Association Memberships
The telecommunications industry is fortunate to have a wide arrange of associations dedicated to policy/advocacy, education, knowledge-sharing and networking. ANPI ZONE is an active participant in numerous national, regional and state associations. We proudly share the desire to support independent, cooperative and wireless telecom companies.
ATA – Alaska Telephone Association
Founded in 1949, ATA advocates for uniformity and efficiency in accounting, operating, maintenance and construction for supporting the continuance of telecommunications services to the public. This in a state encompassing 591,004 square miles — one fifth the area of the “lower 48″. Comprised of 22 regular members certificated by the Alaska Public Utilities Commission and more than 100 associate members, the ATA is a trade association representing the interests of the incumbent local exchange telephone industry in the state. Local telephone service in Alaska is provided by commercial, cooperative and municipal telephone utilities. They vary in size from companies serving less than 200 access lines to nearly 150,000 lines and maintain service in temperatures from 100 degrees to minus 70 degrees over extreme terrain.
ATA – Arkansas Telecommunications Association
CalCom – California Communications Association
California Communications Association (CalCom), is a statewide non-profit trade association comprised of incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) providing telecommunications services within California. In addition to these core members, over 99 providers of products and services to the industry are CalCom Associate Members.
CVTMA – Carolina-Virginias Telephone Membership Association, Inc.
CVTMA is a tri-state trade association representing the nine telephone membership corporations in North Carolina, four telephone cooperatives in Virginia and two in West Virginia. The Association holds three educational conferences per year with programming focused on educational industry issues such as regulatory, technology and board governance.
GTA – Georgia Telephone Association
The active members of the GTA are comprised of Georgia’s incumbent Independent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs). ILECs serve approximately 54% of the state’s geographic area and approximately 16.5% of the access lines. GTA’s members provide consumers and businesses in rural Georgia with the highest quality advanced telecommunications services available. In addition to voice, data and a wide variety of vertical services, GTA’s active member companies and their affiliated operations provide long distance, ISP, CLEC, transport, wireless, video, satellite, broadband and other related telecommunications services.
ITA – Idaho Telecom Alliance
ITA’s mission is to support the advancement of its members, to collectively share ideas and to promote services to rural telecommunications subscribers throughout Idaho. Formerly known as the Idaho Telephone Association, ITA was formed in 1984 as the voice of rural telephone providers throughout the state of Idaho. It is the leading advocacy group for independent telecommunications companies in Idaho.
ITA – Illinois Telecommunications Association
The mission of the ITA is to create a forum for its members to identify and to examine issues of importance; to foster collaboration among its members; and to present on behalf of the telecommunications industry a unified position on matters of importance before the regulatory and legislative bodies of Illinois.
ITA – Indiana Telecommunications Association
A trade group representing the interests of the local exchange telephone industry, ITA is made up of 40 member telephone companies. Organized in 1919, the Association was established to maintain high standards of operation, promote good customer and public relations with telephone consumers, promote the industry itself, preserve information valuable to the members, and coordinate legal and technical efforts of the members.
ITA – Iowa Telecommunications Association
ITA is the nation’s largest member telephone association with 147 active telephone company members. It offers leadership on key telecommunication issues and supports its’ member companies in the legislative and regulatory arena to ensure a fair and competitive environment in the state. Established in 1896, it is the second oldest state telephone association in the United States.
KTIA – Kansas Telecommunications Industry Association
KTIA is a trade association that has served the Kansas telecommunications industry since 1900. It represents the needs and concerns of its members at both the state and national levels, and strives to inform citizens and legislators about the ever-changing telecommunications industry. Members include companies that provide local telephone service, long distance service and wireless service, as well as firms and individuals who provide services and products to support the telecommunications industry in Kansas.
KTA – Kentucky Telephone Association
KTA was established in 1937 as a non-profit organization to promote and support the general interests and welfare of the telecommunications industry in the Commonwealth. It serves the industry by fostering communication and cooperation among its member companies to improve their services and products. KTA’s purpose is to support, unify and promote member company efforts to provide high quality service in response to the needs of all telecommunications customers.
LTA – Louisiana Telecommunications Association
Formed in 1948, LTA is composed of 19 independent telephone companies in the state, 3 affiliate members and 105 associate members.
MTA – Minnesota Telecom Association
Organized in 1909, MTA is a trade association that advocates and represents the interests of nearly 100 small, medium and large companies that provide advanced telecommunications services like voice, data, wireless video and high-speed Internet access to Minnesota’s metropolitan and rural communities. In 2008, the MTA merged with the Minnesota Association of Rural Telecommunications (MART) to become the premiere telecom organization in the state. The goal of the Association is to educate and inform local, state and federal decision-makers about telecommunications issues as well as keep the membership informed of events that impact the industry.
MTA – Montana Telecommunications Association
MTA was founded in 1955 and provides government affairs, communications, training and education, trade shows and related services to independent telecommunications service providers throughout Montana. Montana’s independent rural telephone companies provide service covering over 80% of the state’s geography, or nearly 120,000 square miles, and about 30% of Montana’s telecommunications service consumers.
