FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 16, 2010

TIA Hails FCC's National Broadband Plan

TIA Endorses the Recommendations Promoting Broadband Adoption and Deployment Using All Available Technology Platforms, and Looks Forward to Working With the FCC, Congress, and the Administration to Implement the Plan

Arlington, Va. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) commends the Federal Communications Commission for its diligence and hard work in creating a National Broadband Plan for the United States. The Commission unveiled its three-tiered broadband plan – focusing on Investment and Innovation, Inclusion, and National Purposes – today and will deliver the plan to Congress tomorrow.

TIA strongly endorses the Plan's recommendations to promote broadband adoption and deployment for every American in a manner that uses all technologies and fosters innovation and competition.

"TIA enjoyed working closely with the Commission in creating the National Broadband Plan," said TIA President Grant Seiffert. "Given the enormous scope of this undertaking, we applaud the Commission for delivering a sound and well-crafted Plan that will help to reinstate and maintain the United States as the most technologically advanced society in the world."

"The Plan's focus on Investment and Innovation, Inclusion, and National Purposes addresses both immediate needs and long-term national technology goals," Seiffert continued. "TIA is particularly pleased that the plan embraces our long-standing support for transition of the Universal Service Fund to broadband. Additionally, the Plan's proposal to free 500 MHz of spectrum for wireless broadband will go a long way toward meeting the demand for new products and services. We also laud the Commission's call to swiftly deploy an interoperable public safety network for our nation's first responders. TIA looks forward to partnering with the Commission as it moves forward with its broadband adoption programs, such as its innovative Digital Literacy Corps. Finally, we strongly support the creation of a Broadband Accessibility Working Group and Accessibility and Innovation Forum to meet the needs of our nation's disabled citizens."

Over the years, TIA has consistently offered itself as a resource to the FCC and Congress to work toward national technology goals. As the National Broadband Plan was developed, TIA filed numerous comments and met on several occasions with FCC staff members and Commissioners. Additionally, Seiffert participated in the policy roundtable at the FCC October 20, 2009 workshop on accessible technology for persons with disabilities.

"We look forward to further collaborative efforts with the FCC, Congress, and the Administration to implement the Plan's recommendations and ensure that all Americans enjoy the benefits and improved quality of life that broadband-enabled technology provides," Seiffert concluded.

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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. Since 1924, TIA has been enhancing the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment.

TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.

TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, AttivaCorp, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., GENBAND, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, Intersect, Inc., LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, Openwave, Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Powerwave Technologies, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., and Verari Systems. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.

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