JARED HUFFMAN WASHINGTON OFFICE 2ND DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA 1630 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 COMMITIEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES PHONE: (202) 225-5161 C!!:ongre~~ of tbe Wntteb ~tate~ 1!,Jou~t of 1\tprt~tntatil.lts ml:asbington, Jli!C 20515-0502 November 17, 2014 FAx: (202) 225-5163 COMMITIEE ON THE BUDGET wESSITE: huffman.house.gov Hon. Tom Wheeler, Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Wheeler: j2Z3 N0\1 ·· · V (.; L'~•.· FCC fvic'.ii doom As each day passes without broadband in rural America, the digital divide widens between our urban and rural populations. In the 1930s, electric cooperatives brought electricity to rural America when the for-profit utilities would not. Today, that same scenario is being replayed as we deploy broadband service in rural America. Robust broadband service is no longer a luxury, but rather a necessity for full participation in our economy and society. The Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II represents a tremendous opportunity to fulfill the promise of ubiquitous access to high speed internet for every American. I commend the FCC's efforts to ensure that CAF funds are maximized to their best use, and recognize the complexities of this effort. I encourage the Commission to create an inclusive process where all eligible providers, including electric cooperatives, have an opportunity to compete for support by offering effective solutions to close the digital divide between rural and urban areas. In addition I urge the commission to work on raising the minimum broadband speed associated with CAF Phase II funding. Deploying broadband networks using outdated speeds will only serve to increase the digital divide. Without a level playing field, open to competition, rural America may never have the chance to experience the educational opportunities, employment prospects, and advanced healthcare that broadband delivers to those lucky enough to live in low cost, high population centers. I look forward to working with the Commission to bring broadband service to my constituents in Rural America. Sincerely, Huffman ber of Congress SAN RAFAEL 999 fiFTH AVENUE, SUITE 290 SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 PHONE: (415) 258--9657 FAx: (415) 258--9913 PETALUMA 206 G STREET, #3 PETALUMA, CA 94952 PHONE: (707) 981-8967 FAx: (415) 258-9913 UKIAH 559 Low GAP ROAD UKIAH, CA 95482 PHONE & FAX: 1]07) 671-7449 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ·' . FORT BRAGG 430 NORTH FRANKLIN STREET P.O. Box 2208 FORT BRAGG, CA 95437 PHONE: (707) 962-(1933 FAx: (707) 962-0905 EUREKA 317 THIRD STREET, SUITE 1 EUREKA, CA 95501 PHONE: (707) 407-3585 FAx: (707) 407-3559