For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Crowder, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (January 14, 2015)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today issued the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield regarding President Barack Obama’s broadband competition proposal:
“NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association applauds President Obama’s focus on increasing every American’s access to robust and affordable broadband. But it’s not clear that encouraging local governments to get into a very difficult communications business for the first time on their own is the best path to achieve that important goal.
“There’s already a great broadband success story out there in rural America, but its sustainability is at risk. Members of NTCA are locally based proven solutions providers, with a decades-long, consumer-focused track record of building advanced networks and delivering high-quality services in communities across the country. Policymakers in search of answers to communications problems should turn first to those who have shown they can get the job done time and again, rather than casting about for the next new thing, creating regulatory uncertainty and putting at risk significant investments already made in existing networks through the prospect of overbuilding.
“NTCA could not agree more with President Obama about the importance of broadband to American consumers and businesses. That’s why it is so important to build upon proven initiatives and leverage existing efforts in the first instance where possible. NTCA and its members look forward to working with the president and other policymakers to help realize and then sustain our shared national broadband vision.”
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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.