Again, it is not that they will not necessarily be connected. It is just the speed, and that is the big problem.

I just wanted to make sure you have that kind of on your radar.

You get extra points for being there in the winter. That is a plus up.

One of the big issues... is the relationship and confidence in the system.

I appreciate your being here today.

How would you reach out to the rural communities, especially in getting benefits to the rural homeless that is clearly growing?

A couple of weeks ago I held a meeting with many of the Federal agencies, kind of an interagency group on homelessness.

I appreciate your testimony, because I think many times it's hard for people to understand the value of communication within rural Alaska.

Without that bandwidth, some of the clinics that are run through your villages will not have access that many of the rural communities or urban communities have; is that a fair statement?

I think they'll do the right thing at the end of the day, as long as the procedures are, you know, approved.

How would you rate the importance of the Universal Service Fund for connectivity and accessibility for the villages?

Thank you. I just want to echo Senator Udall's comments. You have been a great ally for the Alaska Native community.

I'm going to focus on Libya, only because that's the conversation.

I'm telling you, it doesn't make sense to me and it doesn't make sense to taxpayers, when I talk to them.

The simplest thing we could do is just not appropriate it. Because all the contracts say, 'subject to appropriation.'

It's not just the government. It is private-sector contractors that do an enormous amount of work on behalf of the Federal Government.

It drives me crazy. Every time--so, we get a project, we--let me finish--we contract, has cost overruns--it's a private contractor we're working with, along with our folks--has cost overruns, not working out like we thought, then we have…

I think some people say it's just a bunch of government workers we're affecting. Not true. It's a combo.

I agree on the last part.

They do not necessarily like who you worked for. They do not like the policies of the OMB Director. They do not like the President.

I will probably have a lot to say, especially to OMB, because I think they are sometimes confused on what Alaska is about.

Thank you to Chairman Rockefeller and Senators Kerry and Pryor for their work on this vital issue for Americans.

Alaskans value their privacy so much there is a right to privacy spelled out in the Alaska State Constitution.

The United States Constitution clearly protects Americans from unreasonable searches of their private information without a compelling reason.

I am particularly concerned about the pervasive nature of tracking on children's websites.