MIKE MciNTYRE 7TH DISTRICT, NORTH CAROLINA COMMITIEE ON ARMED SERVICES RANKING MEMBER SUBCOMMITTEE ON SEAPOWER AND PROJECTION fORCES SuacOMMITTEE ON TACTICAL AIR AND lAND fORCES cteongre5'5' of tbt Wnittb ~tatt5' :J$ou!)e of l\epre!)entatiiJe!) aa~ington, jDqC 20515-3307 COMMITIEE ON AGRICULTURE SUBCOMMITTEE ON LIVESTOCK, RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CREDIT SUBCOMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION, ENERGY AND fORESTRY U.S. HElSINKI COMMISSIONER ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE The Honorable Thomas Wheeler Chainnan Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chainnan Wheeler: WEB PAGE: www.house.gov/mcintyre Received & Inspected MAY - 5 ŁUl4 FCC Mail Room May 1,2014 CO-CHAIRMAN SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES CAUCUS Co-CHAIRMAN CONGRESSIONAL WATERWAYS CAUCUS Co-CHAIRMAN CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUSES ON THE UNITED KINGDOM AND SCOTLAND Co-CHAIRMAN U.S. AIR FORCE CAUCUS Co-CHAIRMAN TASK FORCE ON RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD Co-CHAIRMAN CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON YOUTH SPORTS Co-CHAIRMAN CONGRESSIONAL PRAYER CAUCUS Rural Americans rely on an array of communications services to meet their varied economic, security, and personal needs. Wireless service plays an increasingly important role in meeting these demands with each passing year. With this in mind, I urge the FCC to take all necessary steps to ensure that multiple interested parties have an opportunity to obtain scarce wireless spectrum to ensure that advanced mobile voice and broadband services are fully deployed in hard-to-serve areas. As you know, wireless service helps drive investment and economic growth for consumers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses in sparsely-populated areas. It is not only essential for economic sustainability and job creation in rural communities, but also for the needs of first responders, schools, and health care centers. The benefits of wireless service for rural communities are incalculable. However, wireless services in rural areas often do not meet consumers' needs and expectations. The upcoming incentive auction of 600 MHz spectrum will provide the FCC a rare opportunity to ensure a variety of interested providers are able to obtain quality spectrum and use it to deploy advanced services in all areas of the country. No additional spectrum with similar characteristics will be made available for the foreseeable future. In order to take full advantage of wireless opportunities, all providers need access to adequate spectrum to satisfy consumer demand for mobile services. Policies that promote universal access and opportunities should be a goal as the Commission sets its spectrum priorities and adopts rules for the upcoming auction. Therefore, I urge the FCC to encourage wireless competition that will promote robust deployment in rural areas. Especially in the case of wireless services in rural markets, more must be done to support better service and consumer choice. 2428 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515-3307 {202) 225-2731 FAX: (202) 225--5773 Sincerely, Mike Mcintyre Member of Congress 119 COURTHOUSE DRIVE P.O. Box 2107 ELIZABETHTOWN, NC 28337 {910) 862-1487 FAx: (910) 862-2286 PAINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 497 0LDE WATERFORDE WAY SUITE 206 lELAND, NC 28451 (910) 399--1134 FAX: (910) 399-4172 SMITHFIELD TOWN HALL 350 MARKET STREET P.O. Box 761 SMITHFIELD, NC 27577