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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  (WT  Docket  No.  02-  381);  2000  Biennial  Regulatory  Review  Spectrum  Aggregation  Limits  for  Commercial  Mobile  Radio  Services  (WT  Docket 
 No.  01-  14);  and  Increasing  Flexibility  to  Promote  Access  to  and  the  Efficient  and  Intensive  Use  of  Spectrum  and  the  Widespread  Deployment  of  Wireless  Services, 
 and  to  Facilitate  Capital  Formation. 
 I  have  always  maintained  that  one  of  the  Commission’s  most  important  priorities  is  to  facilitate  the  deployment  of  communications  services  in  rural  America.  Wireless 
 services  are  particularly  critical  in  rural  communities  where  such  technologies  may  provide  not  only  the  most  efficient,  but  sometimes  the  only  practical  method  of  offering 
 communications  services.  Accordingly,  it  is  crucial  that  we  fulfill  our  obligation  to  promote  the  development  and  rapid  deployment  of  wireless  services  in  rural  America. 


 The  item  we  consider  today  raises  a  broad  set  of  questions,  ranging  from  how  to  define  “rural,”  to  whether  technical  changes  such  as  modified  power  limits  in  rural  areas 
 will  further  our  goals,  to  requesting  input  on  how  we  can  maximize  our  partnership  with  the  USDA  and  the  Rural  Utilities  Services  program.  I  am  glad  we  are  asking  these 
 questions  and  addressing  these  important  issues.  I  look  forward  to  seeing  the  comments  responding  to  this  NPRM. 
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