MTIA – Missouri Telecommunications Industry Association
Founded as the Missouri Telephone Association in 1913, MTIA reflects the value and success of providing a forum for discussion and cooperation among all companies on issues affecting Missouri’s telecommunications industry. In addition to the work of the association’s various committees, MTIA sponsors seminars, workshops and meetings to educate members on critical industry issues, showcase emerging technology and provide professional training opportunities. The membership includes all 41 of Missouri’s incumbent local exchange carriers, several competitive local exchange carriers, wireless providers and interexchange carriers. In addition, approximately 140 companies that provide goods and services to the industry are members as well.
NCTIA – North Carolina Telecommunications Industry Association
Since 1932, NCTIA has represented carriers who are certified by the North Carolina Utilities Commission to provide telecommunications services to North Carolina’s citizens. NCTIA represents telephone cooperatives, independently owned companies, national affiliates, municipal owned service providers, competitive providers and wireless companies throughout the state. The association also serves over 150 vendors and industry suppliers.
NDATC – North Dakota Association of Telecommunications Cooperatives
NDATC represents members of North Dakota’s independent telephone industry. The North Dakota independent telephone industry works tirelessly to ensure North Dakota residents have access to the information-technologies that allow them to compete with anyone in the world and a telecommunications network that is second-to-none.
NTA – Nebraska Telecommunications Association
NTA’s primary role is to promote and represent the interests of Nebraska’s telecommunications industry. This is accomplished by presenting the views of its members to legislative and regulatory bodies. The NTA also informs, discusses with and educates its stakeholders on current issues and programs, and promotes a positive image of the industry. NTA is a trade association representing the local telecommunications industry in Nebraska through three categories of membership: active, associate and affiliate. The active membership is comprised of 36 local exchange carriers operating in Nebraska; associate members are companies who provide goods or services to the telecommunications industry; and affiliate members are interexchange carriers.
NTCA – National Telecommunications Cooperative Association
NTCA, an association of small, rural telecommunications providers, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in rural communities through advanced telecommunications by education, advocacy and cooperation. It is a non-profit association representing more than 580 small and rural telephone cooperatives and commercial companies. NTCA is a full-service association, featuring a government affairs program; expert legal and industry representation; a broad range of educational services; a comprehensive communications program with media visibility; and a well-rounded complement of industry events.
NYSTA – New York State Telecommunications Association
The purpose of the NYSTA is to support the concept of universally available telecommunications services to the citizens of New York and to promote the common interests of the members in all matters affecting the telecommunications industry in the state of New York.
OPASTCO – Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies
OPASTCO is an industry leader in rural telecom policy, technical issues, member-run committees, education, knowledge-sharing and networking. With more than four decades of commitment to rural telecommunications’ success, OPASTCO is a national trade association that: represents more than 600 independently owned local exchange carriers (LECs) and their affiliate telecommunications companies; advocates rural telecom policy before Congress and the FCC for LEC members with fewer than 100,000 access lines; includes LEC members’ affiliates operating in telecommunications markets such as long distance, Internet, broadband networks, cable television, IP video and wireless; provides educational programs, conventions and publications that create forums for sharing rural telecom knowledge; and supports rural education and community development through its non-profit foundation, the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED).
OTA – Ohio Telecom Association
OTA is a statewide trade association that promotes the common interests of telecommunications companies serving and employing Ohioans. It currently represents 41 telecommunications providers, 3 wireless providers and over 100 associate member companies that supply goods and services to the telecommunications industry. The OTA is the first established telecommunications association in the United States. The association represents the telecommunications industry, before the Ohio General Assembly and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The OTA plays an active role in the formulation of telecommunications policy and seeks to ensure its members have the opportunity to provide the best telecommunications services possible.
OTA – Oklahoma Telephone Association
Oklahoma Telephone Association’s mission is to promote the common interest of all association members, to educate the general public about the telecommunications industry and its programs, and to enhance the public’s knowledge and perception of the telecommunications industry and association members.
OTA – Oregon Telecommunications Association
The Oregon Telecommunications Association is a trade association representing the telecommunications industry in Oregon. The association conducts meetings for several committees; holds educational and training seminars; coordinates industry activities during legislative sessions; represents the industry on regulatory issues; and works with member companies on individual projects.
PTA – Pennsylvania Telephone Association
PTA was formed in 1902 as the Eastern Traffic Association of Independent Telephone Companies. The object of the Association was to promote and encourage interchange of business between its members and to operate the properties of said members as one system, for the purpose of more effective competition with the Bell. In 1916 it took over the service work of the Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Independent Telephone Associations, which were set up as regional service organizations.
RCA – Rural Cellular Association
RCA represents rural wireless telecommunications providers across the United States. RCA speaks with a strong, united voice on issues that concern its members and keeps them informed through timely sharing of information, knowledge and expertise to the common benefit of all members. Since 1992 its’ primary focus has been to represent two-way wireless communication providers with less than 500,000 subscribers.
