CHARLES E. SCHUMER
NEW YORK
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WASHINGTON, OC 20510
July 23, 2012
Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chariman:
COMMITTEES;
BANKING
DEMOCRATIC POLICY & COMMUNICATIONS
FINANCE
JUDICIARY
RULES
1 am pleased to write in support of the application submitted by Xchange Telecom
Corporation to the Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Adoption Lifeline Pilot
Program,
Central Brooklyn is a diverse and vibrant group of neighborhoods. Sadly, though, there
are parts of this community that sorely lag the country in terms of Broadband subscribership.
These neighborhoods, not coincidentally, are some of the poorest in Brooklyn and, in fact, in the
City ofNew York. The tie between low income and lack of subscribership is well known, but
until recently, not much has been done to help bridge this digital divide.
Xchange Telecom Corporation has partnered with the City University ofNew York,
Baruch College School of Public Affairs, and Older Adults Technology (OATS) in order to run a
pilot in Brooklyn, New York to test the best method for the Commission to roll out subsidies to
low income individuals. More specifically, Xchange's pilot will test three different levels of
discounts, over three types of broadband technologies with three tiers of speeds. It will also test
whether digital literacy training increases adoption and persistence. This test pilot will provide
the FCC with unique data, ahd I applaud Xchange and its partners for their foresight. I sincerely
hope the application meets with your approval.
Thank you for your consideration. For additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact me or my Grants Director, Grant Kerr, in my Washington office at 202-224-6542.
cs:;:.~
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
(I http://schumer.senate.gov