For many of us, cell phones have become a necessary component of everyday life, helping us do business, stay in touch with the people who matter most to us and call for help in emergencies.

Across the state of Maine, public safety officers like me depend on wireless service to respond quickly to emergency situations. We rely on cell phones to assist in search and rescue operations, address domestic violence situations, prevent criminal activity and communicate in areas where police radio is unsecure or unavailable.

That's why a recent proposal by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is so troubling to me -- and potentially dangerous for rural Maine.

In smaller communities, wireless carriers cannot always justify the costs of building new cell towers. However, there is a federal program called the Universal Service Fund (USF) that helps build reliable communications networks in rural areas.

Unfortunately, the FCC placed a cap on the wireless portion of the USF earlier this year, and now proposes drastic cuts that could eliminate nearly half the support we now receive in Maine. Statewide, we could lose more than $6 million in annual USF support, and dozens of new cell sites would be canceled or delayed every year.

We are fast becoming a wireless nation, but there is much work to be done in Maine to bring reliable cell phone networks to our rural areas. Cutting the USF for wireless is not a solution. Visit www.ConnectingRural America.org to learn more and take action.

Sheriff Randall A. Liberty

Kennebec County Sheriff's Office