FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF July31, 2019 THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Doug Collins U.S. House of Representatives 1504Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Collins: Thank you for your letter regarding broadband mapping. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself in 45 states, including of course, the 9th Congressional District in Georgia, and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses as well as the impact of its absence. I agree that using updated and accurate broadband deployment data is critical to bridging the digital divide. We need to understand where broadband is available and where it is not to target our efforts and direct funding to areas that are most in needed. That is why, after I became Chairman, the Commission began a top-to-bottom review of the Form 477 process to ensure that broadband data was more accurate, granular, and ultimately useful to the Commission and the public. After a thorough review of the record and the painstaking work of our career staff, I circulated a Report and Order for consideration at the FCC s August Open Meeting that would result in more granular and more accurate broadband maps through the creation of the Digital Opportunity Data Collection. That means requiring broadband providers to report where they actually offer service below the census block level and incorporating public feedback to ensure up to date and accurate broadband deployment maps. I appreciate your continued interest in working with the FCC to close the digital divide. I m particularly thankful for your leadership in introducing the Gigabit Opportunity (GO) Act 15th during the 1 Congress. By streamlining regulations to encourage broadband deployment and establishing targeted tax incentives for entrepreneurs to build those networks, we can empower millions of Americans, rural and urban alike. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, a(JAJ1tV. Pai