History & Background Information
Iowa has the most independent telecommunication providers in the country, with approximately 154 companies providing service to rural Iowa. Simply put, these companies were started because farmers and the small communities needed telephone service and the larger phone companies weren't interested in serving rural areas with few customers. Because of the changing landscape of the telecommunications industry, the Rural Iowa Independent Telephone Association was organized in 1966 to represent the small telephone companies throughout Iowa.
Grassroots lobbying efforts continue to be a key focus for RIITA.
We sponsor and participate in area legislative meetings at our member companies throughout the year and also feature a Legislative Day at the Capitol in conjunction with our Annual Conference and Expo. In addition to these activities, we employ a network of grassroot volunteer region legislative leaders to expedite our calls to action during legislative session.
Our goal is to educate legislative and regulatory bodies on the strengths and needs of Iowa’s independent telephone companies and on how we plan to continue providing the best telecommunications services available in the exchanges we serve.
Fostering Communication
To communicate is the core purpose of RIITA and it is the core business of the members we serve.
RIITA communicates with our members through the RIITA Monitor. The Monitor provides information on the key issues we are facing, industry updates, association activities and news from our member companies.
RIITA files comments with the FCC and IUB and lobbies our state legislators and congressional delegation.
RIITA educates our members through the use of state and national speaker and workshops at our annual conference and expo, as well as sponsoring timely industry seminars on pressing issues during the remainder of the year.
RIITA works hand in hand with our national association by providing information and sharing developments through a collaborative exchange.
RIITA provides information to our member company boards of directors at their regular meeting and also at their shareholder/member annual meetings upon request.
RIITA works with economic development groups and other stakeholders in promoting the future prosperity of our rural communities and the state of Iowa.