Universal
Service
The goals of Universal Service, as mandated by the 1996 Act, are to:
- Promote the availability of quality services at just, reasonable
and affordable rates for all consumers
- Increase nationwide access to advanced telecommunications services
- Advance the availability of such services to all consumers, including
those in low income, rural, insular, and high cost areas at rates that
are reasonably comparable to those charged in urban areas
- Increase access to telecommunications and advanced services in schools,
libraries and rural health care facilities
- Provide equitable and non-discriminatory contributions from all providers
of telecommunications services to the fund supporting universal service
programs
The Commission established four programs to fulfill these goals. They
are:
These programs are funded by the Universal Service Fund. Telecommunications
providers must contribute to the fund through an assessment on
their interstate and international revenues. The Commission appointed
the Universal Service Administrative Company, or USAC, to administer
the four programs and the Universal Service Fund.
Detailed statistical information about the Universal Service Fund is
available in the annual Monitoring
Report.
HEADLINES
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
8/26/08
Waterway Communication System, LLC and Mobex
Network Services, LLC: In this order, WCB denies a request for
review filed by Maritime Communications/Land Mobile, LLC (Maritime) on
behalf of Waterway Communication System, LLC (Waterway) and Mobex Network
Services, LLC (Mobex). Maritime seeks review of USAC’s decision denying
Watercom’s and Mobex’s request for refund of $1.3 million in USF contributions.
Maritime asserts that the Commission’s rules do not require maritime
radio service providers to contribute to USF, and that USAC should, therefore,
refund the monies Watercom and Mobex previously paid into the USF.
Order: Word | Acrobat
8/26/08
Level 3 Form 499A: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Level 3 seeking review of
a decision by USAC, or, in the alternative, a petition for waiver to
expedite processing of Level 3’s revised 2007 FCC Form 499-A filing.
Level 3 also filed a petition seeking a stay of USAC’s decision to calculate
Level 3’s annual true-up amount based on its original FCC Form 499-A
filing. Level 3 also filed a motion for waiver of public notice. Comments
are due September 10, 2008, and reply comments are due September 17,
2008.
Public Notice: 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
Compass Global, Inc.: The Wireline
Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Compass Global,
Inc. seeking review and reversal of a decision by USAC, in which USAC
found that Compass Global had failed to timely file revisions to its
2005 and 2006 FCC Forms 499-A. Comments are due September 19, 2008, and
reply comments are due October 6, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
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
8/20/08
Comment Cycle for Eligible Service List: The
Wireline Competition Bureau announces that the summary for the Eligible
Services List NPRM has been published in the Federal Register. Comments
are due September 18, 2008, and reply comments are due October 3, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
8/14/08
Inter-Tel, Inc. Reconsideration Order: The
Wireline Competition Bureau grants a petition for reconsideration filed
by Inter-Tel, Inc. (Inter-Tel), seeking partial reconsideration of the
Approach Learning Order. In that order, the Bureau addressed several
appeals of USAC decisions relating to alleged violations of the Commission's
competitive bidding requirements under the E-rate program. On reconsideration,
the Bureau finds that the relief extended in the Approach Learning Order
applies to any work that Inter-Tel had not yet performed for funding
request numbers 764333, 764346, 764341, 764340.
Order on Reconsideration: 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
8/12/08
Savannah R-III School District: In
this order, the Telecommunications Access Policy Division grants a request
for review filed by Savannah R-III School District (Savannah) for E-rate
Funding Years 2003, 2004 and 2005, finding that Savannah demonstrated
that on-premise satellite equipment was properly classified as Internet
access for purposes of E-rate funding.
Order: Word | Acrobat
8/8/08
Airband Communications, Inc.: The Wireline
Competition Bureau seeks comment on Airband Communications, Inc.'s request
for review of a universal service fund contribution decision by the Universal
Service Administrative Company. Comments are due September 8, 2008, and
reply comments are due September 23, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
8/8/08
InterCall, Inc.: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on Global Conference Partners, A+ Conferencing Ltd.,
Free Conferencing Corporation, and The Conference Group's petitions for
reconsideration and clarification of the Commission's InterCall Order.
Comments are due September 8, 2008, and reply comments are due September
22, 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.
Order: Word | Acrobat
8/6/08
IDT Request for Review Public Notice: The
Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on IDT Corporation and IDT
Telecom’s request for review of a universal service fund contribution
decision by the Universal Service Administrative Company. Comments are
due September 5, 2008, and reply comments are due September 22, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
8/5/08
Low-Income USF Support Certification Public
Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau reminds eligible telecommunications
carriers (ETCs) that, by September 2, 2008, an ETC in a state with its
own state-based low-income universal service program must submit a certification,
signed by an officer of the company, to USAC attesting that the ETC has
complied with the state verification procedures. All ETCs in federal
default states must also submit their annual Lifeline verification survey
results to USAC by September 2, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text
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
Funding Year 2009 Eligible Services List Public
Notice: The Commission seeks comment on USAC's proposed E-rate
eligible services list for funding year 2009. Comments are due August
14, 2008, and reply comments are due August 21, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
7/31/08
E-Rate Eligible Services Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking: The Commission seeks comment on changes to the eligible
services list for E-rate universal service support. Comments on the notice
of proposed rulemaking will be due 30 days after its publication in the
Federal Register, and reply comments will be due 45 days after publication
in the Federal Register.
