JOE MANCHIN III
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WASHINGTON. DC 2fl5t(l.-4OO4
June 24, 2013
ENE~GY ""0 NATURAL
"ESOlJfICIS COMMlTT"EE
AllIdEO SEIl\IJC[S COMMlTlU
SPEClAL CQMMlTlU ON AGING
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U"tw< AFfAJ.S COMM'fTH
Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn
Federal Communications Conunission
Olliee or lhe Chirwoman
445 12t!l Street. SW
Washington. DC 20554-0005
Dear Chairwoman Clyburn:
Thc wireless industry is a key economic driver for our count!,)' and for my state.
However, with demand for mobile data proje<:ted to increase 50"/. annually for the next decade. it
is crilical lhat the Federal Communications Conmlission ensure that more spectrum capacity
reaches the hands of consumers as quickly as possible to meet this demand, While fr<.-cing up
more spectrum. the Commission should also ensure that cOnStUllers in e\'ery nook and cranny of
this count!')' han' the opportunit), to access faster, more reliable and more affordable mobile
broadband,
A pragmatic short-tenn pathway for the Commission to tllCrea,e competilion and bring
spectrum 10 market is by takmg immediate aclion on lIS consider-Ilion of lightSqUaIed's
proposal to deploy a nationwide wireless broadband network, Not only would the company's
proposal bring new mobile broadband speclntm online for Americans in the next few years, it
would also generate significanl competition "ithin the wireless industry as competilive resellers
and device manufaelllrerS would he able to usc LightSquarcd's spectrum capacity to provide
customers with quality high-spced mlernet access at more affordable prices_ The benefits of such
competilion and increased speclrum to consumers cannOl be under<;late'd - especially 10 my Wesl
Virginia constituents.
It has been more than nine months since the company has proposed bringing stakeholders
togelher in an elTon 10 lind II COn>ensus lhal "ill aHow the dcplo~mcnt of a new neXI generation
broadband network. Given the public inleresl in averling a ,pectrum crunch and increa,ing
consumer-oriented competition in the wirdess induslry, [slrongly urge you 10 work with
LightSquarcd and other stakeholders in taking immediate action 011 this proposal. Please contact
a member of my staff. Kinan Mehta. 31 202-224-3528 or kir!i!1l mehta'U'manchjn.:;enme,I!Qv if
you have any questions. Thank you for your time and I look forward 10 your favorable response.
With Wann Regards,