FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
OFFICE O F 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Ron Kind 
U.S. House ofRepresentatives 
1502 Longworth House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Kind: 
July 9, 2014 
Thank you for your letter supporting the creation of a Connect America mechanism for 
areas served by rural rate-of-return carriers, and a method to provide support for broadband-only 
lines. This is one of the key issues that the Commission raised in the Connect America Fund 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that we adopted in April. Your views on this matter are 
very important, and will be included in the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the 
Commission' s review. 
The universal service program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure 
that consumers and businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and 
suburban counterparts to be active participants in the United States of the 21st century . As you 
point out, the existing rate-of-return support mechanisms are tied to access lines at a time when 
we want to create incentives for broadband deployment, adoption, innovation, and investment. 
Your thoughts on how to address this issue are always welcome. 
Presently, we are focused on updating the universal service program to ensure that we are 
delivering the best possible voice and broadband experiences to rural America within the 
confmes of our Connect America budget, while providing increased certainty and predictability 
for all carriers and a climate for increased broadband expansion. To that end, in April the 
Commission voted to move forward with Phase II of the Connect America Fund for price-cap 
can·iers, and took several steps to improve the climate for broadband investment in areas 
served by incumbent rate-of-return carriers. As you note, we eliminated the Quantile Regression 
Analysis benchmarks rule because it was not serving its intended purpose. In addition, in the 
above-mentioned Further Notice, the Commission proposed to adopt a stand-alone broadband 
funding mechanism for rate-of-return carriers and sought comment on how to support the 
deployment ofbroadband-capable networks by rate-of-return carriers within the current budget 
for the program. We expect a robust record on how a standalone broadband mechanism could be 
structured to provide support consistent with the $2 billion budget for rate-of-return territories. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter, and I look forward to working with you as we 
continue the work of reforming and modernizing the universal service fund high-cost program -
Page 2-The Honorable Ron Kind 
as well as other components of the Fund- to ensure that all Americans have access to robust 
voice and broadband services. 
Please let me know ifl can be of any further assistance. 
Sincerely, 
~ 
Tom Wheeler 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMM ISSION 
WASHINGTON 
O F FI C E OF 
T H E C H AIR MAN 
The Honorable Gwen Moore 
U.S. House ofRepresentatives 
2245 Rayburn House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congresswoman Moore: 
July 9, 2014 
Thank you for your letter supporting the creation of a Connect America mechanism for 
areas served by rural rate-of-return carriers, and a method to provide support for broadband-only 
lines. This is one of the key issues that the Commission raised in the Connect America Fund 
Further Notice o(Proposed Rulemaking that we adopted in April. Your views on this matter are 
very important, and will be included in the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the 
Commission' s review. 
The universal service program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure 
that consumers and businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and 
suburban counterparts to be active participants in the United States ofthe 21st century. As you 
point out, the existing rate-of-return support mechanisms are tied to access lines at a time when 
we want to create incentives for broadband deployment, adoption, innovation, and investment. 
Your thoughts on how to address this issue are always welcome. 
Presently, we are focused on updating the universal service program to ensure that we are 
delivering the best possible voice and broadband experiences to rural America within the 
confmes of our Connect America budget, while providing increased certainty and predictability 
for all carriers and a climate for increased broadband expansion. To that end, in April the 
Commission voted to move forward with Phase II of the Connect America Fund for price-cap 
carriers, and took several steps to improve the climate for broadband investment in areas 
served by incumbent rate-of-return carriers. As you note, we eliminated the Quantile Regression 
Analysis benchmarks rule because it was not serving its intended purpose. In addition, in the 
above-mentioned Further Notice, the Commission proposed to adopt a stand-alone broadband 
funding mechanism for rate-of-return carriers and sought comment on how to support the 
deployment of broadband-capable networks by rate-of-return carriers within the current budget 
for the program. We expect a robust record on how a standalone broadband mechanism could be 
structured to provide support consistent with the $2 billion budget for rate-of-return territories. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter, and I look forward to working with you as we 
continue the work of reforming and modernizing the universal service fund high-cost program -
Page 2-The Honorable Gwen Moore 
as well as other components of the Fund- to ensure that all Americans have access to robust 
voice and broadband services. 
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. 
Sincerely,/ 
4z-/l! 
Tom Wheeler 
FEDERAL CO M MUNICATIONS COMMISSIO N 
WASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF 
T HE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Tom Petri 
U.S. House of Representatives 
2462 Rayburn House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Petri: 
July 9, 2014 
Thank you for your letter supporting the creation of a Connect America mechanism for 
areas served by rural rate-of-return carriers, and a method to provide support for broadband-only 
lines. This is one of the key issues that the Commission raised in the Connect America Fund 
Further Notice o(Proposed Rulemaking that we adopted in April. Your views on this matter are 
very important, and will be included in the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the 
Commission's review. 
The universal service program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure 
that consumers and businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and 
suburban counterparts to be active participants in the United States of the 21st century. As you 
point out, the existing rate-of-return support mechanisms are tied to access lines at a time when 
we want to create incentives for broadband deployment, adoption, innovation, and investment. 
Your thoughts on how to address this issue are always welcome. 
