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WASHINGTON, DC 20510 Hecevea & ftiSPected
JUN 192015
June 8, 2015
CC Mafi Room
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The Honorable Tom Wheeler
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Wheeler:
We write to you regarding the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC)
Fiscal Year 2016 budget request, which includes plans to close two-thirds of the
FCC field offices across the country and cut nearly half of the field agents staffing
those offices. We have reservations about the FCC's proposal, particularly as it
pertains to the closing of the Boston field office.
The FCC is uniquely positioned in its authority and expertise to address
radio spectrum interference issues. Field offices are on the front lines for onsite
investigations and inspections, helping resolve a variety of interference problems,
including public safety spectrum issues. The agency's field offices have served the
public with proactive spectrum enforcement efforts in this area. We are concerned
that the proposal to close sixteen field offices could jeopardize the agency's ability to
prevent spectrum interference.
The FCC's Boston field office is the point of contact for interference
complaints throughout New England's six states. Reducing and relocating Boston's
agents could disconnect the FCC from local incidents, potentially challenging the
FCC's ability to maintain the 24-hour response standard. This is a concern given
the public safety communications interference the FCC Boston field office handles,
involving local police departments and emergency response organizations, as well as
the Federal Aviation Administration at the region's airports.
We support efforts to update and modernize agency policies in order to
effectively administer laws and regulations, yet such measures should be balanced
with the Commission's ability to carry out its duties in a timely fashion. We urge
the FCC to carefully consider these concerns in order to reach a balanced solution
that safeguards local area knowledge and public safety in New England and
throughout the country, while also providing for more streamlined operations of the
field offices.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
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Kelly A. Ayotte
United States Senator
Jeanne Shaheen
United States Senator
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Susan M. Collins
United States Senator