C!Congre55 of tbe ~niteb $tates 
'm!ashington, ~<tC 20510 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th St. SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
June 27, 2014 
The importance of broadband communications networks to America's economic development 
has never been more apparent. In our interconnected 21st century economy, job growth will 
depend on our ability to deliver faster and more reliable broadband to our businesses, our schools 
and our homes. Accordingly, local communities should have the opportunity to decide for 
themselves how to invest in their own infrastructure, including the options of working with 
willing incumbent carriers, creating incentives for private sector development, entering into 
creative public-private partnerships, or even building their own networks, if necessary or 
appropriate. 
We are pleased by your recent comments about community broadband, particularly your 
assertion that municipal governments should not be inhibited if they wish to pursue the creation 
of their own networks. Communities are often best suited to decide for themselves if they want 
to invest in their own infrastructure and to choose the approach that will work best for them. In 
fact, it was the intent behind the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to eliminate barriers to entry 
into the broadband market and promote competition in order to stimulate more innovation and 
consumer choice. We urge you and your colleagues to utilize the full arsenal of tools Congress 
has enacted to promote competitive broadband service to ensure America's communities obtain a 
21st century infrastructure to succeed in today' s fiercely competitive global economy. 
Around the globe, advanced broadband networks are stimulating innovation and 
investment. We believe that the countries that make affordable access to such networks most 
widely and quickly available to their businesses, institutions, and residents will be the ones that 
are most successful in the information-based global economy. The United States must remain 
one of those countries. Our nation cannot afford to fall behind or to close off viable options for 
its communities, especially those in underserved rural areas, to connect and prosper. 
We ask that you respond to our inquiry within 30 days about what plans the Commission intends 
to pursue to make progress on community broadband. 
Thank you for your attention to this important issue. 
~k~·~ 
U.S. Senator 
-----
Al Franken 
U.S. Senator 
U.S. Senator 
Richard Blumenthal 
U.S. Senator 
Sincerely, 
Mike Doyle 
U.S. Representative 
~O.w.~ 14enry~. Waxm~l 
U.S. Representative