MARTHA ROBY COMMITTEE: 
2ND DISTRICT, ALABAMA 
APPROPRIATIONS 
CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 
ROOM 442 
WASHINGTON, DC 
PHONE: (202) 225--2901 
Cha irman Tom Wheeler 
C!Congre5'5' of tbe Wniteb ~tate5' 
~ou5e of .l\epre5entatibe5 
mmta~bington, 1JBqC 20515-0102 
April I 8, 20 16 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street SW 
Washington, D.C. 20554 
Chairman Wheeler, 
As you know, Congress provided the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the authority to 
suppoti communications services to rural schools and libraries in Section 254 of the Telecommunications 
Act of 1996 (P.L. I 04-104). The Commission has used Sec. 254 to open universal service funding to 
schools and libraries through what is commonly referred to as the E-rate Program. The E-rate Program 
funds are managed and administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). The 
FCC adopted Order 15-1012 to modernize the E-rate Program on September 11 , 2015. In this Order, the 
Commission provides the eligible services list (ESL) for funding year 20 16 under the E-rate Program, and 
di scusses modifications to the ESL Public Notice in response to public comment. 
My office was contacted by small and independent cable telecommunications providers in my district 
with 'concerns regarding the Second E-rate Modernization Order and ESL parameters established in 
Order 15- 1012. I would ask for answers to the following questions: 
1) How wi ll the Commission ensure that small and local telecommunications providers remain 
an integral pati of the Commission's deployment of universal service funds through USAC, 
and specifically the E-rate Program; and, 
2) How w ill the Commission ensure federal funds spent through the E-rate program are used 
so lely to promote the deployment of broadband to schools and libraries? 
Thank you in advance for your reply, your consideration of these priorities, and for the Commission's 
work to support broadband access across rural America. 
Since ·ely, 
Met ber of Congress 
CC: Mike Dabbs, Director of Legislative Affairs 
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