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 STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS 
 August  6,  2003 
 RE:  Policy  for  Licensing  Domestic  Satellite  Earth  Stations  in  the  Bush  Communities  of  Alaska,  Report  and  Order 


 If  you  want  to  see  what  satellite  service  means  to  the  rural  communities  of  Alaska  go  to  a  town  called  Levelock.  The  earth  stations  in  Levelock  are  the  primary  links  with 
 the  outside  world.  Hundreds  of  miles  from  any  major  city,  Levelock’s  transportation  network  is  a  few  dirt  roads  and  its  economy  is  subsistence.  All  phone  traffic  outside  the 
 town,  all  Internet  traffic  to  the  school,  and  the  critical  telemedicine  system  at  the  health  center  depend  on  the  satellite  links.  This  is  a  community  where  unemployment  is 
 rampant  and  more  than  a  quarter  of  the  people  live  below  the  poverty  level. 
 I  support  today’s  decision.  But  surely  changing  the  Alaska  Bush  Policy  is  only  one  of  the  many  initiatives  we  can  be  taking  here.  We  have  a  pressing  responsibility  to 
 make  sure  that  our  fellow  citizens  to  the  far  north  are  not  left  behind.  And  that  puts  Alaska  right  in  the  epicenter  of  so  many  of  the  initiatives,  such  as  universal  service 
 proceedings,  pending  before  this  Commission.  We  have  a  lot  of  work  to  do  to  address  Alaska’s  communications  challenges,  some  of  which  are  unique  to  that  state.  We  must 
 always  be  mindful  and  vigilant  that  we  do  not  unintentionally  undermine  the  ability  of  rural  Alaskans  to  connect  with  the  outside  world.  The  best  laid  plans  designed  for  the 
 urban  parts  of  the  lower  48  States  do  not  always  work  out  quite  right  for  rural  and  remote  areas. 


 Finally,  let  me  say  how  pleased  I  was  to  learn  of  the  Chairman’s  recent  visit  to  Alaska.  I  look  forward  to  hearing  his  comments  about  his  visit  and  about  today’s  item. 
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