O F F I C E O F T H E C H A I R M A N F E D E R A L C O M M U N I C A T I O N S C O M M I S S I O N W A S H I N G T O N M a r c h 1 4 , 2 0 1 8 T h e H o n o r a b l e A m y K i o b u c h a r U n i t e d S t a t e s S e n a t e 3 0 2 H a r t S e n a t e O f f i c e B u i l d i n g W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . 2 0 5 1 0 D e a r S e n a t o r K l o b u c h a r : T h a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n q u i r y r e g a r d i n g r e c e n t r e q u e s t s b y t h e U n i v e r s a l S e r v i c e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e C o m p a n y ( U S A C ) s e e k i n g r e p a y m e n t f r o m H e n n i n g , M e n a h g a a n d B e r t h a - H e w i t t s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s o f E - r a t e f u n d i n g t h a t d a t e s b a c k t o 2 0 0 6 . S p e c i f i c a l l y , y o u r e q u e s t t h e F C C s w i f t l y r e s o l v e t h e a p p e a l o f U S A C ' s i n t e n t t o r e c o v e r t h e f u n d i n g f i l e d b y F r e s h w a t e r E d u c a t i o n D i s t r i c t , t h e c o n s o r t i u m t h a t i n c l u d e s t h e t h r e e M i n n e s o t a s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s a s m e m b e r s . T h e C o m m i s s i o n s t r i v e s t o a c h i e v e t h e E - r a t e p r o g r a m ' s g o a l o f p r o v i d i n g t h e i m p o r t a n t b e n e f i t s t o e l i g i b l e s c h o o l s a n d l i b r a r i e s , w h i l e p r o t e c t i n g t h e i n t e g r i t y o f t h e p r o g r a m f r o m p o t e n t i a l w a s t e , f r a u d a n d a b u s e . O n A u g u s t 1 7 , 2 0 1 7 , F r e s h w a t e r E d u c a t i o n D i s t r i c t f i l e d a n a p p e a l o f t h e U S A C d e c i s i o n w i t h t h e C o m m i s s i o n . I c a n a s s u r e y o u t h a t w e w i l l t a k e i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e i s s u e s a n d c o n c e r n s p r e s e n t e d b y a l l s t a k e h o l d e r s a s t h e C o m m i s s i o n m a k e s e v e r y e f f o r t t o c o n c l u d e i t s r e v i e w i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e l a w a n d t h e f a c t s . I a p p r e c i a t e y o u r i n t e r e s t i n t h i s m a t t e r . Y o u r v i e w s a r e v e r y i m p o r t a n t a n d w i l l b e e n t e r e d i n t o t h e r e c o r d o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g a n d c o n s i d e r e d a s p a r t o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n ' s r e v i e w . P l e a s e l e t m e k n o w i f I c a n b e o f a n y f u r t h e r a s s i s t a n c e . S i n c e r e l y , OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON March 14, 2018 The Honorable Rick Nolan U.S. House of Representatives 2366 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Nolan: Thank you for your inquiry regarding recent requests by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) seeking repayment from Henning, Menahga and Bertha- Hewitt school districts of E-rate funding that dates back to 2006. Specifically, you request the FCC swiftly resolve the appeal of USAC's intent to recover the funding filed by Freshwater Education District, the consortium that includes the three Minnesota school districts as members. The Commission strives to achieve the E-rate program's goal of providing the important benefits to eligible schools and libraries, while protecting the integrity of the program from potential waste, fraud and abuse. On August 17, 2017, Freshwater Education District filed an appeal of the USAC decision with the Commission. I can assure you that we will take into consideration the issues and concerns presented by all stakeholders as the Commission makes every effort to conclude its review in accordance with the law and the facts. I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, C OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON March 14, 2018 The Honorable Tina Smith United States Senate 309 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Smith: Thank you for your inquiry regarding recent requests by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) seeking repayment from Henning, Menahga and Bertha- Hewitt school districts of E-rate funding that dates back to 2006. Specifically, you request the FCC swiftly resolve the appeal of USAC's intent to recover the funding filed by Freshwater Education District, the consortium that includes the three Minnesota school districts as members. The Commission strives to achieve the E-rate program's goal of providing the important benefits to eligible schools and libraries, while protecting the integrity of the program from potential waste, fraud and abuse. On August 17, 2017, Freshwater Education District filed an appeal of the USAC decision with the Commission. I can assure you that we will take into consideration the issues and concerns presented by all stakeholders as the Commission makes every effort to conclude its review in accordance with the law and the facts. I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your views are very important and will be entered into the record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, C tV. Pal