Contact: Lauren Gaydos, 703-351-2015
Washington, D.C., (April 12, 2021)—The Rebuild Rural Coalition – of which NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is a member – today released the following statement in response to President Joe Biden’s infrastructure proposal:
“The Rebuild Rural Coalition thanks President Biden for his infrastructure proposal. It offers a good starting point for discussions with Congress.
“As they work through negotiations, we strongly encourage a bipartisan approach that considers the unique needs of rural infrastructure – and sets aside specific funding for rural communities. Rebuild Rural outlined many of those needs in a letter earlier this year.
“Since sending that letter, Rebuild Rural has appreciated several discussions with the Biden administration and Congressional staff to further explain and underscore the challenges America’s rural infrastructure faces. And we look forward to future opportunities to offer input.
“We also encourage policymakers to leverage existing federal programs that have a proven record of success supporting rural communities, such as many at USDA, including its rural development loan and grant programs.
“Rebuild Rural agrees the time to invest in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure is now. It’s critical to our nation’s future and international competitiveness. And we hope Congress will work together to find bipartisan solutions that benefit all of America, including our rural communities.”
The #RebuildRural Coalition is comprised of more than 260 organizations representing U.S. agricultural producers, rural businesses, rural communities and rural families.
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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.