For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Crowder, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (April 21, 2015)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association’s 2015 Legislative & Policy Conference continued today in Washington, D.C., as hundreds of association members heard from members of congress in a kickoff breakfast before heading to Capitol Hill for one-on-one meetings with local representatives.
Rep. David Young (R–Iowa) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D–W.Va.) addressed conference attendees and described the need for Universal Service Fund support for standalone broadband services in rural America, as well as the ongoing call completion epidemic and the need for legislation to put a stop to call failures in rural America.
Members then headed to congressional offices to hold more than 200 meeting with senators, representatives and staff in their respective states. They discussed the need for Universal Service Fund reform as well as support for standalone broadband.
The conference will conclude with a technical demonstration and panel discussion, “Smart Agriculture: Broadband Technology at our Nation's Farms.” Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, John Deere, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National FFA Organization, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative and Partner Communications will speak at the event.
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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.