Amador County – Volcano Communications executive Duke Milunovich told TSPN TV news recently that his company has joined the campaign called “Save Rural Broadband,” to in part help legislation that could have a detrimental impact on millions of Americans.

Milunovich said Save Rural Broadband was created to educate Americans about proposals currently being considered by the Federal Communications Commission that could impact “communities that rely on rural broadband Internet networks.” Save Rural Broadband is a collective “advocate for responsible reform that will sustain these vital networks that generate economic prosperity and enhance the quality of life for all Americans.”

The group’s internet site lists its mission statement, and other information. One object of its mission is to show the U.S. Congress and the Barack Obama Administration “how rule changes being considered by the FCC will have a negative effect on broadband networks in rural communities.” Another mission objective is to “urge Congress and the Obama Administration to intercede to ensure that a more reasonable alternative set of reforms will be adopted.”

The group said the FCC’s February proposals “will result in job loss and stalled economic development in regions of our country where that development and growth is most needed.”

The groups said the “attempts at reform would undermine decades of successful investment in critical broadband infrastructure in areas served by small, rural broadband providers.” Reforms being considered would hinder future investment in rural broadband networks, “leaving consumers and businesses with services that are either outdated or unaffordable – where services remain available at all.”

Save Rural Broadband urges “surgical, rather than experimental” changes and “seeks to promote the adoption of carefully constructed, well-targeted reforms that build upon and modernize a system that has worked so well to promote broadband access in rural America.” A “consensus framework” submitted by a broad group of providers is “now pending final review by the FCC.”

Save Rural Broadband was created by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies and the Western Telecommunications Alliance.

Rural broadband has a significant impact on the quality of life in rural America and “rural telecommunications companies serve approximately five million customers throughout the country.”

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