JONI K. ERNST COMMITTEES IOWA ARMED SERVICES AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE AND FORESTRY 111 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING ENVIRONMENT WASHINGTON, DC 20510 403 AND PUBLIC WORKS PHONE: 202-224-3254 tlnitcd ~tatcs ~cnatc FAX: 202-224-9369 SMALL BUSINESS WWW.ERNST.SENATE.GOV AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP May 8, 2018 Rece\ved &\nspected The Honorable Ajit Pai Chairman M A~ 2. I 20\B Federal Communications Commission 44 5 12th Street SW FCC Mai\room Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Pai: In March 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted an order that provided an infusion of new funding for the high-cost program within the Universal Service Fund (USF). As you know, the USF's high-cost program is extremely important to rural America, as it helps bring affordable broadband service to parts of the country that are the most difficult and costly to serve. I thank you for these important efforts and your ongoing work to address the digital divide. Iowa is one of our nation's most rural states and is home to more local telephone companies than any other state. These companies are fixtures in their towns and take great pride in the service they provide to their communities. Despite progress in recent years, it remains challenging for small providers to build out broadband to rural areas. The USF's high-cost program has played a key role in helping these companies build out broadband, and it's important that the high-cost program remains a reliable and effective tool for them. Access to reliable broadband is a necessity in the modern economy. It provides farmers and small businesses with access to important market data and makes it easier for them to target new customers and grow their operations. It also provides our patients with better access to healthcare providers and our students with new learning opportunities. With these concerns in mind, I ask that you continue working to ensure that the USF's high-cost program is able to meet the needs of rural America. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to continued dialogue withSf you ly,on this important issue. 0 Joni K. Ernst United States Senator CC: Commissioner Michael O'Rielly Commissioner Mignon Clyburn Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Commissioner Brendan Carr DES MOINES OFFICE CEDAR RAPIDS OFFICE DAVENPORT OFFICE S1ou·x C1TY OFFICE COUNCIL BLUFFS OFFICE 733 FEDERAL BUILDING 111 SEVENTH' AVENUE SE 201 WEST SECOND STREET 194 FEDERAL BUILDING. .221 FEDERAL BUILDING 210 WALNUT STREET SUITE 480 SUITE 806 320 SIXTH STREET 8 SOUTH SIXTH STREET DES MOINES, IA 50309 CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52401 DAVENPORT, IA 52801 Sioux CITY, IA 51101 COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA 51501 PHONE: 515-284-4574 PHONE: 319-365-4504 PHONE: 563-322--0677 PHONE: 712-252-1550 PHONE: 712-352-1167 FAX: 515-284-4937 FAX: 319-365-4683 FAX: 563-322~0854 FAX: 712- 252- 1638 FAX: 712-352--0087 : l .