Congresswoman Eva M. Clayton (Retired) 177 Northside Dr.

Lake Gaston Littleton, NC 27850

Dear Office of the Secretary: I would like to submit these comments in response to the May 28th Request for Written Submissions in the matter of Electronic Digital Media Devices, Inv. No. 337-TA-796. I had the honor of representing the people of North Carolinas First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003. During that time, I worked on two of the most comprehensive telecommunications bills to date and served as co-chair of the Rural Caucus and president of my freshman class. Looking back, it is evermore clear to me that protecting rural and minority communities in North Carolina and across the nation around telecommunications and technology was extremely important. As a result of that work, I am keenly aware and continue to advocate to close the digital divide (inequalities between individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas at different socioeconomic and other demographic levels) to ensure all Americans are being granted fair access to, and use of, modern technology. It is my concern that if the Commission rules in favor of Apples patents, including one allegedly on a rectangle with rounded corners, and as a result issues a wide-reaching exclusion order on Samsungs smartphones and tablets, that the digital divide in America may in fact widen. Whether the reason is physical access to the technology or simply being priced out of the market, more minority Americans are turning to wireless options to access the Internet. Recent data shows that more Americans in communities of color are skipping over wired networks and rely on wireless access to the Internet. According to Pew Research, over 60 percent of Latino and African American Internet users rely on their mobile device as their primary source of Internet access. Samsung provides millions of consumers, many of whom are minorities, with affordable and quality wireless broadband devices. If these devices are removed from the market, and prevented from passing Customs in the future, consumers who do not have home Internet access would have fewer affordable options for 4G devices and plans. An October 2012 report by George Washington University found that 29 percent of Americans still did not have home Internet access, most of them poorer and less educated. 99 percent of households making $150,000 or more had access, compared to only 57 percent making $15,000 or less many of whom live in rural America. This is particularly troubling as 71 percent of teens say that Internet sources are the primary source for completing school projects, according to a 2012 FCC report. Denying affordable wireless broadband devices and plans to Americans widens the digital divide and hurts students from poorer communities.

Mobile broadband access does more for Americans than facilitate a pocket full of games and email. It is helping rural and minority Americans improve their health, attend college and keep in touch with loved onesthanks in large part to multitude of devices that Samsung offers. I respectfully thank the Commission for allowing me to submit my concerns on this important issue. It is my hope that while deliberating an outcome, you take the aforementioned points into consideration, and deliver a judgment that protects Americas rural and minority communities. Sincerely,

Hon. Eva M. Clayton