For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Withers, 703-351-2087, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (September 28, 2016)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today issued the following statement on the passage of the Communications Act Update Act of 2016 in the U.S. House and the introduction of the Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program (B-CROP) Act in the U.S. Senate.
On Tuesday, September 27, the U.S. House passed the Communications Act Update Act of 2016. This legislation includes provisions introduced by Rep. David Young (R-Iowa) to combat problems of calls failing to complete to rural areas, as well as provisions introduced by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Oregon) to relieve small business network operators from burdensome broadband obligations.
“The Communications Act Update Act includes a number of provisions of great significance for rural Americans and the small hometown businesses committed to providing them with quality voice and broadband services,” said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield. “We hope the Senate, which has also looked at many of these same issues, will now build upon its own efforts to tackle specific challenges like ensuring call completion and relieving small business burdens. I would like to again thank Reps. Walden and Young for their ongoing leadership on issues of particular importance to small rural network operators and the consumers they serve.”
In other news, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today introduced the Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program (B-CROP) Act, which would allow for grants to be awarded in combination with the current loan funding available through the Rural Utilities Service Broadband Loan Program.
“It has been clear for some time that more resources and greater focus are needed to address and overcome the challenges of deploying and sustaining broadband in rural America. NTCA greatly appreciates the leadership of Sens. Gillibrand and Capito in shining a spotlight on these concerns and introducing a vehicle to move this important debate forward. We are eager for the conversation that this bill should stimulate, and look forward to working with these Senators and other policymakers to develop thoughtful, coordinated programs that enable every American—rural and urban—to have access to robust and affordable broadband,” said Bloomfield.
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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.