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WASHINGTON. DC 20510 
The Honorable Thomas Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 121h Street, SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
December 10,2014 
We write to encourage the Commission to approve the proposal to increase investment in the 
Universal Service Schools and Libraries Program, known as E-Rate. This proposal will help 
ensure students and education programs across Minnesota and the United States can benefit from 
high-speed broadband connection in our schools and libraries. 
Since its establishment in 1997, theE-Rate program has helped schools and libraries make great 
strides in improving Internet connectivity. The percentage of classrooms connected to the 
Internet nationwide has grown from 14 percent when the program was first started to nearly 100 
percent today. 
However, with increased emphasis on the integration of education and technology, the demand 
for high-speed Internet connections in schools and libraries is higher than ever before and is 
expected to grow. Nearly seven out often school districts across the nation report that not a 
single school in their district can currently meet high-speed Internet connectivity targets. 
The digital divide is particularly glaring when it comes to rural areas. This is a problem not just 
at schools, but in rural areas more generally. In Minnesota, nearly 30 percent of rural residents 
do not have access to broadband Internet, compared to less than one percent without broadband 
access in non-rural areas. While progress has been made to bridge this broadband access gap, 
one important step we can take is to remedy this problem at the many rural schools and libraries 
in need of high-speed broadband connections. 
TheE-Rate program is not keeping up with the demand for its services and is in need of reform. 
In Funding Year 2013-2014, schools and libraries applied forE-Rate funding in excess of$4.9 
billion despite only $2.5 billion being available. By increasing investment in theE-Rate 
program, numerous schools and libraries in remote areas will be able to improve connectivity 
and provide new technological resources for their communities. 
The availability of modern technologies in our classrooms and libraries is crucial to our success 
as a nation in the 21st century and beyond. Therefore, we support the proposal to increase the 
funding cap for theE-Rate program and urge the Commission to adopt this proposal. Thank you 
for your continued leadership on this important matter. 
1277
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WASHINGTON, DC 20510 
Sincerely, 
AI Franken 
United States Senate United States Senate