Chairman Pai Response to Rep. Welch Regarding Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Recommendations

On Jan 22, Rep Peter Welch (D-VT) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai urging him not to act on recommendations from the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) until the group reaches a consensus on how best to spur broadband deployment and define the FCC's goal of bringing "reasonably comparable" broadband service to rural America. 

On March 14, Chairman Pai responded by saying that BDAC's approved recommendations, along with materials from the meetings and proposed recommendations, are posted on the Commission's website, and, "interested parties are welcome to provide input to the BDAC in the electronic docket established for that purpose, GN Docket No. 17-83." Additionally, Chairman Pai wrote, "[Y]ou note the need to ensure reasonably comparable service in rural America. I agree. That's one reason why the Commission maintained the 25 Mbps/3 Mbps benchmark for high-speed fixed broadband service and concluded that mobile broadband is not a full substitute for fixed service. And that's why I asked my colleagues earlier this year to support my push for an additional $500 million in universal service funding to help bridge the digital divide in areas served by small rural carriers and cooperatives."