For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Withers, 703-351-2087, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (July 16, 2015)—In response to the FCC’s adoption of a report and order establishing a bidding credit for qualified small business telecommunications providers to compete for spectrum at auction, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield issued the following statement:
“Rural telecommunications providers have shown time and again their commitment to delivering innovative solutions to rural markets. For many operators, this includes providing high-quality fixed and mobile broadband services in some of the most sparsely populated and hard-to-reach pockets of our country. As the price for scarce spectrum resources continues to increase, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association has advocated for a more level playing field when it comes to the distribution of valuable spectrum at auction. We applaud the establishment of a rural bidding credit in today’s decision, and we are hopeful that this decision will allow smaller providers to compete for spectrum in a more equitable way—ultimately leading to more robust services in rural areas and a more competitive wireless market for the benefit of all consumers.”
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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.