Communications Tools

Customizable template for consumer-focused handout -- May 24, 2011
Telcos should work with the printer of their choice to insert their company logo and contact information for its congressional representatives.  Use this handout at your annual meetings or other public events to educate your customers and encourage them to lend their voice to the debate by contacting the FCC and congress.  
      A brief slide presentation explaining the issue is also available for telco representaitves who have the opportunity to speak publicly about the handout and grassroots advocacy surrounding the reforms.

A Call to Action from Shirley Bloomfield, CEO – May 17, 2011

Brief interactive presentation from NTCA member Eatel (Gonzales, La.) on "The Reality of Wireless," explaining how wireless services depend on the wired network backbone provided by   rural communications companies.

Consumer-focused video highlighting the disparity of speed goals between urban and rural America
Access this video via YouTube or NTCA's Rural TeleCommunity and show it at your local Rotary or civic club meetings, board or staff meetings, or other community events.  Link to the video from your telco Facebook page or incorporate it into your local video programming.

Resolution that organizations in your community can pass to show their support for our advocacy efforts.

Article from Asheboro and Randolph County (N.C.) Courier-Tribune about member telco's annual meeting, during which telco staff educated consumers about how the NBP threatens their community.

Bank Advocacy Sample Letter

   Slide Shows

• Slide show for telecom-savvy audiences (PDF or click here for PowerPoint version) on NBP's harmful provisions
  Use this presentation at board meetings or to educate other telecom audiences about NBP and what RLECs can do to help alter its course.
  
• Slide Show for general audiences (PDF or click here for PowerPoint version) highlighting potential effects of the NBP  
  Use this brief, 6-slide presentation at meetings to outline the negative effects the NBP will have on your community. 
  
• State-specific slide shows for South Dakota (PDF or PowerPoint) and Montana (PDF or PowerPoint) outlining problems with the plan and what intrested parties can do to help alter its course.

   Letters to Editors

• NTCA CEO letter to the editor published on the New York Times (February 28,2011)
  Shirley Bloomfield addresses the extreme examples of costly service cited in the New York Times editorial and emphasizes rural telecom leaders' commitment to open dialogue and determination to find solutions to achieve ubiquitous broadband deployment.  
  
  
• NTCA CEO letter to the editor submitted to the New York Times (August 6, 2010)
  Shirley Bloomfield responds to a New York Times editorial on the broadband availability gap by emphasizing the need for policies that ensure continued network investment if the nation is to achieve universal broadband availability.
  
  
• NTCA member letter to the editor submitted to the Washington Post (July 20, 2010)
  Randy Houdek, GM of Venture Communicaitons (Highmore, S.D.) explains the importance of proper USF reform in making universal broadband a reality in response to this article about USF reform
  
  
• NTCA CEO letter to the editor published in the Washington Post (July 21, 2010)
  CEO Shirley Bloomfield responds to an opinion piece by Blair Levin and J. Erik Garr about their vision for the new broadband world by noting the NBP creates an urban/rural digital divide that will prevent rural consumers from fully realizing the promise of broadband
  
  
• NTCA member letter to the editor published in Des Moines Register (May 19, 2010)
  NTCA Region 5 Director Don Miller of Northwest Communications Cooperative (Havelock, Iowa) submitted letter to the editor in response to a May 14 opinion piece
  

Print-ready bill stuffer with consumer-focused message about value of broadband for all Americans 
This hi-res PDF is ready for print.  It's an easy way to reach your rural customers, those most at risk of ending up on the slow side of the urban/rural digital divide. 

Customer/Employee Newsletter Article on importance of comparable broadband access for all Americans
Place this article in your telco's customer and/or employee newsletters to inform them about the FCC's plan for slower broadband for rural America.  It may be used as-is or customized to reflect your telco's perspective. 

Sample opinion piece (op-ed) from NTCA member general manger
Use this Sampson (NC) Indepdendent guest op-ed by Star Telephone Membership Corp. EVP & General Manager Lyman Horne, as a guide for writing your own message to your local or regional media outlet about how the NBP threatens the future viability of rural American by perpetuating a digital divide.

Draft opinion piece (op-ed) on NBP 4 Meg issue
You may customize this sample op-ed or send it as-is to your local and regional papers.  It highlights the issues with the low 4 Meg threshold for broadband in rural America.

Sample talking points on NBP 4 Meg issue
These may be used to draft a letter to the editor or other response to an article, op-ed, blog post, etc. that touches on the NBP.

Short, consumer-focused article that will be placed in local and regional newspapers throughout the country
This brief piece offers a very basic overview of the issue and incites consumers to contact policy-makers to urge a change in direction of the NBP.  You may see this in your local paper, also feel free to use it in your own communications.

Need additional information? Contact us!