RICHARD BURR NORTH CAROLINA Wntteb ~tateĢi ~enate Received & 1 nspected S[p 7 6 2014 WASHINGTON, DC 20510- 3308 The Honorable Tom Wheeler Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 121h Street SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Wheeler: September 10,2014 Fcc Mail A oom C[~z_ Broadband Internet access has become an essentiai part of the economic and social fabric in many rural communities. With robust broadband service, even a small town can rely on its residents' talent and determination to compete with the world. Without it, the same community risks being left behind in today's technology-centric economy. Phase II of the Connect America Fund ("CAF II") offers a tremendous opportunity to bring advanced, fiber-fed broadband connections to millions of Americans in rural areas. Thanks to the Commission's well-publicized efforts, thousands of rural communities are now counting on CAF II. Indeed, the June I 0 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ("NPRM") has raised hopes further by more than doubling the promised download speeds in the 2011 USF/ICC Transformation Order from 4 Mbps to l 0 Mbps. I am writing today to emphasize how important it is to ensure that the final details of CAF II live up to their promise. I appreciate the fact that the June 10 FNPRM identifies a number of constructive ideas that could help achieve the speedier network goals without exceeding the CAF II annual budget, including extending the term of support up to ten years and providing flexibility on the build-out parameters. I hope these ideas will be seriously considered. I also encourage the FCC to be as precise as possible when targeting support to areas where broadband would not otherwise be available. It is my hope that the FCC will collect targeted, accurate data on existing service areas to ensure that all unserved customers have access to broadband. It is also important that this effort protects the interests of existing providers from overbuilding. Thank you for taking the time to consider these issues and for your work provide rural broadband to Americans. Sincerely, Richard Burr 0 Win~ton-Salem Office 2000 Wc~t First Street Suite 508 Winston-Salem. NC 27104 (336) 631 5125 Fax: (336) 725-4493 J'oll Free in NC: (800) 685 8916 O Wilmington Office 201 North front Street Suite 809 Wilmmgton. NC 28401 (910) 251 1058 Fax: (910) 251 -7975 Toll free in NC: (888) 848--1833 0 A'heville Office I 'i I Pall on Avenue Suite 204 Asheville. NC 28801 (828) 350 2437 Fax: (828) 350- 2439 http://hurr.senale .guv 0 Gastonia Office 181 South Street Suite 222 Ga~tonia. NC 28502 (704) 8:U-{l854 Fax: (704) 833 1467 0 Rocky Mount Office I 00 Cuast Line Street Suite 210 Rocky Mount, N(' 27!\04 (252) 977-9522 Fax: (252) 977 7902