press releases
For Immediate Release: March 24, 2015
Contact: Robert J. Thormeyer, 202-898-9382, rthormeyer@naruc.org
WASHINGTON—The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners issued the following statements after Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Jon Tester introduced the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act aimed at addressing call-completion problems in rural America:
“On behalf of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, we applaud Sens. Klobuchar and Tester for introducing legislation to address call completion problems that have plagued rural America. NARUC’s members have been proactively focused on the intrastate aspect of this problem. Our Association has led the charge to seek additional federal scrutiny. While the Federal Communications Commission, laudably, has taken some action, the problem persists. This bill is a significant step toward eliminating the problem.”
--NARUC President Lisa Edgar of Florida
“Rural Americans should not be relegated to a less reliable phone service just because of where they live. I thank the Senators for their continued leadership on this important issue. NARUC is especially pleased the Senators have included language to preserve State authority to investigate and address intrastate call completion problems. A solution will require coordinated federal and State action. State commissions have been active on intrastate call completion problems for several years and we look forward to working with Sens. Klobuchar and Tester as the bill moves forward.”
--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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