For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Crowder Smith, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (April 28, 2016)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association issued the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield in response to the second bipartisan Congressional Rural Broadband Caucus briefing led by Reps. Mark Pocan (D–Wis.), Peter F. Welch (D–Vt.), Bob E. Latta (R–Ohio), Kevin J. Cramer (R–N.D.), Dave W. Loebsack (D–Iowa) and Adam D. Kinzinger (R–Ill.). NTCA member Bill Esbeck, president of the Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association; Joshua Seidemann, NTCA vice president of policy; and Michael Romano, NTCA senior vice president of policy, participated in the event which focused on rural broadband deployment and its central role in strengthening rural economies.
“I applaud the continued work of the Rural Broadband Caucus and appreciate the opportunity for members and staff of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association to work with all 34 members of the caucus in highlighting the critical role broadband services play in the economic success of rural communities but also for the nation as a whole,” said Bloomfield. “A recently released Hudson Institute report found that found that rural broadband companies contributed more than $24 billion to the U.S. economy in 2015, showing once again the broader impacts of investing in rural America and the importance of working with policymakers to further strengthen connectivity and ensure affordability of broadband in rural communities.”
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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.