I thank you for that. Today marks the first hearing in the Financial Service and general Government Subcommittee for the 115th congress. This is also my first hearing in my new role as the chair woman of this subcommittee and im honored to be serving. As we begin the important review of the budget request of the fcc we welcome our witnesses. Fcc chairman ajit pai and commissioner clyburn and michael oreilly. We look forward to hearing from you all about the fccs budget requests and the work youre doing to carry out the aenlsgen mission. The commission has requested a total of 322 million. The fccs funding is offset by fees that does not minimize our duty to insure that the agency is operating effectively, and that the funds are being spent responsibly. This is especially important since the fees are passed on to the consumer. The impact is critical in Rural America. Communities in my state of West Virginia have been hard hit by job loss. And decline and creating a major drag on the states economy and our quality of life. Two of our commissioners here have been in West Virginia firsthand to witness this. One of my Top Priorities has been to promote policies for new investments and boost economic growth. Broadband access can provide West Virginiaens with opportunities that lead to new jobs, higher wages and providing that momentum that our states economy needs. Potential investors need to see that West Virginia and its workforce is open for business and ready to work in the 21st century economy. According to the fcc, more than 30 million americans lack access to high speed broad band internet. Including a disproportionate number of Rural Communities. We just had a hearing that reflected some of that. Without the connectivity the communities struggle to compete in todays internet based world. In 2015, i launched my connect plan, jump starting a state wide conversation about the need to connect our state. Broad band should be easily available and affordable. Its that simple and at the federal level weve been trying to make this a reality. The benefits of broad band access are numerous but too many parts of Rural America cannot attract the investment they need to get online. Despite significant federal and private funding, West Virginia is less connected than nearly every other state. Weve been ham strung and we fail to maximize our existing resources. Communities like thomas and davis in Tucker County or the white water resorts need broad band to capture the tourism economy. They can attract the Technology Based workforce that simply needs a computer to reach clients around the globe. In order to help these communities, we must equip them with tools to succeed. Thats why i introduced legislation to accelerate the development of high Speed Internet and low income communities. The gigabyte act encourages these communities. By empowering governor and states to direct investments to areas with the greatest need, this insures communities with the highest potential for Economic Development are prioritiz prioritized. It eliminates barriers to new investment in brandbou band infrastructure. Under the go act, the fcc is directed to release a framework to streamline broad band laws throutt th throughout the state. This will eliminate the myriad laws that currently exist in all states. Once adopted the governors would be able to nominate a portion of their states low income areas as gigabyte opportunity zones. Businesses that invest in these zones or make upgrades to speed up the networks would benefit from incentives. Internet access should be broadly available regardless of whether you live in a small town or big city and this connectivity is essential to growing our nations economy and in particular West Virginias economy. With all the focus on Rural America, now is the time to level the playing field. And close that Digital Divide. So i will let mr. Coons have his opening statement. Im going to turn to our witnesses and chairman pai ill ask you to begin with your testimony. Thank you for holding this hearing. I want to recognize Ranking Member coons and all members of the subcommittee for have us here today. I want to note the participation of my two distinguished colleagues at todays hearing. It is a privilege to serve alongside each of them as we strive to meet the Public Interest frmpt fiscal year 2018 we have developed a carefully crafted budget requesting 322 million. That is 5. 2 below the prior fiscal years on directed spending level of approximately 339 million. We also wont need any directed move or restacking funds which amounted to 44 million and 16. 9 million in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 respectively. In addition, we propose to reduce our spectrum auction cap from 117 million to approximately 111 million. This would enable us to transfer approximately 6 million more to the treasury. We can all agree that budget reductions dont come easily. Well face the same challenges as other agencies in doing more with less. People making budget cuts while maintaining services means rolling up our sleeves and rethinking how the commission does business. In the past the fcc chairmen have emphasized that were an entirely fee funded agency. Its important to remember that someone is paying our freight. That someone includes Small Businesses, individual licens s licensees. It is imperative for the fcc to be fiscally responsible and to avoid unnecessary spending. And i firmly believe if we refrain from Regulatory Overreach well realize additional cost savings as well as more economic growth. Results that benefit everyone. While weve experienced staffing reductions over the past several years, administrativeficiencies and better it. Have insured that the fcc remains productive. For example, this year, with 100 fewer staff than last year, we have already managed to pursue an aggressive schedule for our open meetings where commissioners consider the highest profile matters. Indeed, in 2017 we are averaging more than double the number of items per meeting than we considered last year. 5. 