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Mav 21. 2015
The Honorable Tom Wheeler
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street. S\V
Washington. DC 205:":~
Dear Chairman Wheeler:
We write you regarding the importance of the Federal Communications Commission's efforts to modernize the
••niversal service fund for making broadband communications services available to all New Mexicans.
Restoring American leadership in broadband can help create opportunities for job growth, education, and
healthcare, Rural Americans, however, are 13 times more likely to lack access to broadband than those in urban
areas. In New Mexico, seventy-seven percent of New Mexicans living in rural areas lack access to fast broadband
access to fixed broadband speeds of25 megabits per second. Rural telephone cooperatives' continued commitment
to serve rural residents of New Mexico is essential to tackling this appalling digital divide.
While rate of return carriers struggle to bring faster broadband speeds to their customers, the FCC has yet to finalize
a funding mechanism to support such broadband service in high-cost rural areas. Under one proposed Connect
American Fund II funding model, we understand that New Mexico's rate of return carriers could face a reduction of
more than $21 million in universal service support. We therefore urge the FCC to move forward to modernize
universal service funding mechanisms for the broadband era in a manner that offers reasonable certainty for rural
carriers to make long term investments in high cost areas.
As you work to modernize universal service, we also ask that you consider targeted proposals from rural carriers to
better support broadband deployment in the short term. in particular, we ask you to consider allowing universal
service support for broadband service to rural households that choose to not purchase other bundled services.
Thank you for your consideration within your rules and regulations. We look forward to continuing to work closely
with you to bring greater broadband access to rural communities in New Mexico and across America.
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Tom Udall
United States Senator
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Sincerely, ~.~~
Stevan Pearce
United States Representative
United States Senator
Ben Ray Lujan
United States Representative
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. . . Michelle L~~
United States Representative