What they are saying
Elected Officials, Rural Advocates, Industry Leaders Praise Connect Americans Now And TV White Space Technology
Governors Across The Country Have Underscored The Need To Utilize TV White Spaces To Expand Rural Broadband Access and Close the Digital Divide:
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
“Fast, Reliable Internet Access Has The Power To Help Businesses Reach New Markets, Create Jobs, And Improve Educational Opportunities By Connecting Students In Innovative And Engaging Ways. Our Budget Provides An Additional $35.5 Million For Broadband Expansion, But There Is An Opportunity To Do More, Which Is Why We Are Calling On The FCC To Finalize Rules Advancing This [TV White Space] Technology.” (Press Release, 12/7/2017)
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant
“It’s Critical To Expand Broadband Access, Especially For The Millions Of Rural Americans Who Are On The Wrong Side Of The Digital Divide. I Applaud Connect Americans Now’s Efforts To Extend High-Speed Access To The Internet In Rural America And Urge The FCC To Reserve White Space Channels In The U.S. Market To Better Enable Access To Broadband Internet.” (Clarion Ledger, 1/2/2017)
Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker
“I Am Encouraged By This New Partnership To Help Close The Digital Divide. Connecting More Mississippians To High-Speed Internet Is Essential To Our State’s Economic Future.” (Press Release, 1/5/2018)
U.S. House Rural Broadband Caucus Chairman Kevin Cramer
Schools, Health And Libraries Broadband Coalition
“Times Have Changed, And Reliable Broadband Access Is No Longer Just A Luxury. Libraries, Clinics And Other Anchor Institutions Lie At The Heart Of Rural Communities Across The Heartland, But They Can’t Provide The Services People Need Without Modern Connectivity. SHLB Is Very Pleased To Join With Connect Americans Now To Press For Solutions That Can Work Quickly To Help Close The Digital Divide And Ensure That Quality Of Life Isn’t Determined By Zip Code.”
-Executive Director John Windhausen (Press Release, 1/2/2018)
American Pain Relief Institute
“Reliable Broadband Access Is Crucial In The Health Care Industry. Reliable Communication Between Providers Can Be Life-Saving, And Is Desperately Needed In A State Like South Dakota Where More Than 70 Percent Of Hospitals Are In Rural Areas. Connect Americans Now Has A Plan To Use TV White Spaces To Help Close The Digital Divide, And We Should Do Everything We Can To Move This Initiative Forward.”
-Medical Director Bill Cohen (Farm Forum, 1/2/2018)
National Rural Education Association
“There Are Amazing Educational Resources Online, But Students Without Broadband Can Easily Fall Behind Their Peers. In Rural Communities, The Digital Divide Is Standing Between Millions Of Kids And The Ability To Research An Author, Watch A Documentary, Or Just Turn In Assignments. We Want All Students To Learn The Computer Skills That Will Help Them Succeed In The 21st Century. We Urge Regulators To Open A Dialogue With Our Team At Connect Americans Now And Unlock The Incredible Possibilities Offered By This Low Band White Spaces Spectrum.”
-Executive Director Allen Pratt (Press Release, 1/2/2018)
Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation
“A Reliable And Cost-Effective Broadband Connection Will Change The Lives Of Millions Of Americans Who Live Each Day Without This Basic Necessity. Through Our Pilot Project With Microsoft, We Have Witnessed The Transformative Effect That Providing Broadband Via TV White Spaces Brings To Rural Families Who Otherwise Could Not Obtain Internet Service, And Hope That The FCC Will Embrace The Potential Of Connect Americans Now’s Plan To Close The Digital Divide.”
-CEO Tad Deriso (Press Release, 1/2/2018)
Russell County
“The Digital Divide Is Holding Back Small, Rural Communities In States Like Kansas. Our Businesses And Our People Don’t Have The Same Connectivity And Access To The Internet As Urban Population Centers, So We Can’t Compete. Connect Americans Now Plan To Leverage TV White Spaces To Expand Reliable Internet That Will Put Our Rural Communities On The Map.”
-Economic Development Director Janae Tallbot (Hutchinson News, 1/25/2018)
Montana Policy Institute
“Access To High Speed Internet In All Corners Of Montana Is Absolutely Vital For Us To Be Able To Compete In The Global Economy. That Is Why We Are Standing With Connect Americans Now. The New Technology That Would Enable Broadband Delivery Over TV White Spaces Has The Potential To Dramatically Expand Access In Our State. It’s Time That The FCC Get This Job Done.”
-Executive Director Brent Mead (Northern Broadcasting System, 1/16/2018)
Oregon Telecommunications Association
“Our Members Are On The Front Lines Of Trying To Bring High Speed Internet Access To Rural Communities In Oregon. We Are Always Looking For Ways To Improve The Quality And Affordability Of Our Services And We Believe This New Technology Will Give Our Members An Exciting New Tool To Expand Broadband In Rural Oregon. Congress And The FCC Must Stand With Our Rural Broadband Providers And Connect Americans Now To Ensure That Affordable Broadband Reaches Rural Communities.”
-Executive Vice President Brant Wolf (Oregon Outpost, 1/2/2018)
Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance
“Nothing Is More Critical To Improving The Quality Of Rural Education Than Bridging The Digital Divide. That’s Why WISRA And The National Rural Education Association Are Joining Forces With Connect Americans Now, A Broad Coalition Advocating The Expansion Of Broadband Access. Connect Americans Now Has A Plan To Eliminate The Digital Divide By Taking Advantage Of TV White Spaces – Unused Spectrum In The UHF Television Bands.”
-Executive Director Kim Kaukl (Wisconsin Politics, 1/2/2018)
