OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
March 14, 2018
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 expressing concern about Commission action on Broadband
Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) recommendations. I share your view that broadband
is a vital resource for all Americans, and the FCC must do everything it can to speed the
deployment of broadband in underserved parts of the country.
I've long said that every American who wants to participate in the digital economy
should be able to do so. And the plain reality is that if you live in rural America, you are much
less likely to have high-speed Internet access than if you live in a city. If you live in a low-
income neighborhood, you are less likely to have high-speed Internet access than if you live in a
wealthier area. To change that, we need massive investment to construct, expand, and improve
wired and wireless networks. And to spur that investment, in turn, the FCC needs to remove
outdated and unnecessary regulatory barriers.
I hope you agree with me that rural America has waited long enough. It's been eight
years since the adoption of the National Broadband Plan, and too many millions of Americans
are still awaiting its promise. That's why the Commission has moved forward over the last year
to cut the redtape that has unnecessarily delayed the deployment of broadband throughout
America. That's why at my first open meeting as FCC Chairman, I announced the establishment
of the BDAC. The work of the BDAC is a crucial component of our efforts to close the digital
divide for the many Americans that lack sufficient high-speed Internet access-and one we must
consider to pursue vigorously.
I have been so pleased with the progress of the BDAC over the course the year, resulting
in a number of final recommendations in January-all approved by at least a super-majority of
members, with many approved unanimously. I should note that approved recommendations,
along with materials from the meetings and proposed recommendations, are posted on the
Commission's website, and interested parties are welcome to provide input to the BDAC in the
electronic docket established for that purpose, GN Docket No. 17-83. I look forward to hearing
your views, and the views of those not serving on the BDAC, on these particular
recommendations as the Commission continues its work to close the digital divide.
Finally, you note the need to ensure reasonably comparable service in rural America. I
agree. That's one reason why the Commission maintained the 25 Mbps/3 Mbps benchmark for
high-speed fixed broadband service and concluded that mobile broadband is not a full substitute
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for fixed service. And that's why I asked my colleagues earlier this year to support my push for
an additional $500 million in universal service funding to help bridge the digital divide in areas
served by small rural carriers and cooperatives.
I look forward to working with you and your staff as we pursue the common goal to
extend digital opportunity to every American. Please let me know if I can be of any further
assistance.