FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Nanette Barragan U.S. House of Representatives 1320 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congresswoman Barragan: October 23 , 2017 Tnank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate ofreturn carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help conn.ect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 40 LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission' s Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Nanette Barragan I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Keith Ellison U.S. House of Representatives 2263 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Ellison: October 23 , 20 17 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission' s review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate of return carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission' s Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Keith Ellison I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, v. Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Dwight Evans U.S. House of Representatives 1105 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Evans: October 23 , 20 17 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission' s review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate of return carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission' s February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission' s Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Dwight Evans I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, v. Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Raul M. Grijalva U.S. House of Representatives 1511 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Grijalva: October 23, 2017 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate ofreturn carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission's Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to hdp direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Raul M. Grijalva I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, - v. Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Walter B. Jones U.S. House of Representatives 2333 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Jones: October 23 , 20 17 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate ofreturn carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote 'in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission' s Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Walter B. Jones I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Dan Kildee U.S. House of Representatives 227 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Kildee: October 23, 20 17 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission' s review. In early February, 1 circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate of return carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on ~he Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission' s February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission' s Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We mu~t work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to purs·ue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Dan Kildee I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, v. Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Ron Kind U.S. House of Representatives 1502 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Kind: October 23, 20 I 7 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission' s review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate ofretum carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission' s February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission' s Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, J directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Ron Kind I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, v. Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Betty McCollum U.S. House of Representatives 2256 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congresswoman McCollum: October 23, 20 17 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission' s review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate ofreturn carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modern high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission' s February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission' s Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Betty McCollum I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, v. Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Gwen Moore U.S. House of Representatives 2252 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congresswoman Moore: October 23 , 2017 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate of return carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission' s Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding w reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a ce1tification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Gwen Moore I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Tom 0 1Halleran U.S. House of Representatives 126 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman 0 1Halleran: October 23, 2017 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission' s review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate of return carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the.Commission's Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Tom O'Halleran I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, v. Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Collin C. Peterson U.S. House of Representatives 2204 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Peterson: October 23, 2017 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate ofreturn carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modern high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 40 LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission's Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Collin C. Peterson I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, V· Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN October 23 , 2017 The Honorable Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen U.S. House of Representatives 1339 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congresswoman Radewagen: Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission' s review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate of return carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission' s February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 40 LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission's Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Se1vice Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to .all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, - V· Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Raul Ruiz U.S. House of Representatives 1319 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Ruiz: October 23 , 2017 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission' s review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate of return carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modern high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move fonvard on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission's Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Raul Ruiz I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, V· Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Mark Takano U.S. House of Representatives 1507 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Takano: October 23. 2017 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate of return carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission's Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Mark Takano I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Norma J. Torres U.S. House of Representatives 1713 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congresswoman Torres: October 23 , 2017 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the .proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. In early February, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate ofreturn carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues will vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to heip connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 4G LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission's Office ofNative Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bt;teau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of the Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital !lge to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Norma J. Torres I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, v. Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Don Young U.S. House of Representatives 2314 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Young: October 23, 20 17 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a draft order on whether the limitations on operating expenses for which rate-of-return carriers may receive high-cost support should be modified for carriers serving Tribal lands. I share your desire to address the digital divide on Tribal lands, where approximately 40% of the population live in census blocks lacking fixed broadband of 25/3 Mbps. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission' s review. In early F ehruary, I circulated to my colleagues an order that would assist rate of return carriers serving Tribal lands in deploying, upgrading, and maintaining modem high-speed networks. As you note, the order recognizes that carriers serving Tribal lands incur costs that other rural carriers do not face, resulting in significantly higher operating expenses to serve very sparsely populated service areas. The proposal I have put before my colleagues would allow carriers serving Tribal lands a greater ability to recover operating expenses, thus improving the financial viability of operating a broadband network serving Tribal lands. I hope that my colleagues \\ill vote in favor of this order and look forward to continue working with them as we move forward on the Commission's efforts to connect those on Tribal lands. We've also taken a number of actions during my tenure as Chairman to help connect those on Tribal lands. At the Commission's February Open Agenda Meeting, we adopted the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, which will direct up to approximately $340 million to build out 40 LTE coverage on Tribal lands. I have also asked the Commission' s Office of Native Affairs and Policy to coordinate with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau to help direct that funding to reach Tribal members in remote areas that would otherwise be without access to next generation services. In addition, I directed the Universal Service Administrative Company to give additional time to Tribal families living in the remote reaches of t..1ie Navajo Nation to comply with a certification deadline for the Lifeline program. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, and we will continue to pursue common-sense regulatory reforms to close the digital divide on Tribal lands. Page 2-The Honorable Don Young I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, v. Ajit V. Pai