Washington, D.C., – The Rural Wireless Association, Inc. (“RWA”) welcomes the Trump administration’s focus on rural broadband deployment and infrastructure siting. The President’s action recognizes that broadband access in rural areas is critical to ensuring reliable public safety communications, promoting economic development and job creation, supporting efficient energy and agriculture production, and enabling innovative education and healthcare applications throughout the nation.

As with any initiative, this project’s success will greatly depend on details and execution. Along with federal siting, RWA urges the White House, Congress, and the FCC to address additional issues impeding rural broadband access – including those related to insufficient spectrum access for small and rural broadband service providers, a dysfunctional data roaming market, and universal service contribution reform. “Encouraging rural broadband deployment requires a multi-faceted approach, with innovative solutions to address wide-ranging challenges,” said RWA General Counsel Carri Bennet. “RWA has long-believed that supporting rural America strengthens all of America, and its members look forward to collaborating with the Administration, Congress, and the FCC to that end.”