JOE DONNELLY 
INDIANA 
\lnitcd ~tatcs ~cnatc 
FCC Ma\\ Room 
The llonorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federa l Communications Commission 
445 1 th Street, NW 
Washington , D.C. 20536 
Dear Chairman Wheeler, 
eptember 8, 2014 
SUITE 720 
HART BUILDING 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1406 
1202) 224-4814 
Access to affordable, high-speed broadband has become integral to our economy. In our 
increasingly technology-oriented world, Hoosiers living in both urban and rural parts of Indiana 
must have fast and reliable broadband so that they can build businesses, access employment 
prospects, and connect to a wide range or educational resources. Phase If of the Connect 
America Fund ("CAF II") presents a renewed opportunity to incentivize broadband investment in 
rural areas so that these communities are not len behind. 
With that in mind, I encourage the Commission to consider several modifications to its final rule 
to help ensure that affordable, high-speed broadband is avai lable to as many people as possible. 
First, I ask the Commission to consider extending the CAF II funding period from five to 10 
years, while maintaining the current proposed annual budget, to allow adequate time for 
construction of higher-capacity networks. Further, the Commission should aim to be as precise 
as possible when determining whether areas arc considered served in order to ensure that all 
residents or a census block have access to broadband. Finally, where data is available that 
indicates certain locations in a census block arc unserved, the Commission should consider 
allowing broadband providers to use some of their CAF II funds to reach those areas. 
Thank you for your consideration of these comments and for your efforts to expand broadband 
access across the country. 
~Si-ne])~ 
Joe Donnelly 
United States Senator