FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN October 15, 2019 The Honorable Steve Dames United States Senate 320 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Dames: Thank you for your letter regarding the Federal Communications Conmiission s E-Rate program. I agree that an effective and efficient E-Rate program one that promotes better connectivity for students and library patrons alike can be a powerful tool to help bridge the digital divide. And I appreciate your support for the regulatory modernization we ve introduced in order to bridge that divide in rural states like Montana. With respect to the concern you expressed regarding overbuilding, several Texas carriers filed a petition for rulemaking urging the Commission to prohibit the use of E-Rate funds for special construction of fiber networks that overbuild existing fiber networks. The Commission s Wfreline Competition Bureau sought comment on this petition, and the comment cycle has been completed. Commission staff is carefully reviewing the record. In addition, I want to note that the FCC is seeking to create a Digital Opportunity Data Collection in order to generate more granular and more accurate broadband maps. As part of this effort, we sought comment on how the maps and datasets canbe used to avoid duplicative funding in the E-Rate program. I can assure you that we will take into consideration the issues and concerns presented by all stakeholders each in these proceedings. I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, - Ajit V. Pai