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U S . D6parfniOn f o f Assistant Secreury. \M[i' ^ ^^-^f'^' •:-i200 New Jersey Ave.. S.E 

TVvinsportatlon ',_.; r.ri^.l.^.-'. Wasnmgton 0020590 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportotfon •'• •) I A '•'•!• o'-" : 

OCT 2 2 2010 

Ms. Tammy Miller 

CEO, Border States 

105 25'^ Street North 

Fargo, ND 58102-4002 

Dear Ms. Miller: 

TTiank you for your letter of September 7 supporting the proposal submitted by Fargo 

Hector International Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program (Small Community Program). I am pleased to respond to your 

letter on behalf of Secretary LaHood. 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. A 

total of $7 million will be available for grant awards in Fiscal Year 2010. Under the 

statute, the Department may use the funds to make a maximum of 40 grant awards each 

year, although no more than four may be to communities in the same State. In order to 

provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service 

deficiencies, the statute provides significant flexibility in how the financial assistance 

may be used. 

On July 30, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 27. As these grant requests 

are pending before the Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on 

the merits of any particular proposal. I assure you, however, that the Department will 

give full consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 
As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2010-0124 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your 

interest in this program. If I can provide further information or assistance, please feel 

free to call me. 

incerely yours. 

Susan L. Kurland 

/Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
SI 0-1 00^) I-1-01 7 

BORDER STATES 

Supply Chain Solutions' 

105 25th street North 

Fargo, ND 58102-4002 

701.293.5834 phone 

701.237.9811 fax 

September 7, 2010 

Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Small Community Air Service DcvelopmcQt Grant 

Dear: Mr LaHood: 

Please accept this letter as evidence of our support of the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program Grant which will allow American Airlines/American Eagle the 

opportunity to implement non-stop service between Fargo's Hector International Airport (FAR) 

and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). 

American Eagle service to DFW would connect with at least 97 markets served by American and 

American Eagle from DFW. Our business is headquartered in Fargo, ND and operates 15 branch 

locations in Texas. This added connection via Dallas/Fort Worth will significantly reduce travel 

time to Texas and allow us to operate more efficiently in a competitive global environment. 

DFW service would provide single connections to many markets in the Southwest. Many of the 

markets American Eagle could serve via DFW are a double connection today. 

Frontier recently discontinued its service into the Fargo market leaving the community with only 

two legacy carrier competitors for westbound trafHc, United and Delta. A third competitor could 

help suppress upward fare pressure. The enhanced flight schedule would allow us to more 

effectively execute our business strategy through quicker and more efficient connections not only 

to other segments of our company but to our customers as well. Better coimectivity, including 

better schedules and routes, lends to a leaner and more effective business model translating into a 

healthier bottom line. 

Service to Dallas/Forth Worth will be a valuable contribution to local air service, and we fully 

support the addition of American Eagle non-stop service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Fargo. 

Sincerely, 

Tammy Mil(ef 

CEO 

AUTOMATIO N DATACOM M ELECTRICA L INDUSTRIA L UTILITY