NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today applauded the introduction of the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), the legislation seeks to promote greater broadband deployment by ending taxation of certain governmental broadband grant funds.
“NTCA and its members greatly appreciate Congress’s commitment to funding broadband deployment programs that help further the mission of connecting all Americans,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield. “However, when these funds are taxed, providers are required to pay the federal government a portion of the same award that they received from the federal government, instead of using the funds to serve the hardest-to-reach communities. NTCA thanks Sens. Moran and Warner and Reps. Kelly and Panetta for their leadership in introducing this commonsense legislation to ensure that every dollar granted for broadband deployment is used effectively for that very purpose.”