NPRM: Word | Acrobat
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
Notice of Rural Health Care Pilot Program
Quarterly Report Filing Deadline: The Wireline Competition Bureau
announces the July 30, 2008 filing deadline for Rural Health Care Pilot
Program quarterly reports.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text
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
7/17/08
Audio Bridging FCC Form 499-Q Filing Date
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau provides notice
of the August 1st FCC Form 499-Q filing date for audio bridging service
providers, pursuant to the InterCall Order.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text
7/17/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Achieve Telecom Networks
seeking review and reversal of a decision by USAC in which USAC denied
Achieve's request to accept its amended FCC Form 499-Q. Comments on the
petition are due August 11, 2008 and reply comments are due August 25,
2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text
7/8/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Sage Telecom, Inc. and Sage
Telecom of Texas, L.P., seeking waiver of the requirement that USAC calculate
the universal service annual contribution true-up for under-projections
based on the average of the two highest contribution factors, and that
USAC calculate the true-up for over-projections based on the average
of the two lowest contribution factors. Comments on the petition are
due August 7, 2008 and reply comments are due August 21, 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.
Virgin Mobile Massachusetts ETC Petition Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text
6/30/08
InterCall, Inc.: In this order, the
FCC denies in part and grants in part a request for review filed by InterCall,
Inc. of a Universal Service Administrative Company decision finding that
the audio bridging services offered by InterCall are “toll teleconferencing” services
and that InterCall must contribute directly to the universal service
fund based on revenues from these services.
Intercall, Inc.: Word | Acrobat
6/26/08
Aventure Communication Technology, LLC: The
Wireline Competition Bureau, based on the unique circumstances presented,
grants an appeal filed by Aventure Communication Technology, LLC requesting
reversal of a decision by USAC to reject a late-filed revision to its
FCC Form 499-Q.
Aventure Communication Technology, LLC: Word | Acrobat
6/23/08
E-rate Rollover Public Notice: The
Wireline Competition Bureau announces that $600 million in unused funds
will be carried forward from Funding Years 2002, 2003, and 2004 to increase
the disbursements to schools and libraries in Funding Year 2008 in excess
of the annual cap.
E-rate Rollover Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
6/19/08
InterCall USAC Abeyance Letter: The
Wireline Competition Bureau directed USAC to hold in abeyance until July
1, 2008 its universal service contribution decision regarding InterCall,
Inc.
Intercall USAC Abeyance Letter: Word | Acrobat
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
6/13/08
Order: Arkansas Department of Information
Systems E-Rate Order (Arkansas DIS): The Telecommunications Access Policy
Division grants two requests for review filed by the Arkansas DIS, seeking
review of decisions by USAC denying E-rate funding for Funding Years
2004 and 2005 for failure to timely submit FCC Forms 471, 486 or 472.
Order: 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
6/10/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on two Requests for Review filed by Lake Delton
Urgent Care and Franciscan Skemp Prairie du Chien Clinic that seek review
of decisions of USAC. USAC’s decisions reduced the applicants'
Rural Health Care funding requests for Funding Year 2006. Comments on
the requests are due July 10, 2008, and reply comments are due July 25,
2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
6/6/08
Public Notice: Palmerton/Northeastern
Pennsylvania Telephone Company Waiver: 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 on the requests are due
July 7, 2008, and reply comments are due July 22, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
6/4/08
Order: Cox Communications, Inc.: The
Wireline Competition Bureau grants an appeal filed by Cox Communications,
Inc., requesting reversal of a decision by USAC to disallow Cox’s
use of VoIP revenue allocation methodology to determine interstate revenues
for universal service contribution purposes.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
5/30/08
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Fort HealthCare—Fort
Memorial Hospital, Fort HealthCare—Lake Mills Clinic, and Fort
HealthCare—Whitewater Clinic, and Franciscan Skemp Waukon Clinic’s
requests for review of decisions by the Universal Service Administrative
Company. Comments on the requests are due June 30, 2008, and reply comments
are due July 14, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
5/22/08
Public Notice: The Bureau seeks comment
on two petitions filed by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P., seeking eligible telecommunications
carrier (ETC) designation in North Carolina and Tennessee. Virgin Mobile
is seeking limited eligibility for Lifeline universal service support
only. Comments are due on June 23, 2008 and reply comments are due on
July 8, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
5/20/08
Order: In this order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (WCB) waives on its own motion sections 54.702(b)(1)
and 54.703(c) of the Commission’s rules that specify that one member
of the Universal Service Administrative Company(USAC) Board of Director’s
shall be nominated by and shall represent “interexchange carriers
with more than $3 billion in annual operating revenues.” WCB finds
good cause exists to waive these rules to enable the Commission to designate
a member USAC Board of Directors for the seat from an interexchange carrier,
regardless of its annual operating revenues.
