WTA Applauds Introduction of B-CROP Legislation in House

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 2, 2017) – WTA – Advocates for Rural Broadband applauds the introduction of the Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program (B-CROP) Act today in the U.S House of Representatives. This legislation would add a grant component to the Rural Utilities Service’s (RUS) existing Broadband Loan Program.

WTA thanks Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Hal Rogers (R-KY), and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) for their work on this bipartisan legislation.

“WTA has long advocated for adding a grant component to the Broadband Loan Program as a way of making the program more attractive to rural broadband providers. We welcome this legislation, as it moves us one step closer to making this a reality,” said Derrick Owens, WTA’s Vice President of Government Affairs. “Ensuring rural communities have robust broadband should be a priority of Congress in the months ahead.”

Companion legislation, S. 1676, was introduced this summer in the Senate by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).

A .pdf of this release can be found here.