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NATE Co-Founder and Former Chairman Craig Snyder Testifies at U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee Hearing

Posted on: September 5, 2019 Category: NATE News

For Immediate Release:
September 5, 2019                                          

NATE Co-Founder and Former Chairman Craig Snyder Testifies at U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee Hearing

VIKOR CEO Talks Closing the Digital Divide, the Economic Impact of 5G and Workforce Development at Field Hearing

(Sioux Falls, SD) – NATE Co-Founder and Former Chairman Craig Snyder, CEO at VIKOR, provided expert witness testimony at today’s U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet hearing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The hearing, “Transforming Rural America: A New Era of Innovation”, was convened by U.S. Senator John Thune, R-SD, who serves as chairman of the Subcommittee.

During his remarks, Snyder provided his perspective on the current efforts of the industry to deploy broadband to rural and under-served areas, discussed the powerful economic impact of 5G technology and highlighted the prominent role that wireless infrastructure contractors and the technician workforce play in the efforts to connect America.

As part of his witness testimony, Snyder also discussed support for H.R. 1848 – The Communications Jobs Training Act of 2019 legislation that has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and encouraged Senator Thune and his colleagues to introduce a companion version of the bill in the U.S. Senate. The legislation would establish a competitive grant program at the FCC and appropriate $20 million per year for three fiscal years to develop classroom and field-based curriculum and certificate programs at community colleges, technical institutes and military organizations. Visit HERE to read Craig Snyder’s official witness testimony in its entirety. 

“It was an honor to participate at today’s hearing and serve as a voice on behalf of NATE’s 900 member companies who are on the front lines playing a prominent role in closing the digital divide and deploying next generation wireless networks,” said Craig Snyder. “I would like to thank Senator Thune for providing this forum today to help shine a spotlight on the wireless infrastructure industry’s opportunities and challenges,” added Snyder.

In addition to Snyder, the other participants who provided testimony at today’s hearing included the following:

· The Honorable Brendan Carr, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission

· Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, President, Dakota State University

· Ms. Deanna Larson, President, Avera eCARE

· Mr. Mark Shlanta, Chief Executive Officer, SDN Communications

· Dr. Michael Adelaine, VP for Technology and Security, South Dakota State University

For more information on NATE, visit www.natehome.com.

Snyder Thune Carr
Former NATE Chairman Craig Snyder, CEO of VIKOR,  providing expert witness testimony during today’s hearing. U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) deliver opening remarks at today’s Senate Commerce Subcommittee Field Hearing in Sioux Falls, SD. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr talks about the agency’s initiatives to help close the digital divide during today’s hearing. 

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About NATE

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association is a non-profit trade association in the wireless infrastructure industry providing a unified voice for tower erection, service and maintenance companies. Today the Association boasts over 900 member companies located throughout the United States, Australia, Bahamas, Canada, China, Guam, Israel, Jamaica, Nigeria, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Trinidad, and the United Kingdom. For additional information on NATE, please visit www.natehome.com.

Contact: Todd Schlekeway
(605) 882-5865