83 versus 2. 58. I expect this increase productivity to continue into 2018. Since i became chairman in january, we have been aggressive and looking for cost savings. And our staff has already identified substantial reductions. Like closing our offsite warehouse and improving our internal Mail Services for an projected annual saving of 851,000. It will save another 280,000 by reducing the number of on site printers and copy machines. Now as we move into fiscal year 2018, we will focus the fccs resources on advancing the four strategic goals that were outlined in our budget request. First and foremost, consistent with your comments we will concentrate on closing the Digital Divide. Among other things well implement the connect America Fund Phase two and mobility fun phase two reverse auctions to bring fixed broadband to more of Rural America. These are complicated tasks to be sure but our rural broad band actions task force has a solid plan for getting the job done. If i may say, on a personal note, i appreciate your initiative in introducing the go act. This will be a substantial effort. I thank you for your leadership in that regard. Second we will work to promote integration to insure American Leadership to authorizing Television Broadcasters to use the next Generation Television standard. Well move full speed ahead on implementing the spectrum pipeline act to get more air waves into the commercial marketplace. Well concentrate on protecting consumer and Public Safety. From combatting illegal robo calls to improving Relay Service for deaf and hard of hearing americans, we will continue to pursue an aggressive agenda. We will continue to support those on the front lines who protect all of us each and every day. And fourth and finally well focus on refining the fccs processes. The American People deserve to have a responsive regulator. We had made substantial progress like making Public Commission items at least three weeks before we vote on them. There is much more to do it and do it we will. Looking ahead to next fiscal year im excited about how the fcc can bring Digital Opportunity to more americans. Promote technological innovation, protect the American People and improve our agencys operations. I believe this request will help us to advance these goals in a fiscally responsible way. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss the fccs budget proposal. Ill be pleased to answer any questions you or the members might have and look forward to working with you in the future. Thank you, now i would like to turn to commissioner clyburn and ask for her to present her testimony. Thank you. Lets try that again. Chairwoman, Ranking Member coons and members of the subcommittee, good afternoon. Its my distinct pleasure to appear before you to offer my perspective on the fccs fiscal year 2018 budget request. Yesterday marked the fccs 83rd anniversary. And while much has changed since 1934, our responsibility went it comes to protecting consumers, advancing competition, and insuring the reliability and resiliency of Public SafetyCommunications Remains unchanged. To achieve these goals, the fcc needs a fully staffed workforce. However, the agency finds itself with the fewer number of ftes in more than 30 years. And in some cases, this has created much neededficiencies. In others, its required employees to double up on responsibilities with little or no pay increase. This not only puts at risk the quality of the final work product, it also has a direct impact on worklife balance. To put this assertion into perspective, each year the federal Employee Viewpoint survey asks fcc employees whether they agree or disagree they have sufficient resources to get their job done. In 2011, just over 30 of fcc employees disagreed with this statement. By 2016, that figure had risen to nearly 38 . So additional budget and staffing cuts will likely lead to this number increasing even further in the coming years. Furthermore, while not unique to the fcc, an increasing number of federal employees are eligible for retirement. Today, there are 362 fcc employees that are retirement eligible, equaling roughly 23 of our workforce. In practice, 124 employees have already departed the agency this year, and this figure is only expected to increase. Some will retire, while others will leave for new job opportunities. So while we have no choice but to think about a future which recruits and retains the next generations best and brightest we must do so. And do so we will. You may have heard me speak about the need for better broad band data in part because i have heard from far too many communities that take issue with the fccs figures. They said that where our data shows there is fixed or mobile broadband coverage that in actuality the coverage racnges for spotty to nonexistent. It should not be this difficult for us to have accurate data down to sthe street level. We know it helps us to better target our infrastructure efforts and improve the accuracy of our National Broad band map. Im a strong believer in the power of broad band to tackle some of our nations greatest challenges, particularly when it comes to healthcare. Thanks