The Universal Service High-Cost program is designed to ensure that consumers in rural, insular, and high-cost areas have access to telecommunications services at rates that are affordable and reasonably comparable to those in urban areas. The program fulfills this universal service goal by allowing eligible carriers who serve these areas to recover some of their operating costs from the federal Universal Service Fund.

For statistical information on the High-Cost program, see Section Three of the annual Monitoring Report.

HEADLINES

9/17/08
Ballard Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation, Inc. and HTC Communications, LLC: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on two petitions for waiver of universal service high-cost filing deadlines submitted by Ballard Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation, Inc. and HTC Communications, LLC of the Commission's rules. Comments are due October 17, 2008, and reply comments are due November 3, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

8/27/08
Sacred Wind Communications, Inc. And Qwest Corporation: In this order, WCB grants Sacred Wind's request to extend the timing of our previously granted waiver of sections 36.611 and 36.612, permitting Sacred Wind to receive immediate high-cost loop support based on projected costs, subject to true-up, to the end of 2008. Sacred Wind requests this extension because approval of the transaction by the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission was delayed until December 15, 2006, which resulted in only 15 days of network costs during calendar year 2006 (actual costs for 2006 are the basis for 2008 high-cost support payments).

Order: Word | Acrobat

8/25/08
WCB Grants WeavTel Petition for Waiver of USF Filing Deadline
In this order, the Wireline Competition Bureau grants Westgate Communications LLC d/b/a WeavTel waiver of a filing deadline required by section 54.903(a) of the Commission's rules to allow WeavTel to receive universal service high-cost support.

Order: Word | Acrobat

8/22/08
WCB Seeks Agreement with Study Area Redefinitions: In its May 1, 2008 Interim Cap Order, the Commission redefined the service areas of several rural telephone companies in New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. Pursuant to section 54.207(d) of the Commission's rules, the Wireline Competition Bureau sent the order to the respective state commissions seeking their agreement with the redefinitions.

New York letter: Acrobat | Text
North Carolina letter: Acrobat | Text
Pennsylvania letter: Acrobat | Text
Tennessee letter: Acrobat | Text
Virginia letter: Acrobat | Text

8/20/08
High-Cost Support Filing Waiver Petitions
The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on petitions for waiver of filing deadlines submitted by H&B Cable Service, Inc.; Flat Rock Telephone Co-op, Inc.; Western New Mexico Telephone Company, Inc.; Yukon Telephone Company, Inc.; Windstream Communications, Inc.; and Northern New England Telephone Operation LLC and Telephone Operating Company of Vermont LLC (FairPoint Communications). Comments on the petitions are due September 19, 2008, and reply comments are due October 6, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

8/12/08
United States Cellular Corporation
The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by United States Cellular Corporation to amend its eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation in Tennessee. Comments are due September 11, 2008 and reply comments are due September 26, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

8/7/08
Virgin Mobile USA, L.P.
The Wireline Competition Bureau grants the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable's motion for a 21-day extension of the deadlines for filing comments and reply comments in response to Virgin Mobile's petition seeking limited eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation in Massachusetts. Comments are due August 21, 2008 and reply comments are due September 5, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

8/1/08
Mid-Com Request for Review Public Notice: Mid-Communications, Inc. (Mid-Com) requests review of a decision by USAC to adjust Mid-Com's local switching support retroactively for calendar year 2006. Comments on the request are due September 2, 2008, and reply comments are due September 17, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text

7/31/08
SADDLEBACK et al. ANNUAL ETC REPORT FILING WAIVER ORDER
In this order, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants petitions for waiver filed by Saddleback Communications (Saddleback), Pine Belt Cellular, Inc. (Pine Belt), and IT&E Overseas, Inc, (IT&E) seeking waiver of the annual eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) filing deadlines set forth in section 54.209(b) of the Commission’s rules for 2006 and 2007. The Bureau also grants a petition for waiver filed by Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. (Gila River) seeking waiver of the annual ETC filing deadline for 2006. Finally, the Bureau grants Gila River’s petition for waiver of the 2007 annual ETC filing deadline, but denies Gila River's request for a prospective waiver of section 54.209 for all future annual ETC filings.

Order: Word | Acrobat

7/28/08
NEP Cellcorp ETC Public Notice: NEP Cellcorp, Inc. (NEP) asks the Commission to amend its decision to deny NEP’s request for eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation in the rural study area of North-Eastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company. Comments are due August 27, 2008 and reply comments are due September 11, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text

7/1/08
Virgin Mobile Massachusetts ETC Petition Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. (Virgin Mobile) for a limited designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in Massachusetts. Virgin Mobile is seeking eligibility for Lifeline universal service support only. Comments on the petition are due July 31, 2008 and reply comments are due August 15, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text

6/17/08
Public Notice: Northwest Iowa Telephone Company: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Northwest Iowa Telephone Company for waiver of a filing deadline required by section 54.301(e)(1) of the Commission's rules for receipt of universal service support. Comments on the petition are due July 17, 2008 and reply comments are due August 1, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

6/10/08
Order: Competitive ETC Interim Cap Erratum: The Telecommunications Access Policy Division released an erratum correcting a May 1, 2008 order, which capped high-cost universal service support to competitive eligible telecommunications carriers.

Order: Word | Acrobat

6/6/08
Public Notice: Palmerton/Northeastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company Waiver Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Palmerton Telephone Company and Northeastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company for waiver of a filing deadline required by section 54.301(e)(1) of the Commission’s rules for receipt of universal service funds. Comments are due July 7, 2008, and reply comments are due July 22, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat