Summary
NATOA urges the FCC to reject proposals based on anonymous industry claims and to instead work together with local government in search of good policy. “For decades, local governments have endured these vague anecdotes that provide no means of rebuttal.”
Date: July 13, 2025
The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) is standing up for local governments in a recent filing with the FCC. NATOA is pushing back against broadband industry groups that have submitted complaints about local permitting delays—without naming any specific cities or towns.
“For decades, local governments have endured these vague anecdotes that provide no means of rebuttal.”
NATOA ex parte letter dated July 10, 2025
These anonymous claims make it hard for local governments to respond or correct misunderstandings. NATOA says this kind of practice isn’t new and was already addressed back in 1997, when the FCC was urged to require companies to notify any city or county they mention in a rulemaking request.
“Despite the evident issues with this practice, industry trade associations continue to regularly
NATOA ex parte letter dated July 10, 2025
circulate claims against local governments that are undocumented, unnamed, unsubstantiated
and unverified.”
Instead of rewriting national rules based on unnamed “problem cases,” NATOA believes the FCC and local governments should work together to find real, practical solutions. They point out that many broadband providers already report positive relationships with local officials.
“Rather than upending the successful practices of the vast majority of local governments, our collective resources are better spent developing a mutual understanding of these alleged issues and working together to resolve them.”
NATOA ex parte letter dated July 10, 2025
This is an important moment to protect local control over how broadband is built in our communities—especially when it involves our roads, sidewalks, and rights-of-way.
Firm partner, Nancy Werner, is on the board of directors of NATOA.
📎 You can read NATOA’s full letter to the FCC here: FCC Filing Link