WTA Applauds Passage of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 5, 2021) – WTA – Advocates for Rural Broadband is gratified to see Congress pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which creates several new broadband programs that will go a long way to ensuring all Americans have access to high-speed broadband networks.

The following statement can be attributed to Derrick Owens, Senior Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs:

“This type of investment in our nation’s broadband infrastructure is historic and may never be made again.  There’s a recognition by the President and Congress that broadband is not a luxury but a necessary service and that everyone, regardless of where they live, should have access to it.  Ensuring everyone in America has access to reasonably comparable communications services at reasonably comparable prices has been a primary policy objective of WTA since its inception.  While it’s also been a stated, bipartisan goal of the federal government, the funding hasn’t always matched aspirations.  The COVID-19 pandemic has manifested the pre-existing need for high-speed broadband connections for participation in the economy, telehealth, education, and much more.  WTA is pleased to see Congress putting significant funding behind the objective of ensuring broadband access to every American with this legislation.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the federal agencies that will be responsible for implementing the various programs funded in this bill.  The small, locally-focused broadband providers WTA represents stand ready to invest these dollars in the local communities they serve.”

Text of the legislation can be found here.