MITCH McCONNELL MAJORITY LEADER COMMITIE S AGRICULTURE 317 RUSSELL SlNATC 0HICE 8UllOINCl APPROPRIATIONS WASHINGTON, DC 20510 1702 (202) 224 2541 RULES AND ADMINISTRATION February 19, 2019 93 The Honorable Ajit Pai Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW Washington, D.C. 20554-0004 Dear Chairman Pai: As you continue to review applications for qualified individuals to serve on the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC), I want to bri ng to your attention a fellow Kentuckian- Tom Ferree-who I believe deserves consideration to serve on the FCC's BDAC. BDAC plays an integral role in developing policy recommendations to spur broadband and high-speed Internet technologies, paiiicularly in rural areas, like those in my home state of Kentucky. Given the imporiance of this committee's work, it is paramount that well-qualified individuals are selected to serve on it. As you may know from his application, Mr. Ferree has years of experience serving in both the private and public sectors. Most recently-and in an effort to help close the digital divide-Mr. Ferree served as President and CEO of Connected Nation, a Kentucky based non-profit, where he led the organization in its mission to provide communities with solutions to their broadband challenges. Additionally, during Mr. Ferree's time at Connected Nation, the organization worked closely with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to address connectivity issues at several library systems in the United States. Throughout his career, Mr. Ferree has shown a passion and deep commitment to helping provide communities, both large and small, with solutions to close the digital divide. I believe his depth of experience in the telecommunications industry, and in the public sector, makes him worthy of consideration to serve on the BDAC, and therefore, I ask that his application and nomination be given fair review. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, ~~~ M~~r~:c~~NELL UN ITED STATES SENATOR MM/qs ft nr HAL Bun [llN<t 1885 Di-11 H11.11wAV 771 CoAPOHAlf DHivr 300 Sou 111 MAIN 601 WI '>l BROAOWAY 100 FouN 1A IN AvLNul 241 EASt MAIN SlAHl SL>IH 345 Su1ll 108 Su1rt 310 Sum: 630 SUllf 300 ROOM 102 Fom W1rn.HI , KY 41011 LEXINGTON, KY 40b03 LONOON, KY 40741 lou1SVll H, KY 40202 PAOlJCAH, KY 42001 BC>WI INt; GHH "· KY 4?101 (8~91578 0168 (859) 224-8286 16061 864 2026 (502) 582 6304 ( 270f 442 4554 (270) 781 1673