KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND
N(WYORK
SENATOR
RUSSEll SEN....TE OffICE BUILDING
SUITE 478
WASHINGTON. DC 2O!i1(1· J20S
202 22.....51 nnitcd ~tatC5 ~cnotc
COMMITIEES,
AAMlD SERVICES
(NVlRO"''''fNl AND PUBLIC WOf\.I(S
AGIUeVlTURE
sP{CtAl. COJ,ll~rnEEON AGIf<OG
WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3205
July 26, 2012
Mr. Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554-0004
Dear Mr. Genachowski.
1 write in support ofXchange Tele~ m Corporation's application' to participate in
the Lifeline Broadband Pilot Program thtOugh the Federal Communications Commission's
Wireline Competition Bureau. The funding will help Xchange Telecom to accurately assess
the primary factors affecting low rates of wireless broadband adoption among low-income
families in Brooklyn, NY.
Xchange Telecom is a regional Competitive Local Exchange Company (CLEC) that
serves over 25,000 customers in the state of Ncw York. The company hopes to provide
much-needed services and improved broadband connections to community anchot
institutions, community colleges and public safety organizations, as well as providing services
to economically rlistressed areas. Recently, Xchange has increasingly focused on providing
comprehensive Lifeline plans to low-income families, becoming the second largest wireless
Lifeline provider in the state, This combination of roles strongly positions Xchange to offer
a diverse pilot program.
The tequested funding will enable Xchange and its partners in the ptOject, including
the City University of New York, the Baruch College School of Public Affairs and tl,e Older
Adults Technology Services Inc. (OATS), to administer a pilot ptOgram to determine how
best to increase high speed internet use among low-income Americans. Xchange's ptOposed
pilot ptOgram is designed to test tluee rlifferent levels of rliscounts, over tluee types of
broadband technology that achi e tluce ticrs of speed. Tills initiative sp cifically intends to
test, using Brooklyn as a sample, the extent to which digiral literacy acts a barrier to
broadband adoption.
I ask that you please give this application your full consideration. If you have any
questions, or dcisre further information, please do not hesirate to contact my staff member
Andrew Usyk (202)-224-4451.
Sincerely,
~.a;__ £. 4",.. ·.. <-
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
United States enator
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