For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Withers, 703-351-2087, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (January 23, 2017)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today thanked members of the House of Representatives for passing legislation seeking to address the ongoing rural call completion epidemic threatening the well-being of countless rural Americans.
“We would like to thank Rep. David Young (R–Iowa) and Rep. Peter Welch (D–Vt.) for their sponsorship of the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act,” said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield. “We also thank Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R–Ore.) and House leadership for their support to bring this bill to the House floor once again.
“The passage of this legislation in the House is a major step toward resolving call quality and reliability issues that have plagued rural Americans for years,” Bloomfield added. “We believe the bill will play a critical role in promoting greater visibility into the call completion problems that threaten public safety, businesses and the general well-being of countless Americans. NTCA looks forward to working with members of the House and Senate to enact this important legislation into law and to working with members of Congress on the many other bills approved today to update and advance our nation’s communications goals.”
###
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.