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| [March 26, 2004] |
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FTTH Council Urges Congress to Preserve Promised Funding for Broadband Loans
The FTTH Council and over 30 of its member companies today joined in an effort to ensure full funding of a federal program providing broadband loans for rural communities. The loan program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service, was authorized by Congress in 2002 for a six-year period, but has been targeted for reduction by the Bush Administration.
In a letter to House and Senate appropriators, FTTH Council members and other organizations from across the nation stressed the importance of the program and of timely processing of loan applications.
We need greater funding for this program, not less, said Mike DiMauro, President of the FTTH Council. Rural communities are typically the last to get broadband access, and Congress needs to ensure that they aren't left behind. The RUS broadband loan program is key to that effort.
A similar industry effort last year was successful in forestalling cuts to the program in Congress' FY 2004 appropriations legislation.
We feel very strongly about the importance of this program, said Greg Calton, Chairman of the FTTH Council Government Relations Committee. It is the only federal broadband incentive ever enacted, and now is not the time to be cutting back on it. This program is crucial for extending broadband networks to rural America, which will make the country stronger and more competitive internationally.
Although Congress normally finalizes appropriations legislation by September of each year, the outline of that legislation is expected to emerge in the next few weeks.
About the Fiber-to-the-Home Council
The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council is a non-profit organization established in 2001 to educate the public on the opportunities and benefits of fiber-to-the-home solutions. FTTH Council members represent all areas of broadband industries, including telecommunications, computing, networking, system integration, engineering, and content-provider companies, as well as traditional telecommunications service providers, utilities and municipalities. Communities and organizations interested in exploring FTTH options can find information on the FTTH Council Web site at http://www.ftthcouncil.org or by e-mailing info@ftthcouncil.org.
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