Order: Word | Acrobat
5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Sacred Wind Communications,
Inc. to extend its previously received waiver of sections 36.611 and
36.612 of the Commission's rules. The Commission previously granted Sacred
Wind, a new incumbent local exchange carrier, a waiver of sections 36.611
and 36.612 in order that it may immediately receive high-cost loop universal
service support. Comments are due on June 16, 2008 and reply comments
are due on July 1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a joint petition for waiver filed by Dubois Telephone
Exchange, Inc. (Dubois) and Qwest Corporation (Qwest). Dubois and Qwest
seek a waiver of the study area boundary freeze to transfer an unserved
portion of Qwest's Wyoming study area to Dubois' Wyoming study area.
Comments are due on June 16, 2008 and reply comments are due on July
1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by ETS Telephone Company, Inc.
(ETS), f/k/a> Kingsgate Telephone, Inc., regarding potential retroactive
application of the Commission's 2004 Skyline Order to ETS' Texas study
area. ETS requests confirmation that the Commission's 2004 Skyline Order
cannot have retroactive effect on its study area. ETS' Texas study area
was created in 1996 when Kingsgate began serving a previously unserved
area. Comments are due on June 16, 2008 and reply comments are due on
July 1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on two petitions for waiver of filing deadlines
associated with receipt of universal service high-cost support filed
by iBroadband Networks, Inc. d/b/a Cedar Valley Communications and HTC
Services Inc. Comments are due June 16, 2008, and reply comments are
due July 1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a Qwest request for review of three USAC low-income
audit findings. Comments are due on June 16, 2008 and reply comments
are due on July 1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
5/16/08
Order: In this Order, WCB extends the
deadline for filing reply comments in response to the three High-Cost
NPRMs from May 19, 2008, to June 2, 2008.
Order: Word | Acrobat
5/2/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the Kansas Corporation Commission
for a declaratory ruling affirming the lawfulness of its procedure for
certifying carriers’ receipt of federal universal service support.
The Kansas Corporation Commission filed its petition in response to a
primary jurisdiction referral by the U.S. District Court for the District
of Kansas. Comments on the petition are due by June 2, 2008 and reply
comments are due by June 17, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
5/1/08
Order: FCC Takes Action to Cap High
Cost Support Under the Universal Service Fund.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
Order: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat
4/30/08
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau
grants a petition filed by Micronesian Telecommunications Corporation
and PTI Pacifica, Inc. to waive the DTV notification requirements in
section 54.418 of the Commission's rules.
Order: Word | Acrobat
4/29/08
Public Notice: This Public Notice seeks
comment on Ascent Media Group's (Ascent) request for review and reversal
of a decision by USAC, in which USAC denied Ascent’s request to
accept its amended August 2007 FCC Form 499-Q after the 45-day FCC Form
499-Q revision window. Ascent asserts that it inadvertently included
its total projected revenue in place of its projected billed universal
service fund revenues on the FCC Form 499-Q. Comments on the petition
are due by May 13, 2008, and reply comments are due by May 20, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
4/28/08
Order on Reconsideration: In this Order,
the Commission denies the Petition filed by the CTIA – The Wireless
Association seeking extension to all similarly-situated Universal Service
Fund (USF) contributors of the relief granted to three USF contributors
in the Commission’s 2004 True-Up Waiver Order, which addressed
the true-up process for 2003 USF contributions.
Order on Reconsideration: Word | Acrobat
4/23/08
Order: Wireline Competition Bureau
dismisses appeal of 360networks (USA), Inc. seeking refund of late payment
fees related to universal service fund contributions.
Order: Word | Acrobat
4/21/08
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau
granted three separate requests for waiver filed by the Illinois Commerce
Commission, Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, and the Wyoming Public
Service Commission, of the high-cost universal service support filing
deadlines set forth in sections 54.313(d) and 54.314(d) of the Commission's
rules.
