Now’s Not the Time to Take a Vacation from Lobbying Rural Broadband Issues
By Randy Tyree, OPASTCO Vice President of Legislative Policy

Traditionally, summer is the time when we all slow down a bit and enjoy a bit of down time.  The pace feels slower, and everyone tends to think “nothing happens during the summer.”  For Congress, this simply isn’t true.  Summer brings the August recess, a time when your elected officials visit their districts and meet with their constituents.

The August recess is a golden opportunity to talk to your members of Congress about, and perhaps show them, how the National Broadband Plan will affect their constituents.  You can schedule a meeting at the local district office.

Here are some tips to make the most of your August recess meetings:

-Schedule your appointment as soon as possible; members of Congress fill their calendars quickly.  Make note of who you spoke to and who you will be meeting with—you need this information to build long-term relationships.

-Your message should be how the National Broadband Plan will jeopardize the existing rural broadband infrastructure, which is crucial to the community’s economic development, health and education, and create a digital divide of 4Mbps for rural areas and a goal of 100 Mbps for urban areas.  Don’t make it about your company; it’s not a winning message with politicians who must support a broad base of their constituents.

-Brief well-spoken employees, and a few key customers, such as enterprise customers, schools and hospitals on the National Broadband Plan’s negative consequences.  Ask these people, your member of Congress’ constituents, to come with you to the appointment.  Their presence and stories reinforce the credibility and seriousness of the issue.  Briefing materials are available in the OPASTCO website’s National Broadband Plan section.

-Arrive at your appointment early.  If you are late for your appointment, chances are you will have missed your opportunity.  Congress’ schedules are often tight; don’t risk losing your chance to travel a relatively short distance and tell your elected officials about the most important issue facing rural communications.

-When the appointment is over, thank everyone involved.  A written note or email gives you the opportunity to follow up and build the long-term relationships that make the gears of government turn.

Now’s the time to cue up the National Broadband Plan issue and get it on your member of Congress’ radar.  Build a conduit for future communications the congressional offices—both at home and on Capitol Hill.

We have a lot of work to do over the next two years.  We need your commitment to the lobbying effort and we need to start the process now.
 
If you need assistance tracking down contact information for your members of Congress’ district offices in your state, please contact me at rxt@opastco.org or 202/659-0254.  I’m your lobbying partner here in Washington, D.C., and I am always ready to work with OPASTCO members committed to advocacy.