JEFF MERKLEY 
OREGON 
tlnitcd ~tatcs ~cnatc 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 121h Street, SW 
Washington, DC 20536 
Dear Chairman Wheeler, 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510 
September 19, 2014 
Received & Inspected 
OCT U 1 2014 
FCC Mail Room 
COMMITIEES: 
APPROPRIATIONS 
BANKING, HOUSING, 
AND URBAN AFFAIRS 
BUDGET 
ENVIRONMENT AND 
PUBUCWORKS 
I understand that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently proposed making 
several changes to Phase II of the Connect America Fund (CAF II). I am writing today to 
emphasize how important it is to ensure that the final implementations of CAF II fulfill its 
promise to provide fast and reliable broadband access to rural communities. 
The FCC's June IO'h Further NPRM to increase the broadband requirement to 10 Mbps has 
raised the hopes of rural communities in overcoming the digital divide. However, I am concerned 
that if the FCC moves forward with this proposal without allowing for some flexibility in the 
requirements, broadband providers will be unable to reach the goals that CAF II set out to 
achieve. 
During CAF I, entire areas would be disqualified for receiving support if an Internet provider 
claimed to serve just a portion of the population. The FCC should be specific as possible when 
targeting areas for broadband support and allow service claims to be verified through 
independent testing. In addition, the FCC should employ a I 0 Mbps standard for all 
communities, including those that currently meet the 4 Mbps standard. This will help ensure that 
everybody has equal access to the Internet, not just a select few. 
To make the most out of CAF II, the FCC should allow broadband providers the ability to 
substitute extremely high cost locations with unserved areas in partially served census blocks. 
This will help broadband providers meet deployment obligations and also maximize the amount 
of people who will gain access to high-speed Internet. Finally, the FCC should consider 
extending the funding for this program from five years to I 0 years to ensure that broadband 
providers have the necessary amount of time to build high-capacity networks in rural 
communities. 
313 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510 
(202) 224-3753 
FAX(202)228-3997 
I 121 S.W. SALMON STREET SUITE 1400 
PORTLAND, OR 97204 
(503) 326-3386 
FAx(503)326-2900 
Thank you for consideration of these recommendations and your efforts to bridge the digital 
divide. I look forward to your response. 
Si"~A:'~ 
Je Merkley 
U.S. Senator 
2