PETER WELCH 
AT·l.A;!GE. YEAMOhi 
CHIEF DEPUTY \VHIP 
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STEERING & POUCY co rvlMITIEE 
COM MITIEE ON 
ENERGY AND COtvlMERCE 
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COl\1f!.!11TTEE ON 
OVERSIGHT AND GOVEflNl'.1ENT 
REFORM 
The Honorable Ajit V. Pai 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commissiori· 
445 12th Street SW 
Washinglon, OC 20554 
Deur Chaimrnn Pai: 
Janum·y 22, 2018 
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Bu rn 11w " 1lfl.I, VT 0!,-10~ 
(B!l2) 632 2450 
(896} 605-727(1 
l write to urge you not to act on recommendations from the Broadband Deployment 
Ad\'isory Conimittee (B.DAC) until the group reaches a consensus on how be~t (o spur 
broadband deploymenl and define the Conin1issioJ1''5 goal of bringing "reasonably comparable" 
broadbund service l.o rnrnl America. 1 Improving broadb11nd access for the millions of Americans 
who lack adequat.e service is critical and the Federal Communications Commission (l<:C) ·would 
be better suited to address th.is issue with a unified Committee position. 
Broadband is a vital resource liir itll Americans, und lhe FCC must do everything it can to 
speed lhe deployment of broadband in unserved um! underserved pmts of the country. Indeed, 
the principle of universal service is a cornerstone of the Conununications Act? I am concerned,. 
neve1theless, that without consensus among the cxpe1ts that comprise the 13DJ\.C, the FCC will 
fall short of its goals. 
ln particub1r, I was disturbed by repo1ts that DDAC leadership suggested thanhc 13DAC 
move ahead without reaching·a.conscnsus of working group mcmbers.3 The value of an 
advisory group is in its ability to draw experts with disparate perspectives to give the 
Coriunission the best advice possible. \.Vhen recent Commission advisory con1mitlees have 
issued recommendations prematurely aud without co.nsen~us <m1011g their experts, subsequent 
actions huve cretited mmec.essary confusion and division on policy matters. In sho1t, fo1: the 
DDAC to be a successful policy instrument, it must function as a consensus body. 
I 47U.S.C. § 254(b)(3). 
2 See general~v 47 U.S.C. § 254. 
3 RDAC Approves First Rr!cormil(mdations, But Disagrecml(mfs Surface, 
Communications Daily, (Nov. 13, 2017) (''\.Ve don' t have unanimous consent . . . and l don't 
anticipate:: that we will, and that's fine. \Vhat we hope we will be able to provide you in January 
will be something that a M~\imity or nur members have approved."). 
f l':N r£001l P.:\':CVCH OP.lif'f:FI 
57
The Honorable Ajit V. f'ui 
January 22, 2018 
Page2 
Tn a<l<liliun, I reaffirm my request that the C'.ommission use the !3DJ\.(.' as a tool to help 
define the FCC's slalulory mission co provide "reasonably comparnhle" service for rural 
Americans. Wlien you originally chartered che !3VAC, I wrote Lo your nlllcc lo suppo1t your 
cffo1t and to request t.lrn:L you l<tsk lhtl RDi\C with defining what it will mean lo have 
sm:ccssfully deployed broadband in n.1rul Amtorica.4 I still believe the DDAC shnultl untlertakc 
antl complete that impo1tant work. 
l'or those reasons, T ret1uesl lhul yo11 require the 13DAC to continue its work until it finds 
consensus and \mtil it defines what it will mear1 lo have reasonably comparuhle hrmttlbancl 
st:lrvic<:> in rural areas. ! appreciate your assistance with this inquiry. Should yt>u have any 
questions regarding this request. pk11se conl!lct J>alrick Salalin in my Office at (202) 225-4115. 
Sincerely, 
Cc: The IIonornble Mignon Clyhum, Commissioner, Federal Communicali<ms Commission 
The Hnnorahle Michael O'Riclly, Commissione.r, Fetleral Communications Commission 
The Honorable llrendan Carr, Cmnmis.~ioncr, Federal Collllllunications Commission 
The IIonornble Jessica Rosenworccl, Commissioner, Federal C'.ommunicatio11s Couu.nission 
'
1 Letter from Peter \Vekh, Member of Congress, et. al., lo Ajil Pai, Cl1airman. Federal 
Communications Commission (Feb. 7, 2017) ("We therefore urge you ro tusl< the Rroadband 
Deploymtonl Advisory Conunittce to . . . <lt: linto successful brnadband deployment in rum! 
i\mericun before moving on to more detfliled policies").