STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN Re: Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, A National Broadband Plan for Our Future, GN Docket No. 09-51, High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket No. 05-337 With this item we embark upon an ambitious and long-overdue mission: the comprehensive reform of our universal service system to support broadband in geographic areas where there is no business case to deploy or operate broadband. In order for us to successfully accomplish this mission, we must begin with a good road map. The item before us identifies the issues to consider when devising our map. I thank the staff for their hard work in identifying these issues in the National Broadband Plan and for their effort on this item. While the start of any journey can be very exciting, it also can be fraught with anxiety. I recognize there are many reasons for industry to be apprehensive. However, I hope as we begin the discussion of how to design a new support system and realize cost savings in our current system that we remain focused on our essential goal of fully connecting all Americans to voice and broadband services.