Sens Klobuchar, Tester Introduce Bill to Improve Rural Communications and Address Call Completion Challenges

Sens Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced a bill to improve rural communications and address call completion challenges. Persistent phone call completion problems in rural communities across the country are creating major inconveniences for families, hurting businesses, and threatening public safety. A 2012 test call project found that nearly one in five calls placed to rural areas were delayed, of poor quality, or incomplete. The legislation -- the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act -- would direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish basic quality standards for providers that transmit voice calls to help ensure businesses, families, and emergency responders can count on phone calls being completed.

The Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act would direct the FCC to establish basic quality standards for providers that transmit voice calls to help prevent the discriminatory delivery of calls to any and all areas of our country. The legislation also directs the FCC to require these providers to register with the agency. These reforms would ensure small businesses, families, and emergency responders in rural America can once again rely upon their telephone calls being completed. The legislation is supported by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, and the Western Telecommunications Alliance.