NRTC Congratulates USDA on 60 Years of Supporting Rural America

October 28, 2009 [Herndon, VA]— The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) congratulates the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development on 60 years of supporting the growth of critical telecommunications services in rural America. 

“The USDA should be proud of its history of supporting rural America,” said NRTC President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Phillips.  “Starting with the Telephone Loan Program, USDA has played a vital role to ensure access to telecommunications throughout Rural America.  This effort continues today through programs administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).  Working with RUS, NRTC’s members have done a great job in extending access to broadband and other telecommunications services in their rural service areas.  NRTC and its rural utility members strive to continue to improve the quality of life in rural America through advanced telecommunications offerings.  To do this, many NRTC members rely on the support of loan and grant programs administered by RUS, including those for broadband.  I applaud the work of USDA to improve the economic and living conditions in rural America through access to telecommunications and look forward to many more years of cooperation,” he continued.

About NRTC
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) represents the advanced telecommunications and information technology interests of more than 1,400 rural utilities and affiliates in 48 states.  Founded in 1986, NRTC provides products and services developed specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, such as high-speed Internet access via WiMAX and satellite, full service Internet access and support, advanced metering infrastructure, SmartSCADA, wireless technologies, power quality products, long distance programs, mobile phone service, IP backbone services, direct broadcast satellite service (DBS) with DIRECTV and programming for Internet protocol television (IPTV). For more information, visit www.nrtc.coop.