Press Release
February 28, 2020
Contact: Jon Conradi
[email protected]

Encourages Commission to Finalize and Implement Rules in 2020 That Will Increase Pace and Cost-Effectiveness of Rural Broadband Deployments

Washington, D.C. – Connect Americans Now (CAN) Executive Director Richard T. Cullen released the following statement following a vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at an open meeting Friday to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on TV white spaces  advanced by Chairman Ajit Pai earlier this month.

“We applaud Chairman Pai and the members of the Commission for taking this important step to unleash the full potential of TV white space technology as a critical tool to help bridge the digital divide,” Cullen said. “Chairman Pai and the FCC should be commended for their leadership in continuing to support broadband innovation and policies to maximize spectrum resources to expand hybrid network deployments in rural areas.”

“By supporting innovative solutions, like TV white space, as part of a mixed-technology approach, more of America’s farmers and ranchers will be able to capitalize on advancements in precision agriculture that can increase yields and conserve resources, more seniors and veterans will have access to telehealth solutions that can reduce costs and enhance quality of life, more students will be empowered to reach their full potential out from behind the homework gap and economic opportunity can be increased in thousands of rural communities,” Cullen continued. “With so much at stake, we encourage the Commission to move swiftly to finalize and implement rules in 2020 that support greater utilization of TV white space to enhance the pace, scale and cost-effectiveness of rural broadband deployments.”

Connect Americans Now is a coalition of more than 270 members, including leading innovators, broadband and spectrum advocates, champions for rural communities, voices in agriculture, telehealth organizations, education and veterans’ groups and more, committed to completely eliminating the digital divide in rural America.

The coalition has been a leading advocate for an NPRM to clear outstanding regulatory hurdles to TV white space technology.

Read CAN’s statement applauding Chairman Pai for introducing the NPRM on TVWS on February 5 HERE.

Read more on the broad-based support for the NPRM after it was introduced HERE.

Read CAN’s comment filing on a petition for the NPRM filed with the FCC in June 2019 HERE.

Read CAN’s letter encouraging FCC action on a TVWS NPRM in December 2019 HERE.

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