For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Smith, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (January 22, 2016)—Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D–N.D.) said during an interview with NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield that broadband is critical to economic development and opportunities in rural communities in North Dakota and across America.
Heitkamp said the delivery of broadband is as significant as electrification, and is important to making sure rural communities are thriving. “Delivering that piece of infrastructure is going to be important for precision agriculture, for marketing products. It’s going to be critical for transportation. It’s going to be critical for keeping rural hospitals in business, rural schools in business,” said Heitkamp.
The senator praised organizations in North Dakota that have been proactive in recognizing broadband as a critical service and delivering it to their communities.
The interview is the latest in NTCA’s series, “Broadband Beat With Shirley Bloomfield.” This and all episodes are available at www.ntca.org/broadbandbeat.
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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.