Contact: Lauren Gaydos, 703-351-2015
Arlington, Va., (November 15, 2021)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association issued the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law today by President Biden:
“On behalf of NTCA’s nearly 850 rural, community-based broadband providers, I sincerely thank everyone who was involved in getting this bill across the finish line—from the Senate to the House, and now to President Biden’s desk. After this prolonged pandemic that has proven just how essential broadband connectivity is, this is an historic investment that will go a long way to connecting all Americans, even in the hardest-to-reach parts of our country. It was truly an honor to stand with President Biden and the bicameral, bipartisan leaders who championed broadband as the president signed the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law today.
“Now of course the work truly begins to deliver on the promise that this law offers. The FCC must finish mapping efforts to help states prioritize areas of need. We must help educate and support state leaders as an unprecedented amount of resources flow to support their broadband initiatives. We must carefully vet those seeking funding to ensure that they can actually live up to their promises, and policymakers must find solutions to our current supply chain challenges and workforce development shortages. We must also not forget that it’s not just about building networks—we must sustain them and make sure the services offered over them are affordable and will meet customer demands now and well into the future.
“NTCA members, whether commercially-owned or cooperatively-organized, stand ready to serve their neighbors and expand networks further into rural America so that all Americans, regardless of where they live, can have the same opportunity to access the kinds of communications services they need today and for years to come.”
Last week, Bloomfield wrote about next steps following the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act becoming law. Read her piece here.
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NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovative change in smart rural communities across America. In an era of transformative technological developments, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are advancing efforts to close the digital divide by delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks. Their commitment to building sustainable networks makes rural communities 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.