Washington, DC – Today, the Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG), filed Reply Comments in the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Reform proceeding chastising incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) for not developing a true industry consensus and trying to essentially perpetuate the universal service status quo at the expense of other carriers, especially mobile wireless carriers. RTG also rejects the State Members Plan noting that it fares no better and fails to recognize the vital importance of supporting mobile broadband in rural, high-cost areas. RTG calls on the FCC to reject these proposals that would harm the ability of rural Americans to obtain mobile broadband services. In order to be effective, universal service reform must benefit consumers by supporting the mobile services that that consumers are overwhelmingly choosing over other services.

About RTG – Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Rural Telecommunications Group, Inc. (RTG) is a trade association representing rural wireless carriers who each serve less than 100,000 subscribers. RTG’s members have joined together to speed delivery of new, efficient and innovative telecommunications technologies to remote and underserved communities. ruraltelecomgroup.org @RTGwireless

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