For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Withers, 703-351-2087, [email protected]
Arlington, Va., (October 27, 2020)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today issued the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield regarding the FCC’s adoption of a report and order to establish the 5G Fund for Rural America.
“The challenges of the current pandemic have revived our country’s interest in connecting all Americans with the best possible broadband, whether at home or on the go. Rural consumers and those traveling through rural America will benefit from 5G service, which promises not only higher speeds but can help empower precision agriculture services for farms and ranches and increased efficiencies for ranching, oil and gas production and sustainable energy production for solar farms, wind farms, and hydraulics.
“NTCA supports the commission’s efforts to promote ‘better distribution of limited high-cost universal funds’ as part of its Phase 1 auction design. Our members have led the charge to date in the deployment and delivery of advanced fixed and mobile services in rural areas. And we look forward to working with the commission on matters ranging from the creation of accurate maps to identifying areas eligible for support and the transition of support for small, rural legacy providers so that they may offer sustainable, 5G-capable service in their communities.”