PITTSBURGH, November 5, 2021 – ACA Connects President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement today on the House passage of infrastructure legislation that President Joseph R. Biden is expected to sign:
“ACA Connects appreciates the U.S. House of Representatives’ work to address the broadband needs of consumers across the country. Our member companies, who provide broadband service to urban and rural customers in all 50 states, know just how vital broadband is.
“They have worked to upgrade and extend their networks to reach the unserved, and they have developed programs to connect in-need consumers. To that end, ACA Connects appreciates that the legislation targets deployment of funding in a technologically neutral way to where it is most needed—to unserved and underserved areas—with a robust challenge process to limit overbuilding, and dedicates funds to get low-income consumers connected, giving them the critical communications tools they need for school, work, and other day-to-day needs.
“Closing the digital divide is both an enormous and essential undertaking, and we will need to access all our resources—both public and private—if we are to succeed. ACA Connects members remain committed to being a part of that solution and participating in the public policy debate.”
About ACA Connects: America’s Communications Association – Based in Pittsburgh, ACA Connects is a trade organization representing more than 600 smaller and medium-sized, independent companies that provide broadband, phone and video services to nearly 8 million customers primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America. Through active participation in the regulatory and legislative process in Washington, D.C., ACA Connects’ members work together to advance the interests of their customers and ensure the future competitiveness and viability of their businesses. For more information, visit: https://www.acaconnects.org