NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield To Retire After Decades of Rural Advocacy

After more than three decades advocating for rural telecom providers and 16 years as CEO of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, Shirley Bloomfield is set to retire in March. A longtime leader since joining NTCA in 1986, Bloomfield helped elevate rural broadband as a national policy priority and secured critical federal support for small and remote providers.

“On behalf of NCSC, I want to extend my congratulations to Shirley on her retirement. Her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to rural telecom have transformed communities and strengthened our industry for generations to come,” NCSC CEO Andrew Don said. “We are grateful for her decades of tireless advocacy and the lasting legacy she leaves behind.”

A Legacy of Advocacy and Heart

Throughout her tenure, Bloomfield became known for her rare blend of policy acumen, strategic leadership and genuine connection with NTCA’s members. She championed rural voices on Capitol Hill, raised national awareness about the importance of small carriers and played a defining role in shaping federal broadband strategies to ensure rural communities were never left behind.

Reflecting on her career, Bloomfield expressed deep gratitude for the people who inspired and sustained her work.

“You don’t work in this field unless you love people,” Bloomfield said. “And my goodness, have I loved mine! I think about the CEOs who started out on construction crews or at the finance desks. The family-owned telcos, now on their fourth generation. The co-op boards who hold community meetings in gymnasiums because that’s where the heart of their town beats. The NTCA staff who pour every ounce of passion into serving members. The federal partners—yes, even the skeptical ones—who ultimately came to understand what makes rural broadband so special. It has been a privilege to lift up their stories, to champion their needs, to celebrate their wins and to fight like hell during the hard moments.” 

NCSC Board Update

During her final update to the NCSC Board of Directors at its December 2025 meeting, Bloomfield highlighted three major areas shaping NTCA’s current and future work: 

1.     Universal Service Fund (USF) Reform and the Supreme Court Ruling

Bloomfield provided additional context on the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the USF, noting that although the decision once again validated the program’s authority, it also accelerated the timeline for long‑anticipated reform. 

She shared that a formal USF working group, made up of policymakers, stakeholders and industry representatives, is now meeting. Bloomfield emphasized that NTCA is deeply engaged on both the policy and advocacy fronts to ensure small rural providers remain central to the reform conversation. 

2.     NTCA’s Growing Focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Bloomfield underscored NTCA’s push to help rural broadband providers understand and responsibly adopt AI technologies. She highlighted two major initiatives: 

• NTCA’s 30‑Day AI Challenge, which concluded in December, was designed to help members explore practical AI tools in their daily operations. 

• NTCA’s AI Summit, taking place Jan. 30, will convene experts, policymakers and providers to examine AI’s impact on network management, customer engagement and cybersecurity. 

3.     Continued Member Advocacy in Washington

Bloomfield closed by encouraging members to stay engaged in Washington. She urged rural providers to continue sharing on‑the‑ground stories with lawmakers, particularly as major federal policy discussions continue. 

With USF reform underway, broadband funding programs evolving and rural network deployment under scrutiny, Bloomfield emphasized that firsthand stories from rural communities remain one of NTCA’s strongest advocacy tools.