September 30, 2026—Grant Spellmeyer, President and CEO of America’s Communications Association (ACA Connects) and Mike Romano, CEO of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved their request for a waiver allowing member companies and their suppliers to make hardware changes to foreign-produced broadband routers necessary to address materials shortages.
“We thank the FCC for granting our request to allow hardware upgrades necessary to ensure a continuous supply of consumer broadband routers in the face of persistent supply-chain shortages. This will enable ACA Connects and NTCA members to continue delivering high-speed broadband services across rural America without interruption while also protecting national security,” said Spellmeyer and Romano. “We look forward to our continued work with the FCC to meet the Commission’s goals of guarding against security threats, protecting public safety, and keeping communities connected.”
America’s Communications Association (ACA Connects) is a trade organization representing approximately 500 small and medium-sized, independent companies that provide high-speed internet, video, phone, and mobile services covering 29 million households. ACA Connects members operate in every state, providing advanced communications to connect homes, companies, main street, schools, hospitals and more. America’s economic prosperity in smaller communities and rural areas depends on the growth and success of independent operators, who believe a connected nation is a prosperous nation. For more information, visit www.acaconnects.org.