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Statement by CCA President & CEO Tim Donovan on the Urgency of Funding the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Program Immediately

March 6, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Competitive Carriers Association President and CEO Tim Donovan made the following statement regarding a letter sent to Congressional leadership urging Congress to immediately and fully fund the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Program (Program):

“Congress created the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Program to fund the removal of equipment found to pose a national security risk from U.S. networks and its replacement with trusted alternatives. So far, Congress has provided less than 40% of the approved funding needed to fulfill this national security mandate. The situation is dire. Due to the lack of full funding, many Program participants, especially in Western states, are forced to decide where to remove covered equipment but not replace it, eliminating service available today both to their own subscribers as well as millions of Americans that roam onto their networks for connectivity, including 9-1-1 and emergency services. The Program cannot succeed until Congress funds the $3.08 billion shortfall. Congress must immediately prioritize this national security emergency and fully fund the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program.”

The letter was sent to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The letter was also shared with leadership of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

The letter contains examples of real-world impacts if full funding is not provided by Congress, including:

A Program participant will be forced to reduce its coverage area by over 67% (over 31,000 square miles) in Arizona and nearly 64% (over 26,000 square miles) in Nevada. The impacted areas include key military and national security installations. That same carrier would have a nearly 90% reduction in service in Utah.

A Program participant in New Mexico will lose 70.2% of its current coverage area (over 19,000 square miles) leaving customers unserved absent immediate funding.

A Program participant in Colorado will be forced to reduce its coverage area by 73.8% (13,766 square miles) absent full funding.

A Program participant that serves the Navajo Nation will likely reduce coverage in that area by 20-40%, in certain areas eliminating the only service available to communities highly dependent on the Affordable Connectivity Program.

A Program participant covering 122,000 square miles in the Rocky Mountains is deciding what portions of its network to terminate because of the funding failure. Absent additional funding, its coverage area will be reduced by over 70,000 square miles, eliminating the only coverage roamers have available. This coverage area includes 40 military installations, 32 of which are in areas that will not retain service without full funding, including a strategic missile base. Absent full funding, only 91 healthcare facilities out of 456 will remain covered, and only 415 schools or other educational facilities out of 1,897 will be able to retain coverage. Over half of this provider’s approximately 40,000 subscribers will be affected, as well as the 13-14 million roamers that use the network each year.

A link to the letter can be found here .

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About Competitive Carriers Association

Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive wireless providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions of customers, as well as vendors and suppliers that provide products and services throughout the wireless communications ecosystem.

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CCA Members Advocate for Key Policy Priorities at Capitol Hill Day

February 12, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) members from across the country convened in Washington, D.C. on February 12 for an annual advocacy fly-in event. CCA’s Capitol Hill Day serves as an opportunity for rural, regional, and nationwide wireless and communications industry leaders to unite and advocate for policies that will strengthen competition, promote innovation, and improve connectivity for the benefit of all consumers. CCA was pleased to welcome Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Congressman John Joyce (R-PA), as keynote speaker. CCA members met directly with lawmakers and key Congressional staff to discuss how Congress can support competitive carriers in the 119 th Congress. CCA members stressed the critical importance of preserving the Universal Service Fund (USF) for expanding and maintaining networks to serve high-cost areas, and for reliable 5G coverage data mapping that accurately reflects consumers’ mobile experiences. Members also urged Congress to prioritize spectrum access in rural America by reinstating the FCC’s auction authority and developing a long-term spectrum strategy including identifying underutilized bands for commercial use and optimizing the efficiency of existing spectrum resources. Members also highlighted the need for infrastructure reform to overcome deployment barriers, advocating for streamlined federal permitting and siting policies, clear federal guidance on network security while ensuring compliance burdens are manageable for smaller carriers, and tax policies that encourage investment in connectivity, including R&D tax credits and tax exemptions for broadband funding programs and spectrum licenses. “CCA is an extremely effective advocacy organization and represents our members’ collective voices in performing the important work of deploying our nation’s critical communications networks,” said Maureen McCabe Moore, SVP and Chief Customer Experience Officer, GCI Communications Corp., and Chair of the Board, CCA. “We seek to shape policies that promote fairness, drive innovation, and ensure that every American has access to cutting-edge connectivity.” Tim Donovan, CCA’s President and CEO, added, “Our advocacy efforts are only possible because of the dedication and engagement of our members, who work tirelessly to expand connectivity across the country. Together, we are ensuring that all Americans, regardless of location, can stay connected in today’s digital world.” For more information about CCA and its policy priorities, please visit ccamobile.org . ### About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem.

Statement by CCA President & CEO Tim Donovan on Senator Ted Cruz as Chair of Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

January 8, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Competitive Carriers Association President and CEO Tim Donovan made the following statement: “CCA congratulates Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) on being named Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Senator Cruz has been dedicated to fostering growth, innovation, and U.S. leadership in the telecommunications marketplace, including in rural America. We look forward to continued collaboration with him and the entire Commerce Committee to preserve and expand connectivity nationwide for all Americans.” For more information about CCA and its policy priorities, please visit ccamobile.org . ### About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem.