WCAI Congratulates Rural Utilities Service on its 60th Anniversary

On behalf of the wireless broadband industry, I congratulate the Rural Utilities Service on its 60th anniversary. The funding made available through the telecommunications loan and grant programs administered by the RUS has been critical to ensuring that rural consumers have access to essential communications services like wireless broadband.

The success of the RUS programs has been demonstrated by WCAI members, such as Open Range Communications, who are bringing the latest wireless technologies to rural America with the help of RUS funding. WCAI and our members look forward to working with RUS in the years to come.

WCAI Congratulates Jonathan Adelstein on Nomination as RUS Administrator

As expected, the White House on Friday announced President Obama's intent to nominate FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein to be the new Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service in the Department of Agriculture. WCAI applauds President Obama’s selection and congratulates Mr. Adelstein on the nomination. The nomination comes at a critical time, as RUS is putting together a program to distribute $2.5 billion in loans, loan guarantees, and grants as part of the economic stimulus plan. A strong advocate for increased broadband deployments in rural areas, Adelstein is the ideal candidate to lead RUS efforts to improve rural telecommunications and broadband. We at WCAI look forward to working with Mr. Adelstein to promote innovative wireless broadband services and achieve universal wireless broadband access in the United States.