Iowans Meet with Congressional Representatives

Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association CEO, Marcie Boerner, was one of several Iowa participants at the national NTCA 2025 Legislative and Policy Conference, April 27-29th. Nearly 500 broadband provider representatives from all over the country gathered in the nation's capital for networking and educational briefings about emerging rules and regulations from other industry issues. They also took part in visits to policymakers on Capitol Hill and the FCC.

Iowa Communications Alliance (ICA) members advocating on behalf of Iowa's community-based broadband providers as part of the NTCA 2025 Legislative and Policy Conference.

"Congress plays a critical role in crafting the policies and programs that make it possible for Webster-Calhoun to bring quality, reliable, high-speed broadband services to our local communities," said Boerner. "We appreciated the opportunity to meet with policymakers to discuss our work and the importance of sustainable Universal Service."

The idea that all Americans should have reliable access to communications services at a reasonable cost has been a national objective for over a century. Today the Universal Service Fund (USF), overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), enables providers to deliver voice and broadband services to rural users that are comparable in price and quality to those available in urban areas. Webster-Calhoun is a recipient of USF dollars and it is essential to maintain service for our rural customers.

Dave Duncan, CEO of the Iowa Communications Alliance (ICA), presents Congressman Zach Nunn with the NTCA Broadband Champion of the Year award in Washington, DC.

Congressman Zach Nunn was recognized as NTCA's Broadband Champion of the Year. His work promotes affordable and state-of-the-art broadband service, specifically by introducing the ReConnect Rural America Act, which codifies the ReConnect program and ensures community based providers can continue to connect rural Americans with the same services that are available to urban America. Congressman Nunn serves Greene County, including the WCCTA communities of Paton and Churdan.

ICA members on the steps of the US Capitol.

It was a crowded and busy day of meetings on the Hill as they walked to offices throughout the Capitol Complex. They were fortunate to meet with staffers and legislators from the state of Iowa including Representative Ashley Hinson, Representative Marionette Miller-Meeks, Representative Randy Feenstra, Representative Zach Nunn, Senator Joni Ernst and Senator Chuck Grassley.

"In Congress, I've worked to secure 100 Mbps for both upload and download speeds for broadband service in our rural communities. This is the gold standard for broadband connections." Representative Randy Feenstra

Community-based broadband providers throughout the state of Iowa were represented in Washington, DC and included Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association, Western Iowa Networks, Citizens Mutual Telephone Cooperative, Sharon Telephone Company, MiFiber, Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association, Western Iowa Telecom, USA Communications, Jefferson Telecom, Panora Telephone, Premier Communications, and MiBroadband.

Iowa's federal legislators are leading the nation on several broadband fronts and we appreciate the time they took to hear from ICA and NTCA members while in Washington, DC.

Visitors expressed appreciation to Senator Joni Ernst for co-sponsoring and championing the ACCESS Rural America Act which seeks to reduce regulatory burdens on Iowa's community-based broadband providers.

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Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association provides Landline Telephone, Digital TV and Internet service to 16 rural communities on a Fiber driven network just outside the Fort Dodge, Iowa area: Pilot Mound, Boxholm, Lanyon, Paton, Churdan, Farnhamville, Gowrie, Somers, Moorland, Knierim, Barnum, Clare, Thor, Badger, Vincent, Duncombe and in the towns of Lohrville, Manson, Rockwell City, Lake City, and Rural Fort Dodge.

As a member-owned cooperative, WCCTA is committed to enhancing the quality of life and

fostering economic development in the communities it serves. Every subscription to WCCTA's services represents an investment in a locally-owned and operated, ensuring that the cooperative's success directly benefits the local community. For more information, visit www.wcccta.com

WCCTA is Gigabit Certified and designated a Smart Rural Community by NTCA: the Rural Broadband Association.

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