For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Crowder Smith, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (February 25, 2016)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association issued the following statement today from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield in reference to the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s vote on the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act:
“NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association applauds the leadership of Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R–Ore.), who sponsored this legislation that will exempt smaller broadband providers from enhanced transparency requirements. Instead of being subjected to these burdensome transparency requirements, this bill will allow NTCA members and other small rural broadband providers across the country to free up time and resources to focus on investing in networks and better serving consumers. We also particularly appreciate the efforts put forth by Rep. David Loebsack (D–Iowa) and other members of the committee who worked tirelessly to reach a compromise to ensure this legislation moves forward.
“NTCA devoted significant effort to working with these offices to explain how the requirements would affect small businesses, and we look forward to continued engagement with Chairman Walden and other lawmakers as this bill moves forward.”
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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.