FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 31, 2007

TIA Supports Local Municipal Deployment, Community Broadband Bill

New legislation would allow towns and counties to determine their own broadband strategies.

Arlington, Va. - TIA President Grant Seiffert supported the latest attempt to promote municipal choice of broadband strategy today, in a letter to Senators Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Smith, D-Tenn. The letter applauded the Senators for their sponsorship of the "Community Broadband Act of 2007," because, Seiffert said, it would prevent state governments from overreaching and banning municipal governments from owning, operating, or deploying next-generation broadband service. Further, TIA supports the bill's encouragement of public-private partnerships of broadband deployment. TIA opposes any state or federal legislation that would prevent local municipalities from establishing a broadband system that best suits their particular needs.

Broadband deployment not only spurs local and national economies, it acts as an important resource for commerce, employment, education and healthcare. Broadband's usefulness in these areas is particularly noteworthy in states comprised of primarily rural areas like Tennessee, or in underserved, low-income urban areas, like those in New Jersey. Municipal broadband networks play a crucial role in providing these benefits, and this bill enhances the ability of municipalities to provide these services derived from broadband.

For more information on TIA's support for this legislation, contact Ian Martinez at 703.907.7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association is the leading trade association in Washington, D.C., for the information, communications and entertainment technology industry. TIA serves suppliers to global markets through its leadership in standards development, domestic and international policy advocacy, and facilitating member business opportunities such as the co-owned NXTcomm. TIA represents the communications sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). For more information, go to http://www.tiaonline.org.