~nitco ~ht±cs ~cncdc 
WASHINGTON. DC 20510-0905 
BILL NELSON 
fLORIDA 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 Twelfth Street, SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
June 4, 2014 
Thank you for your efforts to strengthen and modernize theE-Rate program to 
meet the modern digital connectivity needs of American schools and libraries. I share 
your desire to rapidly expand high-speed broadband connections to all eligible providers. 
As you move forward with these efforts, I encourage you to consider flexible 
approaches that may allow enhanced broadband connectivity in traditionally underserved 
areas. In Florida, for example, a number of schools and libraries in the Panhandle and 
central part of the State currently have limited access to affordable, high-capacity 
broadband connections to serve their increasing needs. It is my understanding that three 
Florida rural educational consortia recently highlighted these challenges to Commission 
staff at a May 6, 2014, E-Rate Modernization Workshop. 
I urge you to consider the views of these three Florida rural educational consortia. 
Specifically, the Commission may want to consider allowing these entities, when they are 
unable to receive bids for competitively priced services, to useE-Rate funds for certain 
connections between impacted rural schools and libraries in their communities. 
Thank you in advance for your consideration of these concerns, and for your 
continued support of a robust E-Rate program.