For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Crowder Smith, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (June 15, 2016)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association issued the following statement today from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield in reference to the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee’s vote on the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act:
“NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association applauds the leadership of Senator Daines (R–Mont.), who sponsored the legislation to exempt smaller broadband providers from burdensome network monitoring and disclosure transparency requirements. Instead of being subjected to these time-consuming and costly obligations, NTCA members can remain focused on using their limited resources to provide high-quality broadband services to their customers in the hardest-to-serve reaches of the country. We also particularly appreciate the efforts put forth by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D–Wash.) and other members of the committee who worked tirelessly to reach a bipartisan compromise to ensure this legislation moves forward.
“NTCA will continue to voice its concerns about the impact of the requirements on small businesses and consumers and we look forward to helping policymakers build consensus as the bill advances in the Senate.”
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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.