FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Michael Michaud 
U.S. House of Representatives 
1724 Longworth House Office Building 
Washington, DC 20515 
Dear Congressman Michaud: 
April 11 , 2014 
Thank you for your letter regarding modernization ofthe Commission's rules governing 
the Schools and Libraries universal service support mechanism - also known as theE-rate 
program. I particularly appreciate your constructive support for ensuring that theE-rate program 
is well positioned into the future. 
Modernization of the E-rate program is among the most important tasks currently facing 
the Commission. As you point out in your letter, it is critical to America's future to ensure that 
our schools and libraries have affordable access to modern high-capacity broadband 
technologies. I am a strong advocate for and believe in theE-rate program, and the need to 
modernize its operation to emphasize high-speed broadband. I have attached two recent 
speeches on the topic. 
Commission staff is reviewing the record that has been developed in response to the July 
2013 Notice of Proposed Rule making, and meeting with stakeholders to ensure that we have 
robust input from all interested parties. Just a few weeks ago, the staff released a Public Notice 
seeking focused comment on a handful of specific issues that have been raised by cornmenters. 
And my goal is for the Commission to adopt an Order later this spring that would implement 
fundamental structural and administrative changes, the results of which would go into effect in 
2015. We need to ensure that theE-rate program supports the high-capacity broadband needed 
to give our students access to twenty-first century educational opportunities, while 
simultaneously improving the efficiency and administration ofthe program and establishing 
explicit program goals and measurements. We wi ll include your letter in the record of the 
proceeding for Commission consideration as we proceed with reform of this important program. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further 
assistance. 
Sincerely, 
Tom Wheeler 
Enclosures