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 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  KATHLEEN  Q.  ABERNATHY 
 Re:  Facilitating  the  Provision  of  Spectrum-  Based  Services  to  Rural  Areas  and  Promoting  Opportunities  for  Rural  Telephone  Companies  to  Provide  Spectrum-Based 
 Services,  Notice  of  Inquiry  (adopted  December  11,  2002) 
 Today’s  NOI  is  an  important  step  toward  improving  our  policy  process  regarding  rural  spectrum.  As  I  mentioned  in  my  statement  in  the  27  MHz  Order  earlier  this  year,  I 
 believe  the  decision-  making  process  will  greatly  benefit  from  additional  data  regarding  the  spectrum  being  used,  the  services  being  provided,  and  the  needs  in  rural  America.  In 
 turn,  the  Commission  has  an  obligation  to  ensure  that  our  regulatory  tools  are  effective  in  facilitating  the  efficient  use  of  spectrum  in  rural  regions.  This  NOI  seeks  to  do  just  that. 


 First,  it  will  broaden  our  understanding  of  the  availability  of  wireless  services  in  rural  areas.  Second,  it  asks  whether  the  policies  the  Commission  has  adopted  in  the  past 
 to  encourage  the  provision  of  spectrum-  based  services  to  rural  areas  and  the  participation  of  rural  telephone  companies  in  the  competitive  bidding  for  spectrum  licenses  are 
 effective.  The  NOI  also  solicits  comment  on  whether  there  are  new  approaches  that  may  better  accomplish  these  goals. 


 Through  my  work  at  the  Commission  and  as  chair  of  the  Federal/  State  Joint  Board  on  Universal  Service,  I  have  learned  how  critical  it  is  for  us  to  fulfill  our  statutory 
 mandates  regarding  service  to  rural  and  underserved  areas  of  the  country.  I  look  forward  to  gathering  a  record  in  this  proceeding  that  will  help  us  harness  the  enormous  potential 
 of  spectrum-  based  services  to  bring  additional  competition  and  consumer  benefits  to  rural  America. 
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