Presently, we are focused on updating the universal service program to ensure that we are 
delivering the best possible voice and broadband experiences to rural America within the 
confmes of our Connect America budget, while providing increased certainty and predictability 
for all carriers and a climate for increased broadband expansion. To that end, in April the 
Commission voted to move forward with Phase II of the Connect America Fund for price-cap 
carriers, and took several steps to improve the climate for broadband investment in areas 
served by incumbent rate-of-return carriers. As you note, we eliminated the Quantile Regression 
Analysis benchmarks rule because it was not serving its intended purpose. In addition, in the 
above-mentioned Further Notice, the Commission proposed to adopt a stand-alone broadband 
funding mechanism for rate-of-return carriers and sought comment on how to support the 
deployment of broadband-capable networks by rate-of-return carriers within the current budget 
for the program. We expect a robust record on how a standalone broadband mechanism could be 
structured to provide support consistent with the $2 billion budget for rate-of-return territories. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter, and I look forward to working with you as we 
continue the work of reforming and modernizing the universal service fund high-cost program -
Page 2-The Honorable Tom Petri 
as well as other components of the Fund- to ensure that all Americans have access to robust 
voice and broadband services. 
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. 
;_~ ~ 
Tom Wheeler 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTO N 
O F FIC E OF 
THE CHAIRM A N 
The Honorable Mark Pocan 
U.S. House ofRepresentatives 
313 Cannon House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Pocan: 
July 9, 2014 
Thank you for your letter supporting the creation of a Connect America mechanism for 
areas served by rural rate-of-return carriers, and a method to provide support for broadband-only 
lines. This is one of the key issues that the Commission raised in the Connect America Fund 
Further Notice o(Proposed Rulemaking that we adopted in April. Your views on this matter are 
very important, and will be included in the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the 
Commission's review. 
The universal service program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure 
that consumers and businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and 
suburban counterparts to be active participants in the United States of the 21st century. As you 
point out, the existing rate-of-return support mechanisms are tied to access lines at a time when 
we want to create incentives for broadband deployment, adoption, innovation, and investment. 
Your thoughts on how to address this issue are always welcome. 
Presently, we are focused on updating the universal service program to ensure that we are 
delivering the best possible voice and broadband experiences to rural America within the 
confmes of our Connect America budget, while providing increased certainty and predictability 
for all carriers and a climate for increased broadband expansion. To that end, in April the 
Commission voted to move forward with Phase II of the Connect America Fund for price-cap 
carriers, and took several steps to improve the climate for broadband investment in areas 
served by incumbent rate-of-return carriers. As you note, we eliminated the Quantile Regression 
Analysis benchmarks rule because it was not serving its intended purpose. In addition, in the 
above-mentioned Further Notice , the Commission proposed to adopt a stand-alone broadband 
funding mechanism for rate-of-return carriers and sought comment on how to support the 
deployment of broadband-capable networks by rate-of-return carriers within the current budget 
for the program. We expect a robust record on how a standalone broadband mechanism could be 
structured to pro"\'ide support consistent with the $2 billion budget for rate-of-return territories. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter, and I look forward to working with you as we 
continue the work of reforming and modernizing the universal service fund high-cost program -
Page 2-The Honorable Mark Pocan 
as well as other components of the Fund- to ensure that all Americans have access to robust 
voice and broadband services. 
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. 
Sincerely, 
Torn Wheeler 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Reid Ribble 
U.S. House of Representatives 
1513 Longworth House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Ribble: 
July 9, 2014 
Thank you for your letter supporting the creation of a Connect America mechanism for 
areas served by rural rate-of-return carriers, and a method to provide support for broadband-only 
lines. This is one of the key issues that the Commission raised in the Connect America Fund 
Further Notice o{Proposed Rulemaking that we adopted in April. Your views on this matter are 
very important, and will be included in the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the 
Commission's review. 
The universal service program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure 
that consumers and businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and 
suburban counterparts to be active participants in the United States of the 21st century. As you 
point out, the existing rate-of-return support mechanisms are tied to access lines at a time when 
we want to create incentives for broadband deployment, adoption, innovation, and investment. 
Your thoughts on how to address this issue are always welcome. 
Presently, we are focused on updating the universal service program to ensure that we are 
delivering the best possible voice and broadband experiences to rural America within the 
confmes of our Connect America budget, while providing increased certainty and predictability 
for all carriers and a climate for increased broadband expansion. To that end, in April the 
Commission voted to move forward with Phase II of the Connect America Fund for price-cap 
carriers, and took several steps to improve the climate for broadband investment in areas 
served by incumbent rate-of-return carriers. As you note, we eliminated the Quantile Regression 
Analysis benchmarks rule because it was not serving its intended purpose. In addition, in the 
above-mentioned Further Notice , the Commission proposed to adopt a stand-alone broadband 
funding mechanism for rate-of-return carriers and sought comment on how to support the 
deployment of broadband-capable networks by rate-of-return carriers within the current budget 
for the program. We expect a robust record on how a standalone broadband mechanism could be 
structured to provide support consistent with the $2 billion budget for rate-of-return territories. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter, and I look forward to working with you as we 
continue the work of reforming and modernizing the universal service fund high-cost program -
Page 2-The Honorable Reid Ribble 
as well as other components of the Fund- to ensure that all Americans have access to robust 
voice and broadband services. 
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. 
Tom Wheeler