Every community has a story to tell, and at NTCA, we’re honored to help our members tell theirs.
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, it’s worth remembering that much of our nation’s story started in rural America, and the heartbeat of our great country can often be heard most loudly in the spaces between the biggest cities. You can see this spirit clearly in small towns and rural communities where generations of Americans have come together to build the infrastructure: roads, bridges, and – yes, communications networks – that provide a reliable foundation for civic engagement, commerce, and connection.
This is a story NTCA members know well – and have played a big part in.
For generations, local providers stepped forward to make sure rural America stayed connected with the rest of the country and the world when others wouldn’t. They invested in the infrastructure their communities needed to grow and thrive. As technology evolved, so did those networks. Today, NTCA members are delivering robust and reliable high-speed broadband that powers education, health care, agriculture, public safety, small businesses and countless opportunities for the communities they serve. Throughout that journey, NTCA has been proud to advocate for the policies that make those investments possible — and help them build connections that last for generations.
But anniversaries shouldn’t be only about looking back. They should also remind us to look ahead. That’s the idea behind what I’ve called the Rural Innovation Agenda.
As we think about what will help America thrive from coast to coast far beyond the celebration of its 250th birthday, those connections NTCA members have built will matter even more – and we need to think about how to make sure this is progress built to last. As broadband deployment continues, we need to make it easier to build and sustain next-generation networks, continue to support those that are deployed and serving their rural communities, remove barriers that undermine efficient and affordable service, and provide the regulatory certainty rural providers need to continue investing in their communities. If we continue building on that foundation, today’s investments will create new opportunities for rural America while strengthening America’s future. In other words, our work isn’t finished. In many ways, it’s just beginning. And our members’ work isn’t just about rural America – it's about powering American innovation and competitiveness on a global stage.
This Independence Day, we’re reminded that the rural story isn’t separate from America’s story. It is a critical part of America’s story. And together, we’ll continue building connections that will take us into the next 250 years.