Contact: Lauren Gaydos, 703-351-2015
Arlington, Va., (April 20, 2021)—Jennifer Prather, vice president and general manager of Totelcom Communications in De Leon, Tex., today testified on behalf of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association at a House Agriculture Committee hearing on rural broadband.
Prather testified about the importance of rural broadband infrastructure, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical nature of broadband connectivity, and the need to invest in future-proof technologies that can be sustained for years to come.
“Over just the last year, Totelcom saw an increase of more than 200% in both download and upload demand. That represents almost 2 years of projected growth, almost overnight. Fortunately, our fiber-based networks were built to meet that demand. Given that such demands keep growing over time, a smart infrastructure plan should aim for the best return on such long-term investments that meet future needs of consumers and enable the deployment of a variety of broadband technologies,” said Prather in her opening remarks.
Prather’s full written testimony can be found here.
###
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.