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 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  CHAIRMAN  MICHAEL  K.  POWELL 
 Re:  Facilitating  the  Provision  of  Spectrum-  Based  Services  to  Rural  Areas  and  Promoting  Opportunities  for  Rural  Telephone  Companies  To  Provide  Spectrum-Based 
 Services 
 Wireless  facilities-  based  providers  are  delivering  remarkable  competition  and  innovation  in  rural  markets.  However,  just  because  the  Commission’s  policies  work, 
 does  not  mean  they  cannot  work  better. 
 Our  actions  over  the  past  few  months  dramatically  illustrate  our  resolve  to  bring  competitive,  quality,  spectrum-  based  services  to  rural  America.  Last  month  alone,  we 
 supported  a  series  of  items  that:  advanced  digital  TV  deployment  in  rural  America,  expanded  outreach  to  underserved  communities,  reported  on  the  state  of  rural  broadband 
 deployment,  reported  on  our  partnership  with  RUS,  and  announced  the  Rural  Wireless  Internet  Service  Provider  Forum  for  September  18.  And  today,  three  items  on  the  agenda 
 –  including  this  one  –  have  elements  aimed  at  advancing  the  Commission’s  rural-  service  vision. 


 The  Notice  we  adopt  today  includes  initiatives  and  policies  aimed  directly  at  facilitating  access  to  capital  and  lowering  regulatory  and  market  barriers  to  spectrum  and 
 infrastructure  in  rural  areas.  This  Notice  also  seeks  comment  on  how  we  can  clarify  rules,  minimize  regulatory  costs,  and  provide  other  incentives  to  promote  service  to  rural 
 markets.  While  a  number  of  past  Commission  measures  have  been  intended  to  foster  the  deployment  of  wireless  services  throughout  the  country,  the  Notice  we  adopt  today  for 
 the  first  time  expands  upon  these  measures  and  will  help  ensure  that  rural  Americans  can  experience  the  breadth  of  wireless  service  offerings  currently  available  and  further  fulfill 
 the  Commission’s  statutory  mandate  to  make  available,  in  a  rapid  and  efficient  manner,  communications  services  to  all  Americans. 
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