For Immediate Release
Contact: Carolyn Just, 703-351-2015, [email protected]
Arlington, Va., (June 9, 2020) – NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today issued the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield regarding the FCC vote to establish Phase I Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction procedures.
“NTCA is pleased to see that Phase I of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) will move forward in entirely unserved rural areas this year. As their track record in prior universal service initiatives demonstrates, our members are energized and eager to leverage this program to reach neighboring communities long neglected by other providers and longing for better broadband.
“At the same time, we look forward to further review of the final auction procedures, and we hope that they will promote the integrity and effectiveness of the auction. We are encouraged by Chairman Pai’s reference to ‘careful case-by-case review’ of whether certain technologies without a meaningful track record of performance at high levels can indeed deliver on such promises, as such review of detailed information will be essential to ensure that rural Americans will realize the benefit of services being promised and that RDOF dollars are well-spent.
“We thank the FCC under the leadership of Chairman Pai for its continuing efforts to ensure that every American has access to robust and reliable voice and broadband services. Broadband matters now more than ever, and it has become a lifeline for our communities to the world. NTCA members have been building Smart Rural Communities℠ for decades and creating jobs and opportunities for their neighbors, and their commitment to connecting rural America is second to none. As the auction proceeds, our members look forward to helping to deliver further on the promise of sustainable and affordable communications services across rural America.”
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