JASON SMITH 
8TH DISTRICT, MISSOURI 
COMMITTEE ON 
THE JUDICIARY 
COURTS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND 
THE INTI:RNET SUBCOMMITTEE 
REGUlA TORY REFORM, COMMERCIAL 
AND ANTITRUST lAW SUBCOMMITTEE 
CONSTITUTION AND CIVIL JUSTICE 
SUBCOMMmEE 
COMMITTEE ON 
NATURAL RESOURCES 
PUBLIC lANDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL 
REGULATION SUBCOMMITTEE 
FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, OCEANS AND 
INSULAR AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE 
C!ongr~~ of tbt llntteb ~tat~ 
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mla!iblngton, 1DIC 20515-2508 
July 29, 2014 
Received & Inspected 
Auu u 4 £U14 
The Honorable Tom Whedli€C Mail Room 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street, SW 
Washington, DC 20536 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
2230 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 
WASHINGTON, DC 20515 
(202) 225-4404-PHONE 
(202) 226-6328-f:AX 
CAPe GIRARDeAU 0FACE 
2502 TANNER DRIVE, Surre 205 
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO 83703 
(573) 335-0101-PHONE 
FARMINGTON OFFICE 
22 E. COLUMBIA STREET 
FARMINGTON, MQ 83640 
(573) 758-9755-PHONE 
ROLLA OFFICe 
830A S. BISHOP 
AOUA,M065401 
(573) 384-2455-PHONE 
WEST PLAINS 0FACE 
35 COUATSoUARE, SUrTE 300 
WEST PLAINS, MO 65775 
(417) 255-1515-PHONE 
http://www.jasonsmith.house.gov 
As you know rural communities, like the 8"' Congressional District of Missouri I represent, need 
access to affordable high speed broadband internet. Businesses use the broadband Internet to grow 
and expand. It helps the unemployed apply for jobs. It encourages students and teachers enhance 
educational opportunities. Broadband internet conneCfs friehds and families. Because of all these 
things aild mqre~ it is vitally important the' final details of Phasi!II of theCbnn~ct America Fund 
(CAF II). fulfill'the promise ,.;,;ade to rural Americans. · · · 
CAF II offers a tremendous opportunity t6 bring speedier broadband internet connections tb 
millions of Americans who wouldn't otherwise receive these benefits. The Commission's efforts are 
the reason why so many rural communities are now counting on CAF II. And because CAF II 
represents the fmal phase of Universal Service reform for these areas, its tllies will effectively 
determine, for years to come, whether millions of rural residents will have a broadband connection 
or not. 
The Commission's June 10 Further Notice of Proposed Rule-Making (FNPRM) identified a number 
of constructive ideas that could help achieve speedier network goals without exceeding the CAF II 
annual budget. Indeed, the FNPRM has also raised hopes further by more than doubling the 
promised download speeds from 4 Mbps to 10 Mbps. However, I am concerned that if the 
Commission's more than doubles the speed requirements without allowing the appropriate level of 
flexibility in other elements of CAF II, the program's overall mission could be endangered. 
. . ' . 
In addition to the issue of speeds; the CAF II funding period must be extended from the current 5 
years to 10 years in order to allow adequate time for the construction of the higher-capacity network. 
Further, the Commission also must establish network build-out parameters consistent with the goal 
of providing quality broadband service t~ as many people as possible within CAP's limited funding 
framework. As such, 'providers must be given '·th.e flexibility to substitute extremely high cost ·. . 
locations with unserved locations .in partially served census blocks. ' · '.· · · · 
: ' '. ' . ' ' ,: ' ' . 
The llono1·ablc Tom Wheeler 
Page 2 
Despite the many years to bridge the broadband Internet divide, I hear more often than not from 
constituents seeking assistance to bring broadband service to their homes or businesses. The 
concerns they raise are a reminder of how challenging rural broadband policy can be, but also how 
important it is. Thank you for considering my concerns, and the concerns of residents of rural 
Missouri. I look forward to continue working with you on this and other important issues. 
ds, 
_:::>~ 
JASON T. SMITH 
Member of Congress