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NRTC’s Position Statement on the National Broadband Plan

The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) was founded almost 25 years ago to ensure that rural America had access to advanced telecommunications products and services to enhance their business, strengthen their communities and ensure the vitality of the areas they serve – in essence, to bridge the digital divide that was threatening rural America.

The more than 1,500 electric and telephone cooperatives and companies that comprise NRTC’s membership have a long history and unmatched record of bringing those products and services – including telephone and electric service, video content and broadband Internet, among others – to their rural communities. 

While NRTC’s applauds the Federal Communications Commission’s effort to advance the conversation about how we expand broadband availability and enhance performance through our country, we have serious concerns about key elements of the National Broadband Plan. Most notably:

  • The proposed revisions to cost-recovery mechanisms for delivery of telephone service to rural areas jeopardizes the vitality of the rural telecom providers who are most committed to delivering broadband to these communities
  • The significant disparity in broadband speed threshold goals for urban and rural areas threatens to expand our country’s digital divide, which will have a significant negative impact on our ability to compete and grow

NRTC has worked closely with rural telecom providers to expand broadband access and delivery in the rural communities they serve. We know how important the current cost recovery mechanisms have been to enabling these providers to invest in, and maintain, the necessary communications infrastructure.   These rural telecom providers are critical to the delivery of these services, and they are best suited to continue to do so in rural communities.

NRTC believes that a sound strategy for rural areas must be an essential part of any plan to expand broadband throughout our country. These vital communities cannot be an afterthought. To ensure that happens, we encourage the FCC to listen to rural telephone and electric cooperatives and independent telephone companies and the national organizations that represent them. These groups have demonstrated a commitment – and made the investment – to improve telecommunications access in rural areas, and they are a cornerstone of the rural communities they serve.

To that end, we fully support the comments filed by the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA), National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO), Western Telecommunications Alliance (WTA), the Rural Alliance and more than 30 concurring organizations in opposition to the Plan.

Moreover, as an organization that supports electric cooperatives as well as telephone members, NRTC is working closely with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to ensure that elements of the National Broadband Plan do not harm electric cooperatives’ ability to deploy broadband networks for internal purposes or consumer access nor jeopardize their ability to deliver reliable, low-cost and safe electric service and leverage technology to enhance their smart grids.

In cooperation with other rural-focused organizations, NRTC fought almost 25 years ago to ensure that rural Americans had access to essential video programming – the same programming available to urban areas.

In the same spirit, we remain committed to working with our members to strengthen their existing broadband infrastructure, leverage the investment they’ve made and pursue a variety of technology solutions to enhance broadband access in the communities and meet the geographical challenges, cost requirements and lifestyle needs of their consumers. NRTC understands it will take multiple technology solutions – especially fiber, wireless and satellite systems – to fully reach all corners of rural America.

NRTC stands ready to work with member and our allied organizations – NECA, NTCA, OPASTCO, WTA and NRECA, among others – to ensure the National Broadband Plan meets its goal of delivering world-class, affordable and accessible broadband service throughout our country – including to the millions of Americans who live in rural areas essential to the vitality of our great nation.