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ma.sfrington, jDQt 20515 
May 7, 2014 
The Honorable Thomas Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 lih Street SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
We applaud the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its continued interest in 
modernization of the Universal Service Fund (USF), as well as for its commitment to consider 
and implement much-needed "course corrections" when changes like the Quantile Regression 
Analysis prove to be ineffective or even harmful to our nation's broadband objectives. 
The Communications Act of 1934 requires the FCC to establish universal service mechanisms 
that are both sufficient and predictable in providing support for the deployment and operation of 
advanced networks. To fulfill this mandate and move forward in modernizing the USF, we are 
calling upon the FCC to implement a Connect America Fund (CAF) mechanism that is tailored 
for rural rate-of-return carriers and will support the availability and sustainability of broadband­
capable networks in high-cost areas of the United States for the benefit of all Americans. 
Wisconsin has the third highest number of Rural Local Exchange Carriers (RLECs) when 
compared to other states. These Wisconsin based RLECs, both cooperative and commercial, 
have significant broadband investments and maintain robust fiber networks. However, it is 
important that we consider the long term commitments of these rural carriers and the 
contributions they make to our rural communities and their customers. Wisconsin's rural 
economy demands and deserves the benefits of a broadband infrastructure for the long run. 
As services evolve and technologies advance, many Americans are fulfilling their voice 
communication needs by using wireless or Voice over Internet Protocol services rather than 
traditionallandline plain old telephone services (POTS). Unfortunately, the current rules 
governing USF support in areas served by smaller rural carriers do not facilitate such consumer 
choice. Instead, under the current rules, small rural carriers receive high-cost support only for 
those consumers that subscribe to POTS. This technical flaw in the rules results in many rural 
consumers who decline to take POTS facing significantly higher prices for the broadband 
services they want to keep because USF is lost for the network connections that serve them. This 
current set of rules, if not addressed and updated in a timely manner that is tailored for the 
challenges faced by smaller rural carriers, will undermine consumer choice, deter broadband 
adoption, and inhibit technological evolution. 
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We recognize the complexity of reforming USF distribution mechanisms. The FCC has been 
working for several years to create a model-based support mechanism for larger carrier 
operations in high-cost areas, and that work continues. This effort is important for the long-term 
sustainability and success of the program in many rural areas served by larger carriers, and that 
work should be completed as soon as possible. 
We are pleased that the FCC seems to be moving forward in considering how to set up a CAF 
program that is tailored for the challenges faced by smaller carriers in serving rural areas. But, 
with its pending Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FCC also has now sought comment 
three times over the past two-and-one-half years regarding how to establish such a CAF 
program. We hope that the FCC will expeditiously consider the most recent rounds of comments 
once they are filed and then move with all due speed to update the existing USF mechanisms and 
provide sufficient and predictable support for smaller carriers' networks even where consumers 
choose to adopt only broadband services. Prompt action by the FCC is essential to ensure that 
consumers in all rural areas can choose among high-quality and affordable voice and broadband 
services consistent with our national universal service objectives. 
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RON KIND 
Member of Congress 
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MARKPOCAN 
Member of Congress 
Member of Congress 
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REIDRilMLE 
Member of Congress 
TOM PETRI 
Member of Congress