Coalition To Keep America Connected.

Washington, D.C., January 24, 2006 -- The House Congressional Rural Caucus (CRC) is to be commended for outlining a series of telecommunications priorities that focus on ensuring all Americans have access to affordable telecommunications services and the latest technologies, no matter where they live, the Coalition to Keep America Connected said today.

The Coalition specifically praised the CRC's Universal Service Fund (USF) priorities, including the premise that the USF must continue to be an industry funded mechanism and not supported through general tax revenues, nor subject to the Anti-Deficiency Act. The Coalition also supports the CRC's efforts to ensure expansion of the base of contributors to the Fund to include all providers utilizing the infrastructure, and that universal service support must be based on a provider's actual costs.

"The legislative priorities outlined by the CRC, especially those focused on strengthening the USF, go a long way toward ensuring consumers throughout the country have access to the latest technologies and services at prices that are fair and affordable," said Coalition representative Kelly Worthington, executive vice president of the Western Telecommunications Alliance. "We commend the CRC for recognizing the essential role that the USF plays in maintaining our nation's telecommunications network infrastructure. Universal service principles have enabled our country to attain a nearly ubiquitous national telephone penetration rate, and the continued viability of the Fund is critical if we are to reach an equitable rate of broadband deployment in America," Worthington added.

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The Coalition to Keep America Connected is dedicated to ensuring that all consumers have access to affordable telecommunications services and the latest technologies-no matter where they live. The effort is organized by four rural telecom associations, whose memberships include 700 small and midsize communications companies. Together these companies serve millions of consumers and 40% of the landmass across America. Visit us at www.keepamericaconnected.org.