WTA Applauds House Passage of S. 96, the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 9, 2018) – WTA – Advocates for Rural Broadband applauds the passage of S. 96, the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Thune (R-SD) and John Tester (D- MT).

“We’re grateful for the work that Senators Klobuchar, Thune and Tester and Congressmen David Young and Peter Welch have done to bring this issue to the attention of their colleagues in both chambers and that Congress, with passage of this legislation, recognizes the urgency and importance of solving the problem of calls not being completed in rural areas,” said Derrick Owens, WTA’s Senior Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs. “This legislation is a priority for our member companies and their customers and we encouage the president to sign it.”

S. 96 requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish call completion standards for intermediary providers, who at times, do not route calls properly to rural areas. It also forbids originating carriers from using intermediary providers that the FCC has designated as not meeting the agency’s standards.