FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 31, 2008

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Urges Congress to Consider Broadband Deployment for Economic Stimulus

Broadband Incentives Would Further Important National Goals and Provide Substantial Benefits to All Americans, Says TIA President Grant Seiffert

Washington, D.C. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, today urged bipartisan, bicameral congressional leaders to include broadband deployment incentives in any future economic stimulus bill.

"Including broadband incentives in a stimulus package would further a number of important goals and priorities of the Congress and provide substantial benefits to all Americans," noted TIA President Grant Seiffert in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).

"Broadband networks directly impact the productivity of our industries and our economy," said Seiffert, "and pivotally affect public safety, education, health care, and countless other functions in Americans' daily lives. Like any other infrastructure project, the deployment and use of broadband will significantly increase and maintain job growth well beyond the initial investment in the infrastructure itself. Now is the time to invest in the long-term economic future of our country."

Seiffert cited a Connected Nation report, "The Economic Impact of Stimulating Broadband Nationally," which found that "just a 7 percentage point increase in broadband adoption could result in $134 billion per year in total direct economic impact" to the United States. That includes $662 million saved per year in healthcare costs.

To read TIA's letter to congressional leaders, please visit our Capitol Hill filings page at tiaonline.org.

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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. With roots dating back to 1924, TIA enhances 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 co-owns the SUPERCOMM® tradeshow and 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, ArrayComm, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cam Communications, Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, OneChip Photonics Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., 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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