THAD COCHRAN
MISSISSIPPI
tinitcd~tatc.s~rnatc
WASHINGTON, DC 2051<l-2402
COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS
RANKING MEMBER
COMMITTEE ON
AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION,
AND FORESTRY
COMMITTEE ON
RULES AND
ADMINISTRATION
February 9, 20II
Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
I am writing to join my Senate colleagues who have previously urged the Federal
Communications Commission to move forward with a rulemaking on the data roaming
obligations ofcommercial wireless providers. This issue has remained unresolved for some
time, and I believe that prompt attention by the FCC would be a constructive step.
The FCC previously addressed the issue ofroaming obligations for providers ofvoice
services, and the August 2007 decision has been beneficial to consumers in my home state of
Mississippi and the entire nation. This prior rulemaking has resulted in more consistent and
reliable wireless voice communication throughout the country. Rural residents have been able to
travel to other states and regions without experiencing interruptions in their wireless voice
services. .
However, it is now important that the FCC implement policies which would guarantee
the same reliable roaming coverage with regard to data services. Americans currently use voice
and data services interchangeably, and citizens may experience critical interruptions m business
and personal communications when data roaming IS unavailable. It is my view that unnecessary
communication hurdles should be alleviated for wireless customers, and a data roaming policy
which is compatible with voice roaming standards is a common sense approach which would
ensure great benefits for wireless customers.
While this issue is ofparticular importance to wireless customers who live in rural areas
in portions ofMississippi and other states, the whole country would profit from an updated
approach that provides for the negotiation ofautomatic roaming agreements for data, in addition
to voice services. I hope that the Commission will give prompt attention to this issue.
THAD COCHRAN
United States Senator
cc: Commissioner Michael 1. Copps
Commissioner Robert M. McDowell
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker