NTCA Applauds Introduction of Office of Rural Broadband Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Laura Withers, 703-351-2087, [email protected]

Arlington, Va. (May 31, 2018)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association issued the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield in response to Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introducing the Office of Rural Broadband Act. The bill establishes an office at the FCC to coordinate efforts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to ensure coordination across multiple federal agencies.

“With much-needed initiatives underway within multiple agencies to promote a shared national vision of universal broadband access, it is more important than ever to ensure that such efforts are coordinated with and complement one another,” said Bloomfield. “Introducing the Office of Rural Broadband Act not only demonstrates support by Senators Hoeven and Klobuchar for promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of such efforts, but also in seeing that the broadband needs of rural Americans will remain a top priority.”

Reps. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Collin Peterson (D. Minn.) introduced similar legislation several weeks ago in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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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.