For Immediate Release
Contact: Carolyn Just, [email protected], (703) 351-2015
Arlington, Va. (June 30, 2020)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today issued the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield on the expiration of the FCC’s “Keep Americans Connected Pledge.”
“NTCA members are ‘hometown providers’ and, in so many cases this means they have gone above and beyond to keep their friends and neighbors connected through this pandemic. They have offered free and discounted services to schools and to home-bound school children, opened Wi-Fi hot spots across their communities, and connected health care providers in a matter of days.
“Given their steadfast commitment to their communities, even as the Keep Americans Connected Pledge expires today, it is no surprise that many NTCA members we have heard from in recent days will do everything within their power to sustain such efforts. They are planning to continue offering free Wi-Fi hotspots, they are working actively with schools for online summer coursework and increased preparations for potential remote learning in the fall and helping customers who are behind on payment.
"For example, NTCA members are offering residential customers anywhere from several months to a year or more to catch up on past due bills and flexibility to business customers still struggling to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic. And, from North Dakota to New Mexico, our members are working hand in hand with local school districts so that students at home can get service installed where it is truly lacking or they can get help in covering the costs of service where their households simply cannot afford it.
“However, even as small and rural broadband providers work to keep the internet lights on for their customers, they face financial strains of their own. A recent NTCA survey found that, on average, our members have approximately $80,000 in accumulated ’non-payments‘ by customers since mid-March. As providers with fewer than 30 employees on average, these costs are tough to bear—and as they extend payment flexibility to customers, these costs may only increase.
“That is why it is so important that Congress pass the Keeping Critical Connections Act, which would reimburse smaller broadband providers who have provided free or discounted services to certain customers during this time and who did not disconnect customers who could not pay. These small-town providers have stepped up for their rural communities and we hope that Congress will help us sustain this commitment to consumers, small business customers, and schools and libraries.”
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