For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Crowder, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (February 26, 2015)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association issued a blog post from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield in anticipation of the FCC’s adoption of network neutrality rules. The full text of the post explains the association’s stance on the debate:
“We have consistently supported a specific focus on regulating the underlying transmission of data on all networks—last-mile, middle mile, whatever—pursuant to Title II. This is an approach that moves away from ‘regulatory silos,’ and it would stop the self-classification and arbitrage of services that have tied the communications industry in knots for far too long,” Bloomfield wrote. “We still support that approach as our recent filings show. This is how small carriers like those in NTCA’s membership have operated for years, and Title II regulation specifically of underlying transmission has actually been helpful in enabling, rather than hindering, investment by providing regulatory certainty.
“Title II can provide a useful framework and does not need to be an impediment to investment in and ongoing operation of broadband networks, if the rules are clear and properly applied and calibrated. Here’s hoping the FCC finds a way to strike this careful balance in its upcoming order. . . . And, for rural America in particular, here’s also hoping that the FCC will then quickly turn back to finding a way to make sure a sufficient and predictable Title II-based universal service update can be put into place for the 40% of the U.S. landmass served by NTCA members and other [small rural carriers].”
The full text of the blog is available online.
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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.