atnngre.s.G nf t}fe l!niteb ~tate.G 
mu.allittgtou, mar 20515 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12111 Street, S.W. 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
October 14, 2014 
One of the central tenets of the 1996 Telecommunications Act was to ensure that rural and high cost areas 
throughout the country were provided access to telecommunications and information services comparable to 
those provided in urban areas. As Members of Congress who represent rmal areas we want to see that this 
stated goal of comparable access and rates is fully realized. 
The dramatic and impressive adoption of wireless devices in both urban and rural areas over the past few 
years highli ghts the need for robust and reliable mobile telecommunications networks throughout the 
country. It should be noted that what we take for granted while we utilize wireless devices in Washington, 
D.C. is often not the case when we return to many of our rural districts. We all know where dead zones and 
poor quality service lurk in our districts. We also know that our constituents have embraced mobility as an 
essential part of their lives. 
Dependable wireless coverage provides countless opportunity for rmal and mban residents alike: daily 
communication between family members; mobi le broadband access for businesses to compete and drive 
economic development; agricultural efficiency mechanisms; unlimited access to information for students and 
teachers; and quickly and appropriately responding to health and safety emergencies. These opportunities 
shou ld not be jeopardized by scattered or inconsistent wireless services for those who live in rural America. 
As the Commission begins to rev isit how best to update the Mobility Fund within the Universal Service Fund 
to reflect current consumer mobility demand and need, we urge you to continue to work to fulfill the 
obligations required in Section 254 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act in order to deliver a 21st Century 
rural wireless infrastructme that allows our communities to take advantage of the endless oppot1unities 
within a mobile society. An effective mobile infrastmcture provides high speed data and voice coverage in 
homes, in towns, and on our roads. The health of the rural economy rests, in large patt, on these important 
decisions and we look forward to hearing from you about how the Commission intends to deliver on that 
mandate. 
~t,J~ 
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 
Peter Welch 
Member of Congress