Contact: Lauren Gaydos, 703-351-2015
Arlington, Va., (December 22, 2021)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association issued the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield on the introduction of the Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act in the House by U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., Lizzie Fletcher, D-Tex., Diana DeGette, D-Colo., Angie Craig, D-Minn., Jack Bergman, R-Mich., and Kat Cammack, R-Fla.:
“All Americans, no matter where they live, deserve access to affordable, high-speed broadband connectivity. As billions of dollars in funding for broadband is implemented thanks to the infrastructure bill and other legislation over the last two years, we cannot forget the importance of sustaining these newly built networks, as well as those deployed previously through a mix of private capital and other programs. The Universal Service Fund (USF) is critical to making the business case for such investments, maintaining networks, delivering high-quality services, and keeping costs down for providers and consumers. The Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act will direct the FCC to address the sustainability of the USF and put the program on a stable footing to ensure that all Americans are served for years to come. NTCA was proud to endorse the Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act when it was introduced earlier this year in the Senate, and on behalf of our members, I want to thank Reps. Neguse, Fletcher, DeGette, Craig, Bergman and Cammack for introducing this legislation in the House. We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers on our shared goal of universal service.”
The “contribution base” – the pool of revenues that fund the USF – has declined dramatically over the last two decades. NTCA has long advocated for expanding the contribution base so that the critical USF initiatives sit atop a stable and sustainable foundation. The Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act would direct the FCC to complete a rulemaking to reform the contribution system within a year.
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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.