March 14, 2024—ACA Connects President and CEO Grant Spellmeyer released the following statement about the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announcement that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is streamlining historic preservation review processes and giving communication providers more flexibility to deploy federally funded broadband infrastructure projects.
“This is great news for rural communities from NTIA,” said Spellmeyer. “ACA Connects applauds this decision, especially after our Members asked Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson during our Summit to help lift permitting burdens on smaller providers who face heighted and unique challenges. It is a strong step in the right direction to cut lengthy broadband deployment delays and help ensure resources, like in the BEAD program, can be used effectively to meet the mission to connect every American to high-speed internet.”
Note: On January 12, 2024, ACA Connects and NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association–submitted joint comments in support of this proposal for a more streamlined process for communications providers’ installation of certain categories of wireline and wireless communications infrastructure on federal lands and property.
About ACA Connects: America’s Communications Association –America’s Communications Association – ACA Connects is a trade organization representing more than 500 smaller and medium-sized, independent companies that provide broadband, video, and phone services covering 29.5 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 ACA Connects Members, who believe a connected nation is a prosperous nation.