FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 4, 2007

TIA Hails Pending Pro-Broadband Legislation

Language in Farm Bill Would Promote Rural Deployment, New Technologies.

Arlington, Va. - Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) President Grant Seiffert sent letters to a bipartisan list of Congressional committee leadership in support of several pieces of pro-broadband legislation currently under consideration this week. TIA actively supports language in the 2007 farm bill reauthorization measures, currently in conference, that would enhance rural broadband deployment through improved data mapping, robust tax incentives and an expanded broadband loan program, and Seiffert urged Congress to see these critical provisions be included in the final legislation.

The tax incentive created by an expensing provision in the Senate version of the bill would "provide a significant, short term incentive for the deployment of both current and next generation broadband," Seiffert said in his letter to Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA) of the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Ranking Member Jim McCrery (R-La.) of the House Committee on Ways & Means. The provision creates a temporary, two-tiered, technology and provider neutral, tax incentive in the form of a 50 percent expensing for new investment in "current-generation" technologies that provide 5 megabit downstream and 1 megabit upstream service and 100 percent expensing for investment that provides 50 megabit downstream and 10 megabit upstream service in rural or underserved areas.

Support for several other key provisions in the bill would have "a positive, significant impact on those who will finally experience the benefits of two-way, high speed voice, video and data communications, but also on the manufacturers and suppliers of communications equipment and services" that play a major role in the U.S. economy, Seiffert said in a second letter, to Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Ia.) and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee and Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) of the House Agriculture Committee.

TIA supports language in the bill that places a priority on broadband loan applications that serve communities with greatest need. The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) broadband loan program, reauthorized by the bill, provides a key incentive for nationwide broadband build-out, particularly in rural and underserved America. Likewise, TIA supports broadband mapping language in the Senate version that would authorize a nationwide program similar to the highly successful ConnectKentucky effort. TIA has been a strong advocate of broadband mapping efforts like the provisions in the Senate bill, those passed this summer by the Senate Commerce Committee in S. 1492 and a similar bill, H.R. 3919, passed by the House earlier this fall.

"The broadband provisions in this bill demonstrably improve the ability of consumers, industry and policymakers to increase broadband deployment and subscription rates, bringing the U.S. one step closer top ubiquitous broadband."

For more information about TIA's advocacy for increased broadband penetration, please contact Ian Martinez at 703.907.7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

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For almost three decades, TIA has leveraged its global resources to create the best possible business environment within which our 500+ members can research, develop, manufacture, market and sell their products and services worldwide. The association accomplishes this through its expertise in standards, advocacy, business development, market intelligence, environmental compliance and information security. TIA is committed to expanding market opportunities while protecting and enhancing the reputation of the global communications industry with all its stakeholders. For more information, go to www.tiaonline.org.