<ttongress of tbe mtnitrb i->tates ®lfosbington, D(: 20510 211 April 5, 2019 The Honorable Ajit Pai Chairman The Federal Communications Commission 1 445 12 h Street SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Pai: We write to encourage you to give due consideration to Westfield Gas and Electric's bid for the Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) auction. Should this application be approved, Westfield Gas and Electric could provide broadband access to thousands of families in Western Massachusetts. The internet is the greatest platform for commerce and communications, providing those with access an unrivaled opportunities for business, education, entertainment, and development. But the broadband revolution has yet to touch all comers of Massachusetts. In western Massachusetts, forty­ four communities are striving to achieve broadband access. Twenty communities are building municipally-owned broadband networks with speeds that will be an order of magnitude greater than the FCC's requirements. These systems are coming on-line now and throughout 2020- a true testament to these small towns that have been digitally stranded from many of the services upon which most Americans rely. Westfield Gas and Electric has applied for over ten million dollars from CAF II proceeds to increase access to reliable high-speed internet in Western Massachusetts. This funding would bring the crucial "last mile" connectivity to an additional 12,898 families in western Massachusetts, with broadband network coverage that will easily exceed 95% in each community. It is critical that we bring this essential tool of economic growth and prosperity to Western Massachusetts. We thank you for your attention to this proposal, and strongly encourage you to give it full consideration. If you have any questions, please contact Daniel Greene in Senator Markey' s office at (202) 224-2742. Sincerely, ~.~·~ Warren United States Senator ates Senator 1 es P. McGovern Member of Congress 2