CHRIS GIBSON 
19th District, New York 
1708 Longworth Building 
washington, DC 20515 
(202) 225-5614 
http :!!gibson. house .gov 
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June 20, 2014 
Hon. Tom Wheeler, Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th St., SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE 
Subcommittee on General Farm 
Commodities end Risk Management 
Subcommittee on Livestock, 
Rural Development, and Credit 
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE 
Subcommittee on Tactical Air and 
Land Forces 
Subcommittee on Intelligence, 
Emerging Threats, and Capabilities 
Subcommittee on Military Personnel 
I am writing to express my support for the expression of interest that was filed by the Otsego 
Electric Cooperative, Inc to provide rural broadband through the Connect America Fund. 
As you may know, many of my constituents are at risk of being left on the wrong side of the Digital 
Divide. Without robust broadband, small towns are losing business, healthcare facilities are having 
their abilities restricted, and rural school children are often unable to complete homework at home 
without access to high-speed broadband. 
The sparse density of households in rutal Otsego County, New York make expanding broadband in 
this area more difficult from both a business case standpoint and a service standpoint, the Otsego 
Electric Cooperative is prepared to take on those challenges. 
The proposal extends fiber optics to 4,700 rutal homes in centtal New York served by Otsego 
Electric Cooperative, and also allows for the use of fiber optics at all of the substations which 
would, in turn, create a fiber optic loop around all of Otsego County. This loop becomes a fiber 
backbone which will be accessible to provides to utilize when providing last-mile services to 
residents. This structure is critical to expanding access in rutal New York. 
I ask that you give this expression of interest full and fair consideration and that you please keep me 
apprised of its progress. You may ditect all correspondence to my District office at PO Box 775, 
Kinderhook, NY 12106 or by fax to 518-610-8135. If you have any questions, please call my office 
at 518-610-8133. 
CPG/rh 
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Member of Congress