Western Governors encourage the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to continue innovative usage of the Educational Broadband Service (EBS) spectrum to support rural connectivity efforts. The July 9, 2019 letter signed by WGA Chair and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Vice Chair and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown commends FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and his fellow commissioners for including a local priority filing window for Tribal Nations in rural areas in its Report and Order (R&O), released in June, 2019. The Governors’ now request the FCC at its July 10, 2019 meeting consider extending a similar priority filing designation to rural educational institutions. By doing so, the FCC enables those licensees to partner with wireless internet service providers to build out broadband networks to otherwise unserved or underserved communities. Read, download letter.