Qtnngresn nf tqe llniteh e;tates Received & Inspected Dla.sqington, 1!l<!r 20515 MAY 1 7 2018 May 15, 2018 394 FCC MaH Room The Honorable Ajit Pai Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Pai: We thank the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its recent Order addressing certain High-Cost Universal Service Fund (USF) budget shortfalls. The recent Order is an essential near­ term step in the right direction, but we encourage the FCC to adopt longer-term USF budget solutions that will ensure rural Americans the opportunity to obtain voice and broadband services on a basis that is reasonably comparable to what other Americans enjoy. In multiple letters, Congress has expressed broad support for addressing High-Cost program shortfalls. In May 2017, nearly 160 Members of Congress wrote to the FCC, expressing concern about the impact of insufficient USF resources on rural consumers. In October 2017, nearly 75 Members of Congress asked the FCC to immediately address the budget shortfall and continue collecting the same USF budget levels for the High-Cost program pending development of a longer­ term solution. The FCC's recent Order approving an infusion of funds into the USF is greatly welcomed, but it also represents a recognition of, and an incomplete salve for, a more significant problem - the fact that the High-Cost USF program has been and remains insufficient (notwithstanding the recent injection of support). This persistent insufficiency is affecting the ability of smaller rural broadband providers to effectively deliver broadband services in the most rural areas of America. For example, we understand the FCC's cost model for smaller operators is still not funded at the levels as designed, while those smaller carriers that do not receive model support may face even steeper support cuts than before when the program's new "fiscal year" takes effect on July 1. For all the work just undertaken, these recurring budget shortfalls will yet again translate to lower speeds, more unserved locations, and higher prices for rural consumers and businesses. To be clear, we greatly appreciate the steps taken by the FCC thus far to address such concerns. However, until longer-term budget solutions are addressed as well, many smaller operators will remain unable to offer high quality, affordable broadband to consumers across rural America. For these reasons, we encourage the FCC to act as soon as possible pursuant to the notice of proposed rulemaking included with the order to provide support that is both sufficient and predictable on a longer-term basis as mandated by statute. PRINTED ON RECYC LED PAPER Thank you for your consideration. We share your goal of eliminating the digital divide and look forward to working with you to ensure rural American consumers and businesses have access to quality, affordable broadband. Sincerely, ~-~" U/ {A,, L l6t.- - Kevin Cramer Collin Peterson Member of Congress Member of Congress uke Messer cott esjarlais ember of Congress Member of Congress 1/£ /}n Vicente Gonzalez Member of Congress Member of Congress Steve Pearce Member of Congress Member of Congress David Young Member of Congress :£raa{~4+ Mo Brooks Member of Congress Member of Congress Tom O'Halleran g Member of Congress Member of Congress Cheri Bustos utter Member of Congress Member of Congress Pe~~· ~h - Member of Congress ~?~ Sean Duffy Austin Scott Member of Congress Member of Congress ... ~ .. ~~I(; Jacki~alorski Steve&?th Stivers Member of Congress Member of Congress Chris Stewart ~- Member of Congress Member of Congress B. McKinley, P.E . ,......,"'""' ...bet of Congress Member of Congress , Bost &I ~/ Member of Congress z;:n~~ <:a2ea Glenn Grothman Member of Congress Member of Congress r/i1cr,£eg &- Richard M. Nolan Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress A2~2( Rick Crawford Jaime Herrera Beutler Member of Congress Member of Congress ' ~ - ~~1 , M~ . Bishop, Jr. ~ Member of Congress of Congress ohnJ. Faso Member of Congress ~e~.-;e;_:-- Member of Congress Member of Congress Andy~ Ba ~ Ted Budd MembOngress Member f Congress ~~;)~ - Jim Cost Member of Congress Member of Congress Susan W. Brooks &a~Brett Guthrie Member of Congress Member of Congress ~- ~~~~ Mike Gallagher Ann McLane Kuster Member of Congress Member of Congress tfk '(.JM., Alex X. Mooney Tim Ryan Member of Congress Member of Congress Diana DeGette Ron Estes Member of Congress Member of Congress Diane Black Rya Member of Congress Member of Congress Gregg~~ ~r ~·~ Roger Marshall Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress Cfw,llb ~· 1:~~... -- Chuck Fleischmann Member of Congress Sem ~ Member of Congress @__~-· - ------ Adam Kinzinger Member of Congress Member of Congress rix,/.,L1, c=fa-~4 Dave Loebsack Steve Russell Member of Congress Member of Congress Q~ M ~~~ Member of Congress Member of Congress Greg Gianforte Member of Congress Member of Congress Li Cheney Member of Congress c~~#\7~ \ ~ , tjfdµ_ Carol Shea-Porter ' Kevin Yoder Member of Congress Member of Congress \ \ \ ~~!!lb MarkwayrfeMullin ~ \ Member of Congress \_ Tom Cole Seth Moulton Member of Congress Member of Congress fl.MJ_ ~ Bruce Westerman ember of Congress Member of Congress Ralph Abraham Member of Congress eadows Member of Congress her of Congress ?J-fktfll- ~~,/ John Ratcliffe Member of Congress Member of Congress l!k::ml Lfa-6 Ken~~~ Buck Member of Congress Member of Congress IL~ Ron Kind Member of Congress Member of Congress ~~~ ~?=> Steven Palazzo Member of Congress Member of Congress {k ~~~~ James P. McGovern K. Michael Conaway Member of Congress Member of Congress ~s~ A. Donald McEachin Member of Congress Member of Congress U/24~ Erik Paulsen Member of Congress Chris Collins Pete Olson Member of Congress 1vu;~~·of Congress Paul Mitchell Member of Congress Mia Love Member of Congress ,-.--~ -;:i,..--- l~er jV-VV' t ~!---- Member of Congress Member of Congress ~-~~ ~diaM.Vela~~~ Doris tsui Member of Congress M=be f t~ss Trent Key Member of Congress £?i~ ~ French Hill im Walberg Member of Congress Member of Congres Tom Rice Member of Congress Member of Congress ('ritfl~M Mike Johnson Member of Congress ~~)Alrlla Adams / Member of Congress J