NTCA Statement on House Passage of Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kelly Wismer, 703-351-2015, [email protected]

Arlington, Va. (September 12, 2018)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association welcomed the passage of H.R. 4824, The Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018, by the U.S. House of Representatives today. The bill, which seeks to streamline broadband permitting processes in existing rights-of-way, was introduced by Rep. John Curtis (R–UT) in January of this year. During a Committee on Natural Resources hearing in May, NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield testified on behalf of the bill, as well as on other strategies for streamlining broadband deployment in rural areas.

Bloomfield issued the following statement upon passage of H.R. 4824 today: “Rural broadband providers must overcome the costly challenges of distance and density to deploy and sustain their networks. Freeing up resources by eliminating cumbersome and time-consuming permitting processes can help promote the deployment of broadband networks which support a high quality of life in rural America.”

In addition to the bill that passed the House today, NTCA also supports the Senate version of the legislation—S. 604, the Highway Rights-of-Way Permitting Efficiency Act.

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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 it contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year.