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 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  KEVIN  J  .  MARTIN 
 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,  WT  Docket  No.  02-  381 
 I  am  pleased  to  support  this  item.  Promoting  the  deployment  of  services  to  rural  America  is  one  of  the  Commission’s  most  important  priorities.  Consumers  living  in  rural 
 areas  may  lack  opportunities  to  access  telecommunications  services  comparable  to  those  found  in  more  urban  areas,  and  those  services  that  are  available  may  be  offered  at  higher 
 prices.  The  Commission  should,  indeed  must,  work  to  address  these  disparities  in  all  areas  of  telecommunications.  In  doing  so,  the  Commission  must  work  to  ensure  that  rural 
 Americans  have  access  to  reasonably  comparable  services  at  reasonably  comparable  rates  to  those  found  in  urban  areas. 


 With  respect  to  wireless  services,  the  Commission  has  explicit  obligations  to  promote  the  development  and  rapid  deployment  of  wireless  services  in  rural  areas,  as 
 well  as  to  ensure  that  rural  telephone  companies  have  a  meaningful  opportunity  to  provide  spectrum-  based  services.  Specifically,  section  309  of  the  Communications  Act 
 directs  the  Commission,  in  designing  systems  of  licensing  through  competitive  bidding,  to  promote  “the  development  and  rapid  deployment  of  new  technologies,  products,  and 
 services  for  the  benefit  of  the  public,  including  those  residing  in  rural  areas,  without  administrative  or  judicial  delays.”  47  U.  S.  C.  §  309(  j)(  3)(  A).  Section  309  also  requires 
 the  Commission  to  ensure  that  “rural  telephone  companies”  “are  given  the  opportunity  to  participate  in  the  provision  of  spectrum-  based  services,  and,  for  such  purposes,  [to] 
 consider  the  use  of  tax  certificates,  bidding  preferences,  and  other  procedures.”  Id.  §  309(  j)(  4)(  D).  1 


 I  take  these  obligations  very  seriously  and  am  pleased  that  the  Commission  has  opened  this  inquiry  into  how  we  can  better  fulfill  them.  I  am  hopeful  that  this  proceeding 
 will  provide  us  with  not  only  information  on  how  well  our  current  policies  are  working,  but  also  on  what  we  could  do  to  address  more  effectively  the  needs  of  rural  communities. 
 To  that  end,  I  strongly  encourage  parties  to  participate  in  this  proceeding.  The  more  comprehensive  data  we  can  gather,  the  better  we  can  tailor  our  policies  to  promote  rural 
 deployment  and  ensure  that  rural  telephone  companies  have  a  meaningful  opportunity  to  provide  spectrum-  based  services.  As  wireless  technologies  continue  to  advance,  the 
 Commission  must  make  certain  that  all  Americans  are  given  an  opportunity  to  participate  in  these  developments,  especially  those  Americans  living  in  rural  areas.  I  look  forward  to 
 moving  ahead  in  this  proceeding. 


 1  That  provision  requires  the  Commission  to  provide  the  same  opportunity  to  “small  businesses”  and 
 “businesses  owned  by  members  of  minority  groups  and  women,”  which  are  also  important  Commission  priorities.  47  U.  S.  C.  §  309(  j)(  4)(  D). 
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