For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Crowder, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (August 12, 2015)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today issued the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield in response to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s blog post regarding a proposal to update the retransmission consent process:
“NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is pleased that Chairman Tom Wheeler is seeking to provide meaningful relief for video programming distributors and consumers with respect to outdated video policies that have tilted the playing field in favor of broadcasters during negotiations for content carriage. The ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ negotiation tactics that broadcasters engage in are particularly harmful to consumers of smaller providers and NTCA looks forward to continuing to work with the commission as much-needed rule changes are considered and implemented.”
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NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 900 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. NTCA advocates on behalf of its members in the legislative and regulatory arenas, and it provides training and development; publications and industry events; and an array of employee benefit programs. In an era of exploding technology, deregulation and marketplace competition, NTCA's members are leading the IP evolution for rural consumers, delivering technologies that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. Because of their efforts, rural America is fertile ground for innovation in economic development and commerce, education, health care, government services, security and smart energy use. Visit us at www.ntca.org.