For Immediate Release
Contact: Hillary Crowder Smith, 703-351-2086, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (May 4, 2016)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association issued the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield in response to the letter led by Sens. Angus King (I–Maine) and Shelley Moore Capito (R–W.Va.) calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to update broadband speed definitions for the Community Connect Grant Program:
“NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association applauds the ongoing leadership of Sens. King and Capito to promote rural broadband deployment and ensure U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) broadband programs are updated to meet the ever-increasing connectivity demands of rural consumers of all kinds. NTCA looks forward to continuing to work with policymakers to ensure quality, affordable broadband services are available throughout rural America.
“It is noteworthy, however, that at the same time we see such common-sense calls to update broadband service definitions for USDA broadband-related financing programs, the speed targets for the high-cost Universal Service Fund (USF) remain below what the FCC has said actually constitutes “table stakes” broadband in today’s world—due in significant part to a lack of sufficient funding in the high-cost USF program. USDA programs and the USF often work in concert, with USDA loans and grants helping to finance the construction of many rural networks, and USF helping to make the business case for such investments while keeping user rates affordable over time. A lack of coordination between such initiatives could put the sustainability of rural investments at risk.
“NTCA therefore hopes policymakers will join us in calling for updated broadband speed definitions not only in the context of USDA programs, but also for comparable speeds—and sufficient funding to enable them—through the high-cost USF program that is so important to sustain rural network investments and enable adoption and ongoing use of broadband by rural consumers.”
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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.