to the work of the fccs connect the Health Task Force we have a clearer picture of where the greatest needs exist. The chairman has committed to carrying on the work of the task force and i am hopeful that through a sustained investment in this initiative, it will continue to fuel and inform us when it comes to broadband policy and investment for and in rural and underserved communities. As the subcommittee prepares its appropriations bill for fiscal year 18, i am also hopeful that i. T. Infrastructure will be top of mind. Modern i. T. Infrastructure should be able to handle a few hundred thousand Public Comments without grinding to a halt. And to demonstrate the agencys commitment to modernization and cybersecurity, future budget requests should include a dedicated subaccount, supporting these critical needs. Finally, i would like to talk about the agencys spectrum auctions program. Despite several auctions currently in development and more in the pipeline, the commissions budget request would cut 5. 8 million from the program. Our auctions produce a tremendous return on investment and are a winwin for consumers, industry, and the federal government. With 5 g on the horizon, we need to look long term and focus on how we will provide funding necessary to administer timely and efficiently run actions. It will help unlock the next generation of wireless broad band and insure that america remains a leader in wireless innovation. Returning to the commissions central mission, it is a point of great disappointment to me that this fcc is on the track to dismantle many of the key rules involving Consumer Protections and competition. Is this a prelude to the commission that ultimately allows Large Companies to exist in a regulatoryfree zone . I ask this because the American People count on the fcc to be the referee on the field. Insuring that our Nations Communications providers play by the rules and consumers have a chance to be on the in winning team. But only if this agency calls the right plays will it be able to say it is truly putting consumers first. Id like to thank you once again for giving me the opportunity to testify today. I look forward to answering any questions you may have of me. Thank you, commissioner clyburn. Now i would like to turn it over to commissioner oreilly. Welcome. Chairman, Ranking Member, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you. I commend fcc chairman pai for preparing the budget request present before the subcommittee. In particular, i appreciate the chairmans effort to trim the budget in terms of overall funding and personnel compared to the fy 17 budget submission and final appropriations level. These are difficult decisions to make im sure, changes as those outlined in the submission can be made without undermining the ability of the commission to execute its mission. If i could suggest one area where Additional Resources may be justified, it would be support for further work on the commissions universal service fund within the wire link competition bureau. On another note what appears to be a decision to relocate the headquarters is final, i think the move will have a negative impact on the agency. I know of several professionals who will choose to leave the Commission Rather than transfer to the new location. In terms of the commissions structure i would argue we maintain out dated bureau and divisioned based on bygone eras. They retain silos that predate the invention of the internet and that radical conversions thats occurred since then. Accordingly, i would humbly suggest this subcommittee consider requesting the commission to repair transformative plans for the agencys structure. While this hearing is focused o prepare transformative plans for the agency structure. While the hearing is focused on the commissions fy2018 budget it seems appropriate to raise policy issues before the commission for purposes of updating the committee. First, its a Top Commission priority to make broadband available to as Many Americans as possible. In addition to the two items discussed in the budget, the commission completed reform for the rate of return regulations last year. The bipartisan effort supported then and now by the affected industry will allocate 2 billion over the next two years for the rate of return carriers so this can expand service sfs to consumers. I would would be remiss if i didnt address my project, r. A. F. T. Part and parcel of reforming our mechanism, the commission is reviewing preparing to remove the Major Barriers to broadband imposed by state, local and tribal governments, activities that delay and deny network build, replicated throughout our nation. And cannot be allowed to continue if were to ever make Broadband Availability as universal as possible. Despite the best efforts over the last years trying to coax states not to divert necessary fees collected for 911 purposes, the commission identified that in 2016, eight states and a u. S. Territory continue that practice. While ive outlined a few ways for the commission to push states to stop this, the committee maintains the ability to commission billions of dollars and grants in funding provided to states which could serve as a great course corrector. For many reasons the commission has allowed individuals to illegally set up shop in the middle of radio bands. Thankfully the commission is preparing to take a different track towards these illegal operators. But the subcommittees endorsement will be welcome as we set forth to end this practice. Thank you for the opportunity to be before you today, and i look forward to answer