSO DEVELOP AND PRESENT SEMINARS ON TIMELY SUBJECTS OF INTEREST TO OUR MEMBERS. THESE SEMINARS FEATURED PRESENTATIONS BY EXPERTS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OUR INDUSTRY. WSTA COORDINATED WITH A TECHNICAL COLLEGE ON SAFETY TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR MEMBERS.

REGULATORY - WSTA IS ACTIVE IN ISSUES THAT HAVE AN INDUSTRY-WIDE IMPACT ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS IN WISCONSIN. WSTA REPRESENTS MEMBER COMPANIES BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WISCONSIN (PSCW) (THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR REGULATING TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS AT THE STATE LEVEL); THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) (THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL), AS WELL AS VARIOUS COURTS ON OCCASION. WSTA WAS ACTIVE ON ISSUES BEFORE THE PSCW, INCLUDING ISSUES RELATING TO LOCATING BURIED FACILITIES, PSC BROADBAND MAPPING, AND THE BROADBAND EXPANSION GRANT PROGRAM. AT THE FCC, WSTA PARTICIPATED IN OR CLOSELY FOLLOWED ISSUES INCLUDING UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND REFORM, INTERCARRIER COMPENSATION REFORM, AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FUND.

LEGISLATIVE - WSTA REPRESENTS ITS MEMBERS ON ISSUES IMPACTING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY THAT COME BEFORE THE WISCONSIN STATE LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING THE CONTINUED MODERNIZATION OF WISCONSIN'S 911 INFRASTRUCTURE, THE POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION FUND SURCHARGE, THE BROADBAND EXPANSION GRANT PROGRAM, AND TELEPHONE COMPANY PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR BROADBAND PROPERTY IN A RURAL AREA OR UNDERSERVED AREA. WSTA'S ACTIVITIES ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES WERE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ASSOCIATE MEMBERS AS WELL AS OUR ACTIVE MEMBERS. ALL CATEGORIES OF MEMBERS PARTICIPATE ON POLICY-MAKING COMMITTEES DEALING WITH MANY OF THESE ISSUES. WSTA'S LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS INCLUDE RESEARCH AND PREPARATION OF INFORMATION, DIRECT CONTACT WITH LEGISLATORS AND STAFF, AND WORKING WITH MEMBERS TO CONTACT THEIR LEGISLATORS.