Advocacy Issue

Broadband & Technology

From traditional voice and video to cutting-edge data services, NTCA members have led the charge in the communications industry to get ahead of these changes despite operating in some of the most difficult-to-serve terrain in the United States.

Why It Matters

Interconnected devices or the “Internet of Things (IoT)” have made our lives more connected than ever, but technological changes present challenges for policymakers, regulators and providers alike. Statutes and rules written in different eras can contain timeless principles such as universal service and consumer protection that apply with equal, if not greater, force in today’s and tomorrow’s communications marketplace. But some of these laws and regulations may also reflect time-locked concepts that call into question their applicability to today’s services and networks or even undermine innovation.


NTCA has long been an advocate for taking a fresh, critical look at the prospect of updating legal frameworks while also ensuring a sensible, thoughtful, and carefully managed transition from one regulatory framework to another.

Featured News

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program – Playbook 3.0

The Broadband Infrastructure Playbook from NTCA and the Fiber Broadband Association, developed in cooperation with global telecom research firm Cartesian, is a comprehensive guide designed to assist state broadband offices in making efficient and effective use of federal funds made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). An update to the playbook was released in February 2024 to reflect updates to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program now that states and territories are beginning to receive approval of their initial proposals from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

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SRC Issue Spotlight

Telehealth

Broadband providers, healthcare services, and end users are driving increased interest in and use of telehealth services. The COVID-19 pandemic marked an inflection point in public policy and public responsiveness, with significant increases in telehealth usage documented, especially among older populations. These telehealth strides present great promise for rural America, which faces unique health care challenges, and NTCA has encouraged policies to help ensure rural healthcare providers receive funding necessary to access broadband and other telecom services for telehealth. Learn more from Smart Rural Community™

SRC Issue Spotlight

Ag Tech

Broadband-enabled technology is intertwined in agriculture. And the use of broadband and other advanced technology in agriculture is increasing. Agricultural technology, or ag tech, can be deployed for crops and animal farming, and these applications enable users to obtain greater input efficiencies and yields while mitigating potential climate impacts and carbon footprints. Continued advancement is important from a national policy perspective because it affects both food productivity and economic activity. Therefore, the ag and tech industries, alongside policymakers, support expanded broadband deployment to U.S. farm markets and driving actions to develop and maintain robust, future-proof scalable broadband networks throughout rural and agricultural regions. Learn more from Smart Rural Community™

Member Success Story

Smart Rural Community Spotlight: Bemidji, Minnesota

With telemedicine, Sanford Health and Paul Bunyan Communications are overcoming barriers to healthcare in rural Minnesota.

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