press releases
For Immediate Release: May 5, 2015
Contact: Regina L. Davis, 202-898-9382, rdavis@naruc.org
WASHINGTON—The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners issued the following statements after Representatives Robert E. Latta (R-OH) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced House Resolution 234, expressing that telephone service must be improved in rural areas of the United States and that no entity may unreasonably discriminate against telephone users in those areas.
“On behalf of NARUC, we applaud Representatives Latta and Welch for introducing H. Res. 234. Their bipartisan leadership on call completion issues that continue to afflict rural America is greatly appreciated. NARUC has been a leader on this issue and called for additional Federal scrutiny. Although the Federal Communications Commission, laudably, has taken some action, the problem persists. This resolution sends a strong signal for the FCC to remain diligent in its monitoring and enforcement of the problem.”
—NARUC President Lisa Edgar of Florida
“Rural Americans need and deserve reliable phone service. The disparity in service experienced by rural populations poses more than an inconvenience, as there are real economic and safety issues at stake. I thank Representatives Latta and Welch for demonstrating that this is a problem that deserves our government's expedited attention.”
—NARUC Committee on Telecommunications Chair Chris Nelson of South Dakota
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NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of State public utility commissions before the three branches of the Federal government.
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