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l\Jllasqington, ilQ! 20515 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 121h Street, SW 
Washington, DC 20536 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
August 8, 2014 
We write to request that the Commission make additional changes to certain aspects of 
Phase II of the Connect America Fund (CAF II) to provide greater certainty for broadband 
providers and encourage investment in the expansion of service. CAF II offers an opportunity to 
bring atiordable broadband Internet to homes and businesses across America. We also support 
the Commission's continuous review of the minimum broadband standards to ensure that 
residents and businesses across the country have better access to higher speeds. 
As our communities grow more interconnected, broadband Internet has become an 
increasingly essential tool in building businesses, applying for jobs, enhancing educational 
opportunities and accessing critical health services. In today's technology-centric economy, the 
current connectivity of Americans may determine the economic vitality of our rural communities 
for generations to come. With robust broadband service, small towns across Colorado can rely on 
their own residents' talent and determination to win the global economic race. Fortunately, CAF 
II is a tremendous opportunity to bring speedier, fiber-fed broadband connections to tens of 
thousands of Coloradans who wouldn't otherwise have access to this modern necessity. 
To ensure the success of this vital program, we ask that the Commission's final rule 
include additions that will increase certainty and incentivize investment in the deployment of 
broadband to our rural areas. First, we ask that the CAF II funding period be extended from the 
current five years to ten years, while maintaining the annual budget of $1.8 billion, to allocate 
adequate time and resources for the construction of the higher-capacity network. Second, in 
cases where data is available to indicate which locations in a census block are unserved is 
available, we believe participating carriers should be able to shift a portion of CAF II support to 
reach these unserved portions and guarantee that such communities aren't left behind once the 
CAF II mission is complete. Finally, we ask that the Commission be as precise as possible when 
evaluating whether areas are "served" to ensure all the residents of a census block have access to 
broadband. As we enter the final phase of the Connect America Fund, we are hopeful that these 
additions will provide the flexibility necessary to support the program's overall mission and 
continue to expand broadband investment throughout the state. 
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Despite years of federal efforts to increase connectivity and overcome the digital divide, 
we sti ll often hear from constituents seeking assistance to bring broadband service to their 
homes. Unless further steps are taken to reform USF, we fear many rural Coloradans will be 
denied the health, education and economic benefits supported by broadband infrastructure. 
Thank you for your consideration of our request, and I look forward to working with you to 
bridge the digital divide. 
Mark Udall 
U.S. Senator 
Sincerely, 
Ed Perlmutter 
Member of Congress 
Michael F. Bennet 
U.S. Senator