FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WA S HIN GTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Ron Johnson 
United States Senate 
386 Russell Senate Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20510 
Dear Senator Johnson: 
June 27, 2014 
Thank you for your follow-up letter supporting the implementation of a universal service 
mechanism to allow rural rate-of-return carriers to receive support for broadband-only lines. I 
understand and appreciate your concerns that this proposed policy not result in increasing the 
USF contribution factor that carriers pass onto their customers. Your views are very important, 
and will be included in the record of this proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's 
review. 
The Commission sought comment on a proposed stand-alone broadband funding 
mechanism for rate-of-return carriers in the Connect America Fund Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking_that we adopted in April. In doing so, the Commission specifically proposed that 
such a mechanism be designed to remain within the existing rate-of-return budget. We expect a 
robust record on this topic, and I welcome a dialogue with you and other stakeholders as to how 
best to accomplish our shared objectives. 
As you note, the landmark 2011 USFIICC Transformation Order and Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) established the Connect America Fund to support the delivery 
of the best possible voice and broadband experiences to rural America within the confines of our 
Connect America budget. I look forward to continuing the work of reforming and modernizing the 
universal service fund high-cost program - as well as other components of the Fund- and to working 
with stakeholders, including rural carriers and consumers, to ensure that all Americans have access to 
robust voice and broadband services. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further 
assistance.