Federal Communications Commission FCC 13-16 
STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER JESSICA ROSENWORCEL
Re: Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC 
Docket No. 05-337.
A little over a year ago, the Commission took historic steps to update its high-cost universal 
service fund and intercarrier compensation system.  I commend my colleagues for this effort.  They 
refocused the fund from last century’s technology on to the broadband and wireless communications 
challenges of this century; they put it on a budget; they increased accountability throughout.  
But as I have said before, I worry that our reforms to the high-cost universal service system are 
extremely complex.  I fear that this complexity can deny carriers dependent on them the certainty they 
need to confidently invest in their network infrastructure.  So when opportunities arise to simplify our 
rules in a manner that is fiscally sound, good for consumers and bound to inspire investment—we should 
seize them.  
Today, we have done just that.  This order makes some adjustments to the universal service 
reforms for rural carriers that I recommended some time ago.  Specifically, this order combines the two 
separate capital and operating expense benchmarks into one benchmark to simplify the regression 
analysis and provide carriers with flexibility to meet our new limits.  We also direct the Wireline 
Competition Bureau to take a hard look at keeping these benchmarks in place for a longer period of time, 
instead of resetting them annually.  I think these kind of adjustments will help ensure a more 
“predictable” and “sufficient” system—one that provides carriers with more confidence to invest in 
broadband infrastructure.  So I commend the Chairman and my colleagues for approving this order and 
putting these changes in place.  
Today’s decision will help promote confidence in broadband investment for carriers serving rural 
communities.  Going forward, I believe we need to do more of the same by distributing incremental 
support from the first phase of the Connect America Fund—as soon as possible.