For Immediate Release
Contact:Laura Withers, (703) 351-2087, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (May 17, 2017)—A proposal unveiled today by Democratic members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee to invest $40 billion over five years toward expanding broadband services to more Americans is a welcome step in an ongoing dialogue about how best to promote the availability and sustainability of communications infrastructure in rural America.
The Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow’s America Act, or LIFT America Act (H.R. 2479), proposes investments in development of broadband, water, energy and healthcare infrastructure as part of a comprehensive package.
“We appreciate this latest contribution to the evolving debate regarding how best to promote access to broadband,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield. “While we’re still reviewing the details of this most recent proposal, its introduction and the amount of resources indicated reflect a clear recognition of the importance of broadband as a national infrastructure priority. The ultimate touchstones in any infrastructure discussion must be both how we can build these assets in the first instance and—especially in high-cost rural areas, where the ongoing operation of a network is itself a substantial undertaking—how we can make sure these investments are sustainable for the benefit of the consumers and businesses that depend upon them.”
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NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 850 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.