Bloomfield Updates NCSC Board, Shares Column

NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield joined the February 26 NCSC board meeting to provide an update on the organization’s activities. Her presentation covered:

• A brief review of the issues and funding opportunities in the broadband world today.  
• Highlights of the FCC, RUS ReConnect 5 and NTIA BEAD programs.  
• Recent news on the Smart Rural Community program.
• An overview of some of the great work happening with NTCA members.  

She also shared a column on her thoughts with Capital Connections, which we are pleased to include.

Sharing Thoughts with the NCSC Board of Directors

By Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association

I was recently invited to join the newly constituted NCSC Board of Directors to share with them, particularly the electric cooperative representatives, the many exciting things happening in the rural broadband space.

While I consider our industry sectors to be so entwined, given the providers of two essential services that are community-based in rural America, I always find it helpful to take a step back to share more about the 850 broadband providers that make up NTCA’s membership and the vast 35% of the landmass that these providers serve with cutting-edge technology.

With a number of key funding initiatives for broadband deployment on the federal and state front unfolding, talking through where members of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association see themselves plugging in to apply for funding and what obstacles and barriers continue to exist was a constructive way for me to engage with the board as folks around that table also freely shared what they are seeing in their own states and regions. 

And last, but certainly never least, was engaging with one another on the importance of partnerships in this fast-paced environment as we all are focused on what tools rural communities will need for a Rural Renaissance to really take place. Top of that list is the work that NTCA is doing to support our membership as they build Smart Rural Communities across rural America and utilize their networks to power telehealth, education and economic growth for their friends and neighbors.