For Immediate Release February 2, 2005

CRC Holds Forum to Discuss the Future of Rural Telecom
Top Stakeholders Testify before Rural Caucus ‘Farm Team’

Washington, DC – U.S. Representatives Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) and Bart Stupak (D-MI), Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Rural Caucus (CRC) Telecommunications Task Force, today convened a forum to discuss the future of rural telecommunications and the Universal Service Fund in rural America. This is the second in a series of forums held by the CRC as Congress prepares to re-examine the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

The CRC consists of more than 140 bipartisan Members of Congress. Other Members of the CRC who participated in the forum include Co-Chairs John Peterson (R-PA) and Allen Boyd (D-FL), Vice-Chair Tom Osborne (R-NE), and CRC Members Bill Shuster (R-PA), C.L. “Butch” Otter (R-ID) and Jim Matheson (D-UT).

“It is clear that rural concerns, especially reforms related to the USF, must be addressed when we re-write the telecom bill,” Gutknecht said. “It is my hope that we can create a House ‘Farm Team’ that will advocate these concerns as we update this policy. I was pleased by the outstanding set of panel members who offered their wisdom on telecommunication policy.”

“Programs funded by the Universal Services Fund are very important to rural communities,” Stupak said. “Beyond just improving access to telephone and broadband service, the programs allowed by this funding provide resources that in the past have only been available to larger cities. I appreciate the testimony given by the two constituents from my district in northern Michigan on how essential services like medical facilities, schools and libraries affected by the Universal Services Fund in turn affect the lives of rural Americans.”

Stupak, who was unable to attend due to back surgery, arranged for two guests to testify on behalf of the district.

According to Peterson, “The lack of affordable telecommunications services is a tremendous roadblock to economic growth in rural America. Coming from a state like Pennsylvania where many rural areas are still in the technological dark ages, I can vouch for the importance of affordable broadband and other technologies when it comes to creating jobs, providing quality health care services and improving our way of life. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the year ahead to make sure that rural America is better served by our nation's telecommunications laws.”

“Rural America cannot be left behind when it comes to national policy decisions, and this forum is a step to ensure that rural America has a voice in developing telecommunications laws for the new millennium,” Boyd said. “We must have a fair price for high-speed Internet, not only to retain and attract good jobs in rural America, but also to improve the overall quality of our lives. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Rural Caucus to tackle this important issue.”

“Improved access to broadband technology in rural areas is a critical issue that must be addressed as Congress plans to revise the Telecommunications Act of 1996,” Osborne said. “In sparsely populated rural areas, the Internet opens doors to a multitude of opportunities including enabling businesses to build clienteles with no geographical borders; expanding educational opportunities through distance learning; and facilitating revolutionary changes to healthcare through telemedicine.”

“There are many important issues facing our rural constituencies, one of which is the lack of telecommunications infrastructure,” said CRC Vice Chairman Lincoln Davis (D-TN). “Rural Americans are not second class citizens, and we shouldn’t have to rely on second class technology. As information and technology delivery systems advance we must make sure rural Americans have equal access to these technologies so that the heartland of America is not left behind. It is my hope through these thoughtful and frank discussions we can find solutions and act on these complex problems.”

“This forum is a great way for policymakers on Capitol Hill to stay up-to-date with emerging technology and how it can help rural America,” said Shuster. “There needs to be a link between experts in the field and legislators, and the Congressional Rural Caucus bridges that gap.”

“I am working night and day in rural Southern West Virginia to address the numerous Telecommunications challenges that affect my district,” Rahall said. “Expanding cellular service for the residents of my district and the emergency responders is one of my top priorities in the Congress. Additionally, businesses today need broadband internet access, but because it is not easily accessible across Southern West Virginia, economic development is a larger challenge.”

Forum panelists included Gene South, Chairman, U.S. Telecom Association Chairman; The Honorable Steve Largent, CEO, CTIA; Dennis Miller, CEO, Midwest Wireless; Hu Meena, CEO, Cellular South; Kathryn C. Brown, Senior Vice President, Public Policy Development and Corporate Responsibility, Verizon; Fred McCallum, VP Regulatory, BellSouth; Dan Boyle, Upper Peninsula Health Care Network; Mary Cary Crawford, Superior Library Co-Operative; Michael Britt, VP for Regulatory Affairs, LecStar Telecom, Inc.; and Larry Sarjeant, Vice President, Federal Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Qwest.

Witness testimony and other information will be available after the forum at: http://www.house.gov/johnpeterson/ruralcaucus/telecomtaskforce.htm.

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