SEAN P. DUFFY 
7TH DISTRICT, WISCONSIN 
WASHINGTON 
1208 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 
W AS HINGTON, DC 20515-4907 
PH: (202) 225-3365 • TOLL-FREE: 1- 855-585-4251 
WEBSITE: duffy.house.gov Congress of the United States 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
House of Representatives 
August 3, 2016 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street, SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
COMMITTEE ON 
FINANCIAL SERVICES 
SUBCOMMITTEES: 
CHAIRMAN, O VERSIGHT 
AND INVESTIGATIONS 
CAPITAL MARKETS AND 
GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTERPRISES 
0 0 ·1"orl ~ \n~nected neC --· •·· 
A\IG 0 9 ?f1 1 ~ 
f cc Mail Room 
As you know, cell phones have become a nearly integral part of modern society. They are used to 
operate and grow small businesses, to keep in touch with friends and family while on the go, and to 
provide safety to the user; in addition to many other important uses. Unfortunately, cell service 
deployment in rural America has lagged behind urban areas. As a result, rural America becomes less 
competitive and less secure. To address this issue for rural Americans nationwide, I urge you to 
move forward with Phase II of the Mobility Fund. 
hi Northern Wisconsin, where. I live, cell phones are more than a just a way to communicate, they 
enhance the safety of small communities where the nearest emergency assistance may be tens of 
miles away. Phase I of the Mobility Fund successfully brought voice and mobile broadband service 
to previously unserved areas. However, more support is needed for underserved communities like 
those in Northern Wisconsin. Implementation of Phase II is critical to make those areas as 
competitive and secure as the rest of country. 
This area, which lacks adequate cell service, generates a significant amount of economic activity for 
my state. However, if cell service infrastructure is not improved, it will make it·much harder for this 
area to remain competitive, especially when other areas of the country are deploying 5G trials in 
2017. Given the importance of cell service to the economy and safety of rural communities, the 
Mobility Fund must be used to create and maintain new broadband infrastructure in underserved 
areas. 
I appreciate your efforts to ensure that the latest technologies are available to all Americans, 
regardless of their zip c·ode. However, there is more work to be done. I respectfully request that the 
goal of expanding cell serviee in rural America remains a top priority for the Commission until this 
problem is solved. 
Sincerely, 
sean P. Duffy 
Member of Congress 
WAUSAU " 
208 GRAND AVENUE 
WAUSAU, WI 54403 
PH: (715) 298-9344 • FAX: (715) 298-9348 
' ·• _,.. 
' · . \ _  l ', · 
~ 
823 BELKNAP STREET, SUITE 225 
SUPERIOR, WI 548.80 ' 
PH:J?l 5) 392-3984 • FAX: (7 15) 3~2-3999 . 
·, 
HUDSON 
502 '2ND STREET, SuiTE 202 
H UDSON, WI 540 16 
PH: (71,5) 808::-8 160 • FAX: (715) 808- 8167 
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