Senators, representatives urge FCC to not endanger rural broadband expansion

Bipartisan groups of U.S. representatives and senators have sent letters to Federal Communication Commission chairman Julius Genachowski asking the agency to avoid proposed rule changes that they said would endanger broadband expansion in rural areas, reports Andrew Feinberg of The Hill. Forty-four representatives and 21 senators signed the letter, and all are from mostly rural districts.

The House letter reminded Genachowski that broadband expansion is "a major source of jobs" in rural places, and that the proposed October 2011 rule that could harm rural infrasturcture investment. The Senate version said "unintended consequences to all carriers serving rural areas can and should be alleviated by a clarification that the order will not be implemented in a manner that perpetuates unintended consequences." Both letters ask the FCC to respond "to ensure all rural consumers are able to fully participate in the universal communications network Congress has envisioned." (Read more)