FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
September 20, 20II
JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Bill Nelson
United States Senate
716 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Nelson:
Thank you for your letter concerning the Commission's efforts to reform and strengthen
the Universal Service lifeline/linkUp program. I appreciate your thoughts on this important
program. Your letter has been entered into the record ofthe Commission's pending
Lifeline/LinkUp Reform and Modernization proceeding.
The Commission is evaluating a number ofproposals designed to eliminate waste, fraud,
and abuse, and otherwise improve the Universal Service Fund. At the same time, the
Commission is seeking comment on whether any proposals in its Notice ofProposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) would impose unreasonable barriers to enrollment and participation by eligible
consumers and households.
In addition, the Commission recently issued a Public Notice seeking targeted comment
on four issues raised in the Lifeline/Link Up Reform NPRM, including the design and
implementation ofa Lifeline/Link-Up broadband pilot; the one-per-residential-address proposal;
revising the definition ofLink Up; and improving methods for verifying continued eligibility for
the program. I believe that the Commission's analysis would benefit from further development
ofthese issues in the record.
I look forward to working with you to ensure access to telecommunications and
broadband for all Americans. Please let me know ifI can be ofany further assistance.
Sincerely,
__--- i
Julius Genachowski
445 12lH STREET S,W, WASHINGTON. D.C. 20554 • 202-418-1000