OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
April 24, 2018
The Honorable Ben Ray Luján
U.S. House of Representatives
2231 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Luján:
Thank you for your letter on the impact of the FCC's 2016 operating-expense limitations
on closing the digital divide on Tribal lands. In my first remarks to FCC staff as Chairman, I
declared that my highest priority would be making sure every American who wants high-speed
Internet access can get it. Nowhere in America is the digital divide as stark as it is on Tribal
lands. Too many Americans today are on the wrong side of the digital divide. That's why I am
happy to report that on April 4, 2018, the Commission adopted an Order addressing this matter.
The Order adopted by the Commission allows certain rate-of-return carriers serving
Tribal communities to recover higher levels of operational expenses from the Universal Service
Fund, given the unique and challenging circumstances that make it more expensive to serve
Tribal lands. This action will provide additional funding to these carriers to provide both voice
and broadband services to their customers. To be sure, this was not the same Order I originally
proposed in February 2017, a few weeks after I became Chairman. I would have extended
support to even more carriers that serve Tribal lands. But in the interest of finally getting
something done, I chose to find agreement with those commissioners who were willing to work
in good faith on ways to help carriers serving Tribal lands.
Of course, more needs to be done. That's why, for example, the Commission recently
agreed to solicit public input on the adoption of a Tribal Broadband Factor, which would provide
additional financial assistance to carriers serving Tribal lands. But the recent Order is an
important one that will help bring digital opportunity to struggling communities.
I appreciate your support for the Commission's efforts to promote broadband deployment
in Tribal areas and throughout the country, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to
close the digital divide. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Sincerely,
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
April 24, 2018
The Honorable Frank Pallone
Ranking Member
Committee on Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
2322A Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Pallone:
Thank you for your letter on the impact of the FCC's 2016 operating-expense limitations
on closing the digital divide on Tribal lands. In my first remarks to FCC staff as Chairman, I
declared that my highest priority would be making sure every American who wants high-speed
Internet access can get it. Nowhere in America is the digital divide as stark as it is on Tribal
lands. Too many Americans today are on the wrong side of the digital divide. That's why I am
happy to report that on April 4, 2018, the Commission adopted an Order addressing this matter.
The Order adopted by the Commission allows certain rate-of-return carriers serving
Tribal communities to recover higher levels of operational expenses from the Universal Service
Fund, given the unique and challenging circumstances that make it more expensive to serve
Tribal lands. This action will provide additional funding to these carriers to provide both voice
and broadband services to their customers. To be sure, this was not the same Order I originally
proposed in February 2017, a few weeks after I became Chairman. I would have extended
support to even more carriers that serve Tribal lands. But in the interest of finally getting
something done, I chose to find agreement with those commissioners who were willing to work
in good faith on ways to help carriers serving Tribal lands.
Of course, more needs to be done. That's why, for example, the Commission recently
agreed to solicit public input on the adoption of a Tribal Broadband Factor, which would provide
additional financial assistance to carriers serving Tribal lands. But the recent Order is an
important one that will help bring digital opportunity to struggling communities.
I appreciate your support for the Commission's efforts to promote broadband deployment
in Tribal areas and throughout the country, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to
close the digital divide. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
April 24, 2018
The Honorable Greg Walden
Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Walden:
Thank you for your letter on the impact of the FCC's 2016 operating-expense limitations
on closing the digital divide on Tribal lands. In my first remarks to FCC staff as Chairman, I
declared that my highest priority would be making sure every American who wants high-speed
Internet access can get it. Nowhere in America is the digital divide as stark as it is on Tribal
lands. Too many Americans today are on the wrong side of the digital divide. That's why I am
happy to report that on April 4, 2018, the Commission adopted an Order addressing this matter.
The Order adopted by the Commission allows certain rate-of-return carriers serving
Tribal communities to recover higher levels of operational expenses from the Universal Service
Fund, given the unique and challenging circumstances that make it more expensive to serve
Tribal lands. This action will provide additional funding to these carriers to provide both voice
and broadband services to their customers. To be sure, this was not the same Order I originally
proposed in February 2017, a few weeks after I became Chairman. I would have extended
support to even more carriers that serve Tribal lands. But in the interest of finally getting
something done, I chose to find agreement with those commissioners who were willing to work
in good faith on ways to help carriers serving Tribal lands.
Of course, more needs to be done. That's why, for example, the Commission recently
agreed to solicit public input on the adoption of a Tribal Broadband Factor, which would provide
additional financial assistance to carriers serving Tribal lands. But the recent Order is an
important one that will help bring digital opportunity to struggling communities.
I appreciate your support for the Commission's efforts to promote broadband deployment
in Tribal areas and throughout the country, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to
close the digital divide. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.