FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN August 20, 2019 The Honorable Michael Bennet United States Senate 261 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Bennet: Thank you for your letter regarding the Federal Communications Commission s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public input on possible reforms to the budgetary structure of the Universal Service Fund. This is an important issue that my colleague, Commissioner O Rielly, has focused on for some time. As he has noted, each of the USF programs is currently capped or operating under a targeted budget. And as he has pointed out and the Notice details, the proposed overall annual budget is $11.42 billion, which is more than $3 billion above current USF program disbursements (and is a level that itself would be adjusted for inflation). The comment period has only recently concluded, and the Commission will review the record compiled in the proceeding carefully. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely,v1 Ajit V. Pai