For Immediate Release
Contact: Kelly Wismer, (703) 351-2015, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (January 18, 2018)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today issued the following statement regarding recently introduced legislative proposals from Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee. Following up on the broadband focused resolutions introduced last week, majority members of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee are now introducing legislation aimed at addressing broadband infrastructure challenges.
“The proposals introduced this week by members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Communications and Technology Subcommittee should serve as a catalyst for the ongoing dialogue about how to best promote access to rural broadband,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield. “These proposals seek to tackle important issues including Rep. Long’s bill highlighting middle mile transport challenges, Rep. Kinzinger’s bill addressing regulatory barriers, and Reps. Johnson and Guthrie’s proposals for mapping broadband availability. As these proposals advance and evolve through the legislative process, NTCA is eager to work with the sponsoring congressional offices and other leaders to tackle the challenges of rural broadband.”
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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.