For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Withers, 703-351-2087, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (August 31, 2016)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today released the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield in response to the FCC Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the Alaska plan for rate-of-return carriers.
“NTCA has long urged the FCC to take stock of the special challenges of serving Alaska. Today’s order attempts to do that, while being careful to make sure the steps taken will not have an adverse impact on smaller carriers committed to serve the rest of rural America. We look forward to continuing work with the FCC on sufficiently funded programs that achieve true universal service in the form of rural services that are reasonably comparable in price and quality to those available in urban areas.”
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NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing more than 800 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.