NTCA Statement on President Trump’s Infrastructure Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Kelly Wismer, 703-351-2015, [email protected]

Arlington, Va. (February 12, 2018)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today released the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield in response to President Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan.

“We greatly appreciate President Trump’s focus on rural America in the infrastructure agenda announced today. Calling for a substantial portion of infrastructure funds to be dedicated to rural projects, including rural broadband, and easing permitting processes that hinder the timely deployment of broadband networks are both essential parts of a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges faced by those seeking to deploy and operate wireline and wireless telecom infrastructure alike in rural America.

“There is clear bipartisan consensus that broadband is the key infrastructure challenge of the 21st Century – and in rural America where the business case for broadband investment and ongoing operations can be daunting at best, solving that challenge will without question require a greater commitment of resources. NTCA is eager to work with the administration and Congress to develop further how such funding can be made available and most effectively utilized, whether by leveraging existing programs with proven track records or ensuring at least careful coordination with such programs to promote and sustain the business case for rural broadband.”

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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.