tinitcd ~tatcs ~cnatr 
The Honorable Thomas Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12111 Street, NW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chaim1an Wheeler: 
WASHINGTON, OC 20510 
Jul y 10,20 14 
We write regarding the Commiss ion· s July II meeting to consider a Report and Order to 
modernize the E-Rate program and expand support for Wi-Fi connect ivity for schoo ls and 
libraries. 
We urge you to take into account the objecti ons raised to the Wi-Fi proposal in a .June 20, 
20 14 letter signed by more than a dozen national education organizations representing E-Rate 
program beneliciaries as well as the rural spec ific concerns addressed in a letter dated June 30. 
20 14 signed by six organizations representing rura l schools. In addi tion. we hope you will give 
spccial considerati on to the Ju ly 8. 20 14 lette r from Senators Rockefe ller and Markey. We agree 
with the view·s raised in these let ters. 
We oppose any proposal that would change the E-Rate distribution mechanism to one 
that provides funding based on a per-student or per-square foot calculation fo r Wi-Fi. Such a 
formu la vvo uld disadvantage rural school and libraries. We also oppose modifying the program·s 
poverty calculation from school-based to di stri ct -based because it is less responsive to meeting 
the needs of a specific schoo l. 
We hope the Commission will make changes to the proposal in response to these 
concerns bel'o re moving forward with 1-> Ratc modernizat ion. 
Thank you for your consideration. 
Sincere ly. 
Debbie Stabeno\\' Carl Levin