FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Tom Rice
U.S. House of Representatives
325 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Rice:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Tom Rice
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Martha Roby
U.S. House of Representatives
428 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Roby:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USE") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Martha Roby
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Harold Rogers
U.S. House of Representatives
2406 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Rogers:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Harold Rogers
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Todd Rokita
U.S. House of Representatives
236 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Rokita:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice o/Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Todd Rokita
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Peter Roskam
U.S. House of Representatives
227 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Roskam:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Peter Roskam
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
AfMI$S\0
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable David Rouzer
U.S. House of Representatives
424 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Rouzer:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable David Rouzer
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMM ISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Steve Russell
U.S. House of Representatives
128 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Russell:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Steve Russell
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
July 27, 2015
The Honorable Kurt Schrader
U.S. House of Representatives
108 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Schrader:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21St century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Kurt Schrader
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMM ISSJON
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Austin Scott
U.S. House of Representatives
516 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Scott:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Austin Scott
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
CMISs\
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Jim Sensenbrenner
U.S. House of Representatives
2449 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Sensenbrenner:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Jim Sensenbrenner
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
ri) FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable John Shimkus
U.S. House of Representatives
2452 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Shimkus:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable John Shimkus
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASH INGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Mike Simpson
U.S. House of Representatives
2312 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Simpson:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Mike Simpson
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
C4MIS$\o*
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Louise M. Slaughter
U.S. House of Representatives
2469 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Slaughter:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Louise M. Slaughter
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Adrian Smith
U.S. House of Representatives
2241 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Smith:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Adrian Smith
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
%fMISS0$
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Jason Smith
U.S. House of Representatives
2230 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Smith:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Jason Smith
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Lamar Smith
U.S. House of Representatives
2409 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Smith:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Lamar Smith
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASH INGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Elise Stefanik
U.S. House of Representatives
512 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Stefanik:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Elise Stefanik
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASH INGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Chris Stewart
U.S. House of Representatives
323 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Stewart:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Chris Stewart
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
bAqMIsO
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Steve Stivers
U.S. House of Representatives
1007 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Stivers:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21St century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Steve Stivers
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
bkWMISSØ
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Mac Thornberry
U.S. House of Representatives
2329 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Thornberry:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Mac Thomberry
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
July 27, 2015THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Scott Tipton
U.S. House of Representatives
218 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Tipton:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Scott Tipton
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable David G. Valadao
U.S. House of Representatives
1004 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Valadao:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable David G. Valadao
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Filemon Vela
U.S. House of Representatives
437 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Vela:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Filemon Vela
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASH INGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
July 27, 2015
The Honorable Ann Wagner
U.S. House of Representatives
435 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Wagner:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Ann Wagner
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Tim Walberg
U.S. House of Representatives
418 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Walberg:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Tim Walberg
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Jackie Walorski
U.S. House of Representatives
419 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Walorski:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Jackie Walorski
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Tim Walz
U.S. House of Representatives
1034 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Walz:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Tim Walz
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
MISS\0*
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Peter Welch
U.S. House of Representatives
2303 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Welch:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21St century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Peter Welch
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
,\
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Bruce Westerman
U.S. House of Representatives
130 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Westerman:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2l century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Bruce Westerman
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Joe Wilson
U.S. House of Representatives
2229 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Wilson:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21st century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Joe Wilson
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNTCATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN July 27, 2015
The Honorable Steve Womack
U.S. House of Representatives
1119 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Womack:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Steve Womack
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
AqMISS\O*
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable David Young
U.S. House of Representatives
515 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Young:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2Pt century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable David Young
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Don Young
U.S. House of Representatives
2314 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Young:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21 St century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Don Young
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015
THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Todd Young
U.S. House of Representatives
1721 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Young:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 21St century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Todd Young
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF July 27, 2015THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Ryan Zinke
U.S. House of Representatives
113 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Zinke:
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to reform our Universal Service Fund
("USF") mechanisms to support broadband deployment in rural America. The universal service
program is one of the most important tools at our disposal to ensure that consumers and
businesses in rural America have the same opportunities as their urban and suburban
counterparts to be active participants in the 2l century economy. I share your goal of ensuring
that the universal service program better reflects today's marketplace and technology in areas
served by rate-of-return carriers.
As I explained at the Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Oversight Hearing earlier this
year, resolving this issue will require all the stakeholders to work together and make hard
decisions to reach consensus on the best path forward. Everybody agrees that the goal of any
changes should be supporting broadband in rural areas. With that in mind, I directed my staff
and staff members from the Commission's Wireline Bureau to meet with stakeholders in the
rate-of-return community. We have encouraged all stakeholders in the rate-of-return community
to work together to develop an approach that both has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return community and meets the principles unanimously outlined by the Commission in our
April 2014 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
I share your concern about the state of rural broadband deployment. I also recognize the
substantial time, effort, and resources that have been invested in this effort to date by
stakeholders in the rate-of-return community to address these issues. I am committed to finding
a path forward by the end of the year. But it is important to have a solution - or set of solutions
- that creates the right incentives to deploy modern networks throughout rural America, meets
the Commission's overarching policy objectives, and has the widespread support of the rate-of-
return carrier community.
To that end, it is encouraging that the stakeholders appear to have come to a consensus on
the notion of a "two-path" approach to reforming the program that is comprised of both a model-
based path and updates to the existing mechanisms, but work remains with respect to the details
of how we would update those support mechanisms. We will continue to engage with
stakeholders, and we expect them to continue to engage with us, to ensure that any reform of
these universal service programs successfully delivers on our shared goal of more robust
broadband throughout rural America.
Page 2-The Honorable Ryan Zinke
I look forward to working with you to make continued progress on the deployment of
broadband to consumers throughout rural areas a reality.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler