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 Separate  Statement  of  Commissioner  Kathleen  Q.  Abernathy 
 Re:  Facilitating  the  Provisions  of  Spectrum-  Based  Services  to  Rural  Areas  and  Promoting  Opportunities  for  Rural  Telephone  Companies  to  Provide  Spectrum-  Based 
 Services,  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  (WT  Docket  No.  03-  202) 
 This  NPRM  is  the  next  step  in  our  examination  of  how  the  FCC  can  amend  its  spectrum  regulations  and  policies  in  order  to  promote  the  rapid  and  efficient  deployment  of 
 spectrum-  based  services  in  rural  areas.  It  follows  many  actions  that  we  have  taken  in  this  area,  including  the  recent  adoption  of  an  order  creating  a  secondary  market  for  spectrum 
 and  increasing  the  amount  of  spectrum  available  for  use  for  unlicensed  services,  such  as  wi-  fi. 


 Given  the  high  value  consumers  place  on  the  ability  to  communicate  anywhere,  anytime  the  Commission  wants  to  ensure  that  we  are  promoting  and  encouraging  the  efficient 
 utilization  of  spectrum  in  rural  areas.  Wireless  services  have  become  pervasive  in  many  of  our  day-  to-  day  lives  as  we  rely  on  them  for  personal,  business  and  safety  reasons. 
 Rural  America  has  the  same  needs  and  the  same  demand  for  better,  smarter,  faster  communications  capabilities. 


 I  am  looking  forward  to  reviewing  the  record  in  this  proceeding  to  understand  commenters’  views  on  whether  the  proposals  promote  the  deployment  of  efficient 
 spectrum-  based  services  to  rural  areas. 
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