For Immediate Release
Contact: Kelly Wismer, 703-351-2015, [email protected]
Arlington, Va., (October 24, 2017)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today issued the following statement from Senior Vice President of Industry Affairs and Business Development Michael Romano in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on nationwide number portability and an NPRM on Priority Access License rules in the 3550-3700 MHz band adopted at today’s FCC open commission meeting.
Priority Access License rules in the 3550-3700 MHz (3.5 GHz)
“NTCA members need access to every tool in the network technology toolkit to respond to the needs of consumers in the deeply rural areas they serve – in addition to future-proof fiber, this necessarily includes relatively scarce spectrum resources such as those in the 3.5 GHz band. NTCA therefore looks forward to working with the FCC to ensure that spectrum licenses continue to be targeted in a way that will further the cause of rural broadband, and that changes in policies will not undermine the ability of smaller providers based in rural America to promote that cause and serve their consumers.”
Nationwide Number Portability
“Through filings at the FCC and its participation in various industry councils, NTCA has raised significant questions in the past surrounding a transition to nationwide number portability. Although the end result may be desirable, this transition is not one that should be undertaken rashly and without attention to complication or consequence, including the sizeable costs associated with this transition and its implications for the routing and completion of calls. NTCA is eager to roll up its sleeves to work with the FCC and other stakeholders to achieve this shared goal on an equitable basis and without breaking or disrupting the many systems and practices that remain essential today to reliable communications.
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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 transformative technological advancements, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are leading the technological evolution for rural consumers, delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks 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, e-commerce, health care, agriculture, and education and contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www.ntca.org.