Coalition To Keep America Connected.

Arlington, Va., October 2, 2006 -- Members of the Nebraska Telecommunications Association (NTA) recently manned a booth at a Nebraska agricultural event known as Husker Harvest Days. The event, which attracts more than 85,000 people over a three-day period each year, was the ideal location for seven Nebraska telephone companies and NTA staff to advocate the importance of the Universal Service Fund (USF).

Nebraska telecom executives advocate for the USF at Harvest Husker Days.

From left to right: John Jordison, Great Plains Communications; Ranae Schmid, Northeast Nebraska Telephone Co.; Eric Carstenson, Nebraska Telecommunica- tions Association; and Mike Whalen, Nebraska Central Telephone Co.

As attendees stopped by the NTA booth, they learned the importance of the USF to consumers in all parts of Nebraska, and how USF supports fair, affordable access that helps bring broadband to rural areas, distance learning to rural students, and telemedicine to patients living in remote areas. The grassroots advocacy produced a bumper crop of 1,200 signed letters to Nebraska Sens. Chuck Hagel (R) and Ben Nelson (D) supporting USF. Those letters will be delivered to the senators in the near future. 1,200 Letters Signed to Nebraska Senators Supporting USF

Here are some of the letters signed by consumers to Sens. Hagel and Nelson urging them to support the USF.

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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.