Broadband Tax Considerations for the Exempt Electric Cooperative (LIVE REPEAT)

Date: Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Time: 01:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT / 11:00 AM MT / 10:00 AM PT [Prevailing Time]
Presenters: Bill Miller, CPA , Tax Partner, Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert & Moss,, Ty Thompson, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Director and Member Legal Services for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Moderator:
Learning Objectives:
Join us for this one and a half (1.5) hour session, as the panelists will discuss the federal income tax issues a cooperative should consider for structuring and operating as a broadband service provider.
This CLN is brought to you by NSAC and the Electric Chapter (ECC) along with the ECBA and the NRECA
Field of Study: Taxes
Program Level: Basic
CPE Credit: 1 Credit Hour
Delivery Method: Group Internet-based
Prerequisite(s): No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.
View Recording

Course Description

NSAC is co-sponsoring this webinar with the Electric Cooperative Bar Association (ECBA). ECBA is a professional network of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and is comprised of attorneys who represent NRECA Voting Members.Broadband may be an opportunity for some electric co-ops to bridge the digital divide in rural America. It may also present legal issues including easement rights, tax implications, and whether or not the co-op has proper authority under state law to engage in non-electric service activities. In a question and answer format, the panelists will discuss the primary tax issues an electric cooperative should consider when analyzing whether or not to become a broadband service provider. Included will be a survey of the basic organizational structures (e.g. multi-divisional cooperative versus subsidiary corporation), when and how to treat broadband as a "like activity", as well as 85-15 Test and unrelated business income tax considerations. SPACE IS LIMITED THIS CLN IS A FREE EVENT FOR THE MEMBER AND EXECUTIVES OF ECBA, NRECA, the ECC and NSAC.

Presenter and Moderator Bios

Presenter: Bill Miller, CPA , Tax Partner, Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert & Moss,

Bill Miller, CPA is a tax partner with the accounting firm of Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert & Moss L.L.P. (Lubbock, Texas) and has practiced public accountancy for the past twenty years almost exclusively in the areas of utility and cooperative taxation. Specifically, Bill is in charge of the firm's utility and cooperative tax practice, providing tax and consulting services to the firm's exempt and non-exempt utility cooperative clients, including related subsidiary companies. Responsibilities include tax research, tax planning, advising on entity selection for new business ventures, compliance with cooperative principles and structuring plans to allocate and redeem patronage capital. Bill has recently consulted with national and regional trade associations in providing guidance on tax and equity issues pertaining to electric cooperatives. Bill is also an active member of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) and currently serves as a national director and Vice President and as a director of the NSAC Electric Cooperative Chapter. Ty Thompson is Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Director and Member Legal Services for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Arlington, Virginia. He is part of NRECA's Office of General Counsel. A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Ty graduated magna cum laude in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1987. After working approximately two years as an Inside Sales Engineer in Charlotte, N.C., Ty attended the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill. He graduated in 1992. After working briefly for a personal injury law firm in Durham, N.C., Ty practiced law four and one-half years at Crisp, Page, and Currin in Raleigh. While there, Ty worked extensively with electric cooperatives. In July 1997, Ty began working for NRECA. At NRECA, Ty works primarily with electric cooperative tax, corporate governance, and operational legal issues. In addition, Ty is the Editor for NRECA's monthly Legal Reporting Service; presents at NRECA's annual Legal Seminar; assists with NRECA Course 925.1, Cooperative Bylaws: Guiding Principles and Current Issues; researches and drafts sample electric cooperative documents like NRECA's Bylaw Revision Guide; speaks at various conferences, seminars, and meetings regarding electric cooperative legal issues; counsels NRECA regarding corporate governance legal issues; and serves as Parliamentarian for the NRECA Board of Directors.

Presenter: Ty Thompson, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Director and Member Legal Services for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

Cost
Free for NSAC Members / Free for Non-Members

Delivery System

  • All programs are delivered using the Zoom platform.
  • Confirmations will include log-in instructions.
  • Participants are able to participate using any device with an Internet connect (if the device does not have speakers, the participant can also dial-in) or they can participate with audio only by dialing in.
  • All registrants will receive a link to the CLN’s recording by email within 48 business hours of event’s conclusion.
  • There will be assistance available to help with technical and connectivity issues up to 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation.

Registration

All registration is done on-line and each guest must provide their name and email address to participate. All NSAC members may register for free. Non-members may register for a nominal fee.

Refund Policy

NSAC will not issue refunds for CLNs. If a registrant is unable to participate in the CLN and provides notification to info@nsacoop.org 48 hours prior to the session, a credit will be provided for a future CLN. Alert the NSAC staff member monitoring the CLN if technical difficulties are encountered and technical support will be provided to eliminate problems with future CLNs.

Additional Information

Live participation is required for CPE credit and polling questions must be answered to document your active participation. All registrants will receive an email following the session with links to the slides and/or handouts, and a link to the CLN recording (unless otherwise stated). If you are unable to participate in the live session, you can still watch the recorded session, but you will not be eligible for CPE credits. Those eligible for credits will receive their certificate by email with 7 business days.

For more information regarding NSAC CLNs or administrative policies such as complaint and refund, contact the NSAC Headquarters, 7946 Clyo Road, Suite A, Centerville, OH 45459, 937-222-6707, or info@nsacoop.org.

What is NSAC's Cooperative Learning Network?
The NSAC Cooperative Learning Network is a live, interactive webinar, and you can attend from any location with internet and/or telephone access. NSAC members can attend an unlimited number of CLNs at no charge!

Each Cooperative Learning Network will have one or more speakers who are recognized experts on the topic. CLNs typically include a Q&A session where participants can ask questions live or by chat. No advance preparation or prerequisites are required, unless otherwise stated in the course information. Attendees are able to download copies of the slides and/or handouts and are provided a link to view the recording (unless the description states the session will not be recorded). These tools help continue your learning experience after the session.

CPE Credits
The National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor (#103068) of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Delivery Method: Group-Internet Based.

Why NSAC Cooperative Learning Networks?

Fast.
No wasted time. Get right to the heart of the matter in a course designed to easily fit into your busy schedule.

Convenient.
No travel. No time out of the office. Listen and follow along from the comfort and convenience of your desk, device or conference room.

Easy.
A device with an Internet connection is all you need. If your device does not have sound capabilities, the ability to dial in from a telephone is available.

Ideal for multiple attendees.
Use a speakerphone and projector/monitor and invite as many people as you want to participate - at no extra cost to you.

Affordable.
NSAC Cooperative Learning Networks are free for members and available to non members at a fraction of the cost of travel and attendance fees for other high-priced conferences or seminars.