On April 30th and May 1, 2025, members of CalCom including Eric Votaw from VARCOMM, Matthew Wagner, Greg Andreas, and Jennifer Burkhalter from Ponderosa Telephone Company as well as CalCom’s legal counsel, Patrick Rosvall from BRB Law, and Chad Duval from Moss Adams made their way to Washington DC to discuss regulatory issues with the FCC and various members of Congress. During their visit, they met with Chairman Carr and Commissioner Simington at the FCC and had a very constructive discussion on the unique challenges facing California rural broadband providers. In addition, they met with the offices of Senators Padilla and Schiff and the House of Representatives offices of LaMalfa, Obernolte, Matsui, McClintock, and Valadao.
CalCom and its members are dedicated to expanding rural broadband access, ensuring reliable telecommunications services across California. With the support of Universal Service Funding (USF), CalCom members can accelerate fiber deployment, bringing critical connectivity to rural communities. USF is a critical component of broadband infrastructure, Lifeline services, and helping schools and libraries gain broadband access. Our members are committed to working alongside their congressional representatives and the FCC to ensure that the Universal Service Fund continues to support California for generations to come.