On November 17, 2017, eleven Senators sent a letter to FCC Chairman Pai in response to the Public Notice asking for feedback on the adequacy of funding for Category Two services. The Senators believe it is premature to make any major changes to the regulations now as there has not been enough data to fully evaluate the 2014 Modernization Order’s effectiveness.
The Senators specifically stated, “While we appreciate the Bureau’s eagerness to begin this evaluation well in advance of the deadline, we believe it is premature to evaluate the adequacy of the modernization, given its recent implementation and utilization…..We urge the commission to not prematurely make modifications to this important source of funding, which helps ensure all Americans – whether urban or rural, rich or poor – remain connected and competitive in this global economy.
The letter can be viewed here.