For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Crowder, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Jeff Sharp, COMPTEL, 202-285-7040, [email protected]
Paul Raak, ITTA, 202-898-1514, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (June 22, 2015)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, ITTA–The Voice of Mid-Size Communications Companies and COMPTEL–The Competitive Networks Association, today sent a letter to Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune (R–S.D.) urging the committee to hold a hearing to examine video marketplace failures and the need for reforms of, or updates to, existing laws and regulations.
Specifically, the letter recommended that legislators update the retransmission consent regime and other outdated regulations to ensure that all providers continue to have the opportunity to compete and offer high-quality broadband and video services to their subscribers.
NTCA, ITTA and COMPTEL issued the following statements regarding the letter:
“Access to video services is an essential component of broadband adoption, which in turn helps to justify the business case for broadband deployment—especially in hard-to-serve rural areas. When smaller carriers are able to offer video and broadband services together, broadband adoption increases substantially, making it more feasible to invest in broadband networks,” said NTCA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shirley Bloomfield.
“Video content is fast becoming a building block that fosters investment in new networks. If our goal as a nation is to deploy more broadband networks and stimulate more competition and more choices for every American then we must make video reform a priority,” said Chip Pickering, CEO of COMPTEL.
“Offering video services enables broadband providers to compete more effectively, which benefits consumers. Congress should seize the opportunity to hold a hearing and open the debate on how to reform our outdated video laws,” said Genny Morelli, ITTA president.
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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.
ITTA represents mid-size communications companies that provide a broad range of high quality wireline and wireless voice, broadband, Internet, and video services to residential and business customers in predominately rural areas across 45 states. For more information, please visit www.itta.us.
Based in Washington, D.C., COMPTEL is the leading industry association representing competitive networks. COMPTEL members are entrepreneurial companies driving technological innovation and creating economic growth through competitive voice, video, and data offerings and the development and deployment of next-generation, IP-based networks and services. COMPTEL advances its members’ interests through trade shows, networking, education, and policy advocacy before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the courts. COMPTEL works to ensure that competitive communications providers can continue to offer lower prices, better service, and greater innovation to consumers. For more information, visit www.comptel.org or follow @COMPTEL on Twitter.