|
LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 400 Seventh Street, NW |
Address2 | Suite 406 |
City | WASHINGTON |
State | DC |
Zip Code | 20004 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
City |
|
State |
|
Zip Code |
|
Country |
|
|
5. Senate ID# 293836-12
|
||||||||
|
6. House ID# 373580000
|
TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2023 |
Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) | Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) | Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) | Q4 (10/1 - 12/31) |
9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report
10. Check if this is a Termination Report | Termination Date |
|
11. No Lobbying Issue Activity |
INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12. Lobbying | 13. Organizations | ||||||||
INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: | EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were: | ||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income for the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). | 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options. | ||||||||
Method A.
Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only
Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code |
Signature | Digitally Signed By: Derrick B. Owens |
Date | 1/22/2024 4:21:36 PM |
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code AGR
16. Specific lobbying issues
Lobbied on reauthorization of the Farm Bill, specifically as it relates to the Rural Utilities Services' ReConnect program.
-- S. 130, Rural Internet Improvement t Act, reauthorizes and improves the ReConnect loan and grants programs
Permitting reforms concerning the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service and Federal Lands
S. 2855, Close the Gap Act: would under certain circumstances exempt communications projects from NEPA review on federal lands
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Derrick |
Owens |
|
|
|
Eric |
Keber |
|
|
19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code IND
16. Specific lobbying issues
Lobbied regarding NTIA's Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program and encouraging greater engagement between Tribal governments/telcos and non-Tribal telcos.
Discussed need to expedite permitting processes on Tribal and non-Tribal lands to help in the deployment of broadband in rural areas.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Derrick |
Owens |
|
|
|
Eric |
Keber |
|
|
19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TAX
16. Specific lobbying issues
S. 341 and H.R. 889, The Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act -- would exempt broadband grant programs created during COVID from taxation.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Derrick |
Owens |
|
|
|
Eric |
Keber |
|
|
19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TEC
16. Specific lobbying issues
Lobbied on many issues relating to rural broadband and the Federal Universal Service Fund.
-- S. 856, FAIR Contributions Act, requires the FCC to study and submit report to Congress examining the feasibility of funding USF through contributions supplied by edge providers
-- S. 3321, would require the Federal Communications Commission to begin assessing all users of broadband networks to ensure that both network and affordability programs are sustainable.
--S. 975 and H.R. 1812, Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act, requires FCC to make changes to financing USF by extending the base of contributors to the fund
S. 275, Rural Broadband Protection Act, requires the FCC to establish a process to vet applications for certain funding that support affordable broadband deployment in high-cost areas, including rural communities
-- supports and encourages the FCC to adopt the Enhanced ACAM proposal and updating the CAF-BLS program to ensure all households are able to receive at least 100/20 Mbps broadband service; supported FCC waiving budget control mechanism for CAF-BLS carriers and indexing adjusting for inflation
-- supported the updating and extending the Alaska Plan to allow Alaskans to receive the same broadband services as those individuals living in the lower-48
-- discussed NTIA's Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD)program as well as its Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP)
-- discussed issues regarding the IIJA's Buy America provisions
-- H.R. 889 and S. 341, Broadband Grant Taxation Act, would exempt broadband grant programs created during COVID from taxation
-- discussed broadband mapping in relation to the Broadband Data Collection Act
-- discussed the FCC Broadband Labels provisions
-- discussed cyber security and what small rural telco/broadband providers are doing to comply with regulations but also shared concerns with compliance and ability to secure cybersecurity insurance policies
-- discussed numerous permitting issues small rural telco/broadband providers face; supported S. 2855, Close the Gap Act which would under certain circumstances exempt communications projects from NEPA review on federal lands
-- discussed STIR-SHAKEN and call ID authentication for non-IP networks
-- discussed data breach notifications (encouraged better coordination among agencies on data breach reporting requirements and to streamline the processes)
-- Broadband Benchmark Requirements (stressed the importance accurate calculations of reasonably comparable broadband rate benchmarks for rural high-cost support recipients)
-- supported efforts to provide more funding for ripping out and replacing telecommunications networks/equipment that pose a national security threat (e.g., Rip and Replace)
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Derrick |
Owens |
|
|
|
Eric |
Keber |
|
|
19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code SMB
16. Specific lobbying issues
Discussed issues pertaining to permitting (H.R. 3557 and 4141), Buy America, cybersecurity and data breaches as they relate to small businesses.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Derrick |
Owens |
|
|
|
Eric |
Keber |
|
|
19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code NAT
16. Specific lobbying issues
Supported S. 2855, Close the Gap Act: would under certain circumstances exempt communications projects from NEPA review on federal lands.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Derrick |
Owens |
|
|
|
Eric |
Keber |
|
|
19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.
20. Client new address
Address |
|
||||||
City |
|
State |
|
Zip Code |
|
Country |
|
21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)
City |
|
State |
|
Zip Code |
|
Country |
|
22. New General description of client’s business or activities
LOBBYIST UPDATE
23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client
|
|
||||||||
1 |
|
3 |
|
||||||
2 |
|
4 |
|
ISSUE UPDATE
24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)
Internet Address:
Name | Address |
Principal Place of Business (city and state or country) |
||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client
1 | 2 | 3 |
FOREIGN ENTITIES
27. Add the following foreign entities:
Name | Address |
Principal place of business (city and state or country) |
Amount of contribution for lobbying activities | Ownership percentage in client | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
% |
28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization
1 | 3 | 5 |
2 | 4 | 6 |
CONVICTIONS DISCLOSURE
29. Have any of the lobbyists listed on this report been convicted in a Federal or State Court of an offense involving bribery,
extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering?
Lobbyist Name | Description of Offense(s) |