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The Honorable Ajit Pai 
Chainnan 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th St SW 
Washington, DC 20554-0004 
Dear Chainnan Pai: 
April17, 2017 
We applaud your pledge to make April " infi·astmcture month" at the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC), and we welcome your efforts to identify and eliminate 
unnecessary mles and regulations and modernize our Nation's telecommunication networks. As you 
are set to vote on your draft order for Business Data Services (BDS), we write to express our supp01t 
for a reasonable transition period in implementing these new mles to allow all market participants the 
opportunity to evaluate and adapt to the implications of BDS deregulation in order to minimize 
potential dismptions and unintended consequences to small businesses in America. 
A transition period would create a window where all market patticipants could plan for price 
increases or the purchase of intemet protocol (IP)-enabled equipment, shop for altemative service 
atTangements, and even solicit build-out proposals from potential market entrants. A reasonable 
transition would also enable service providers to adapt and remain viable in more markets than will 
occur in the event of a flash cut to new policies. 
Fmther, as we understand, the draft order seeks to accelerate investment in IP technologies 
and transition more customers to IP services and notes that future developments, such as the onset of 
5G wireless deployments in 2020, may serve to hold prices in check despite the highly concentrated 
ownership ofBDS facilities. A transition period would allow additional time for these changes to 
play out and allow providers time to adjust their business models and educate consumers about the 
coming changes, including the possibility of price hikes, tennination of service, and migration to 
altemate technologies. 
For these reasons, we respectfully request that you give full and fair consideration to the 
adoption of a reasonable transition pe1iod when implementing this order. Thank you for your 
consideration of our request, and please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or 
concems. We look forward to working with you on improving our Nation's telecommunications 
networks. 
Sincerely, 
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 
Tom Cotton 
U.S. Senator 
CJ.a~ 
Member of Congress