FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 11, 2008

TIA Recommends Specific Broadband Incentives for Economic Stimulus Plan

Investment in Digital Infrastructure Would Create Jobs, Boost Productivity and Improve Healthcare, Public Safety, Education and More, Congressional Leaders Told

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 congressional leaders to adopt specific broadband deployment and adoption incentives in the economic stimulus bill Congress is planning to consider at the start of the 111th Congress. TIA's proposal encompasses targeted incentives that will stimulate investment across all broadband platforms, including wireless and fixed broadband, and represents a unified package for the ICT community.

In a letter to House and Senate leaders, TIA President Grant Seiffert highlighted the benefits that broadband technology brings to Americans: "Broadband networks directly impact the productivity of our industries and our economy, 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, laptops and computing devices themselves. Broadband incentives are a necessary component of a 21st century stimulus package."

TIA's letter commended and built upon a proposal by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) that would create 97,500 direct jobs and 2.5 million jobs throughout the economy in the near-term with every $5 billion investment, according to CWA estimates. Adding to the CWA proposal, TIA suggests including new tiers of tax incentives for a comprehensive approach that would include the full spectrum of broadband platforms. The TIA proposal outlines specific recommendations for tiers of service and tax benefits. TIA's approach recognizes that a ubiquitous broadband infrastructure has four critical and complementary components: fixed broadband, wireless broadband, satellite broadband and broadband core and backbone transport.

In developing a direct grant program for rural broadband deployments, also included in the CWA proposal, TIA urges lawmakers to consider a $25 billion grant program for deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved areas. TIA asks Congress to also consider stimulus for broadband demand through measures such as: vouchers for low-income Americans (including both adults and students) so that they may purchase laptops, mobile handsets and other computing devices; a tax credit for small- and medium-sized businesses that purchase/upgrade their PCs, laptops, mobile handsets, broadband equipment, services, and software; and allowing consumers eligible for Lifeline and Link-Up to use discounts for broadband services and devices as well as telephony.

TIA's letter to congressional leaders is available on the Capitol Hill filings page at tiaonline.org.

For more information, please contact Danielle Coffey at (202) 346-3243 or dcoffey@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., GENBAND, 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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