For Immediate Release
Contact: Kelly Wismer, (703) 351-2015, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (May 25, 2018)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today released the following statement thanking Senators Daines (R–Mont.) and Leahy (D–Vt.) for introducing the Reprioritizing Unserved Rural Areas and Locations for Broadband Act of 2018 (RURAL Broadband Act of 2018.) The legislation aims to promote better coordination among federal agencies in order to avoid the prospect of federal programs funding duplicative broadband networks in rural areas and thereby ensure an effective and efficient use of limited taxpayer and ratepayer resources.
“Sens. Daines and Leahy are proven leaders on rural broadband and have offered a thoughtful bill to ensure that necessary federal resources are coordinated for maximum impact in high cost rural areas in need of broadband,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield. “NTCA welcomes this legislation and appreciates these senators’ steadfast commitment to improving the quality of life in rural America by ensuring as many Americans as possible will be able to experience the benefits of broadband access.”
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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. Visit us at www.ntca.org.