RICA – Rural Independent Competitive Alliance
RICA was formed in recognition of the significant impact regulatory actions can have on fledgling competitive operations. It represents the interests of member companies before public and private entities in consideration of competitive communications service policy development and implementation. It provides an environment wherein member companies can share common efforts, experiences and expertise with each other as well as with industry affinity groups. It coordinates forums for member companies to receive pertinent and helpful knowledge and learning relative to the various aspects of providing successful competitive services in the rural marketplace. It also serves as a source of information as to the important place rural local exchange competitive communications providers occupy in the marketplace.
RIITA – Rural Iowa Independent Telephone Association
The Rural Iowa Independent Telephone Association was organized in 1966 to represent the small telephone companies throughout Iowa. Their mission is to foster the success of Iowa’s community-based communication service providers through regulatory/legislative advocacy, facilitating member access to knowledge and resources and promoting the industry.
RTG – Rural Telecommunications Group
RTG is a trade association representing rural wireless carriers who serve less than 100,000 subscribers. RTG’s members joined together to speed delivery of new, efficient and innovative telecommunications technologies to the populations of remote and underserved sections of the country. RTG’s members provide wireless telecommunications services, such as cellular telephone service and Personal Communications Services to their subscribers. Its’ members are small businesses serving or seeking to serve secondary, tertiary and rural markets. RTG is comprised of both independent wireless carriers and wireless carriers affiliated with rural telephone companies.
SDATC – South Dakota Association of Telephone Cooperatives
Incorporated in 1954 and originally named the SD Rural Telephone Association, SDATC was established to allow rural telephone companies to address mutual issues in the growing industry. Today, SDATC provides its member companies with a variety of workforce training seminars to industry personnel. In addition, SDATC plays a leading advocacy role on behalf of its members before the South Dakota Legislature and the United States Congress.
SITA – State Independent Telecommunications Association of Kansas
SITA’s purpose has always been to continue the established partnership relationship between all of the rural telephone companies, regardless of size, and to continue restoring the dignity of the independents by proving that they have personnel who are as experienced and capable as anyone within the industry in providing quality telephone service to Kansas.
TAM – Telecommunications Association of Michigan
TAM was established in 1935 as the Telephone Association of Michigan. It is Michigan’s largest trade association serving the telecommunications industry. TAM’s educational programming, public policy knowledge and regulatory compliance assistance enables the membership to meet the challenges of a dynamic industry armed with the tools they need to succeed.
TANE – Telephone Association of New England
TANE is the oldest and largest trade association for the local exchange carrier industry in the six state region of New England. Its’ telco membership is comprised of facilities-based telecommunications incumbent carriers.
Tri-State Telecommunications Association
The Tri-State Telecommunications Association serves independent telcos located in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.
TSTCI – Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
TSTCI is a statewide organization representing telephone cooperatives and other rural independent telephone exchange companies in Texas. TSTCI is a telephone industry organization dedicated entirely to representing and serving the interests of the Texas rural independent telecommunications providers and customers.
TTA – Tennessee Telecommunications Association
TTA is an industry trade organization that includes all types of telecommunications service providers as well as suppliers to the industry. It offers timely regulatory and legislative information and provides a forum for discussion of industry matters. TTA facilitates issues resolution, consensus building in areas where common interest exists, and provides opportunities for partnering and networking.
TTA – Texas Telephone Association
TTA was founded in 1905 and supports the incumbent local exchange telephone companies of Texas. The incumbent local exchange telephone companies, or ILECs, are the original wireline telephone companies. They are the primary service providers to the residents and business communities of Texas. The mission of the TTA is to promote and enhance the performance of each member company and protect the integrity of the local exchange telephone industry and the services offered within each company’s certificated exchange within Texas.
WITA – Washington Independent Telephone Association
Founded in 1915, the purpose of the WITA is to pursue statewide strategies that encourage the deployment of technologies that will enable WITA members to be the best providers of telecommunication products and services.
WSTA – Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association
WSTA encourages, develops, fosters and stimulates growth, and represents and addresses the mutual interest and needs as defined by their membership of ILECs, ISPs and wireless service providers of the state of Wisconsin. It promotes the interests of the WSTA, cooperates with any national group whose purposes are similar, advices and informs members of state and federal regulatory bodies’ rules, regulations and requirements, represents the interests of its members before regulatory, legislative and other governmental bodies, and promotes good public relations.
WTA – Western Telecommunications Association
WTA unites a diverse industry in the western states for the purpose of advocating the telecom interests of rural Americans before federal and state regulators and the United States Congress. This is necessary to ensure affordable and quality telecommunications services for all rural Americans. WTA also provides a gathering place for member education and interchange of information with the Rural Utilities Service, a lending arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. WTA represents over 250 small rural local exchange providers in the 24 states west of the Mississippi River. On average, WTA member companies serve less than 3,000 access lines overall with less than 500 customers per exchange. All of the member companies provide high-quality voice, data and video services in high cost areas.
VTIA – Virginia Telecommunications Industry Association
The VTIA brings together all independent telephone interests in the state of Virginia, for the purpose of promoting and aiding independent telephone interests in the state. It advises upon all subjects relating to the operation of telephone systems. It also protects and defends all independent telephone interests by moral effect, cooperation and such available means as may be deemed advisable.
