ROBERT E. LAnA
5TH DISTRICT, OHIO
ASSISTANT MAJORITY WHIP
VICE CHAIRMAN
CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN'S CAUCUS
COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND COMMERCE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY
SUIlt:OMMIHH ON HEAL TH
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY
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WASHINGTON OFFICE"
1323 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFiCE BUILDING
(202l225~6405
DISTRICT OFFICES:
'045 NORTH MAIN STREET
SUITE 6
BOWLING GREEN. OH 43402
(419) 354-8700
101 CLINTON STREET
SUITE 1200
DEFIANCE, OH 43512
(419)782-1996
11 EAST MAIN STRen
NORWALK, OH 44857
(419) 668-0206
April 4, 2011
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski,
In the fast-moving world that we live in, individuals, families, small businesses,
organizations, corporations, and government entities all rely on instantaneous communication. I
applaud the Commission's efforts over the years to ensure that every American is connected first
by phone, and now by broadband. This infrastructure is not just critical, but necessary to our
Nation's economy.
I represent the largest agricultural district in Ohio, which spans 16 counties in northern
Ohio and is serviced by 18 rural telecommunications companies. Many ofthese rural local
exchange carriers (LECs) in my district are having recurring problems with calls not being
completed - incoming long distance calls to residential and business customers are not going
through. The problem is not limited to LECs in my district though; it is a growing issue across
the state and Midwest. However, incomplete calls can be difficult to identifY, as oftentimes it is
impossible to know that a call was missed. Called customers may not be aware ofin-bound call
problems absent notification by the calling party, and LECs may not be aware ofin-bound call
problems absent notification by called customers. Thus, the problem could be even more
widespread.
I am writing to make you and your fellow FCCcommissioners aware ofthis issue.
Furthermore, I am asking that you investigate the problem ofincoming calls being terminated in
rural areas and ifunjust and unreasonable discrimination is occurring, ifthere is a violation of
common carrier requirements, or ifcalls are being blocked.
Businesses depend on the quality and completion ofevery single phone call. During this
economic downturn, many small businesses operate on a small margin, and one incomplete call
that results in a business transaction not being made, can be critical. Furthermore, incomplete
calls adversely affect families and public safety, and can even be life-threatening. Your attention
to this matter is critical to the telecommunications infrastructure in rural Ohio. I would like to
meet with you, or your staff, to discuss the problem and how we can ensure that rural areas have
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access to a reliable network. Please foHow-up with either me or my staff member, Bethany
Peck, at (202) 225-6405. Thank you for your consideration.
Robert E:1.';aHa.- ;,....
Member of Congress
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