Order: Word | Acrobat
4/18/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau provides notice, pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s
rules, that it is initiating a proceeding to consider a petition filed
by Sagebrush Cellular, Inc for agreement with a decision by the North
Dakota Public Service Commission to redefine the service area of Northwest
Communications Cooperative Comments on the petition are due by May 19,
2008, and reply comments are due by June 3, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
4/17/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on three separate petitions filed by IT&E Overseas,
Inc. for waiver of various filing deadlines required by sections 54.209,
54.314, 54.809, and 54.904 of the Commission’s rules for receipt
of universal service funds. Comments on the petition are due by May 19,
2008, and reply comments are due by June 3, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
4/14/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on the Central Atlantic Pennsylvania Payphone Association's
(CAPA) petition for clarification, or, in the alternative, reconsideration
of the Commission's APCC Reconsideration Order. CAPA is seeking refunds
from local exchange carriers for universal service fees paid by independent
payphone providers. Comments on the petition are due by May 14, 2008,
and reply comments are due by May 29, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
4/14/08
Mineola Union Free School District, Mineola,
New York: In the letter, Wireline Competition Bureau directs USAC
to allow Mineola to submit two funding requests and consider them with
its FY 2008 application. In FY 2008, Mineola timely submitted a paper
copy of its FCC Form 471 to USAC. Upon realizing that it had inadvertently
failed to include two of its three funding requests as part of its FY
2008 application, Mineola asked USAC if it could submit the missing two
pages, including the two funding requests, to be included with its application
as submitted to USAC. Based on the information provided to us by USAC
staff, we find that this was a clerical error that can be corrected,
pursuant to Commission precedent.
Mineola Union Free School District: Word | Acrobat
4/14/08
Public Notice: Bureau seeks comment
on SEND’s petition for partial reconsideration of the Bureau’s
Caldwell Parish Order, which, among other things, denied SEND’s
Request for Review of a decision by USAC related to one applicant, Jackson
Parish School District, denying it discounted services for Funding Years
2003 and 2004 under the E-rate program.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
4/14/08
Public Notice: Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on an AT&T petition, filed Jan. 7, 2008, seeking
review of a USAC audit decision. ATT seeks review of USAC’s finding
that an ETC must use Line 9 of FCC Form 497 if the ETC gains or loses
Lifeline customers mid-month. In its petition, AT&T asks the Commission
to find that USAC erred when it concluded that AT&T is required to populate
Line 9 of the FCC Form 497 with partial or pro-rata dollars attributable
to Lifeline subscribers who entered or left the Lifeline program during
any given month, regardless of whether the company sought partial or
pro-rata dollars from USAC.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
4/11/08
Order on Reconsideration: The Commission
denies petitions for reconsideration of universal service fund (USF)
contribution obligations adopted in the Fifth Circuit Remand Order. Reconfirms
Commercial Mobile Radio Services providers may recover USF contributions
through rates charged for all services; declines to reconsider the Limited
International Revenues Exception; and denies requests for refunds of
universal service contributions.
Order on Reconsideration: Word | Acrobat
4/11/08
Order: The Commission conditionally
designates Tracfone as an eligible telecommunications carrier for Lifeline
service in several states.
Order: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
4/3/08
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a joint petition filed
by Qwest Corporation and Pine Telephone System, Inc. and a petition filed
by Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (Mid-Rivers) seeking a waiver
of the study area boundary freeze. Mid-Rivers also requests, if necessary,
waiver of section 69.3(e)(11) of the Commission’s rules. Comment
Date: May 5, 2008; Reply Comment: May 20, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
4/3/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed LBH, LLC seeking waiver of the
December 31, 2007, filing deadline required by section 54.802(a) of the
Commission’s rules for receipt of universal service funds. Comment
Date: May 5, 2008; Reply Comment: May 20, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
3/31/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by USCOC of Illinois RSA #1,
LLC, USCOC of Illinois RSA #4, LLC, USCOC of Rockford, LLC and USCOC
of Central Illinois, LLC, pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s
rules, requesting the Commission’s agreement with the decision
of the Illinois Commerce Commission to redefine the service area of certain
rural telephone carriers at the wire center level. Comment Date: April
30, 2008; Reply Comment: May 15, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
3/27/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Centennial U.S.V.I. Operations
Corp. (Centennial) seeking waiver of section 54.314(d)(1) of the Commission’s
rules. Centennial seeks a waiver to enable it to receive universal service
support starting on December 2, 2006. Comment Date: April 28, 2008; Reply
Comment: May 13, 2008
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
3/24/08
Order: Comment Deadlines for Three
Universal Service High-Cost Support Notices of Proposed Rulemaking Extended
by Two Weeks. Revised Filing Dates: Comments Due: April 17, 2008; Reply
Comments Due: May 19, 2008
Order: Word | Acrobat
3/19/08
InterCall, Inc. Letter: On February
1, 2008, InterCall filed a Request for Review of USAC’s decision,
and on February 5, 2008, InterCall requested that the Commission stay
the same decision. InterCall’s Request for Review raises questions
regarding USF contribution obligation policies for stand-alone audio
bridging service providers, as well as unique questions concerning the
scope of USAC’s authority in making its decision. In light of the
questions raised in this proceeding, the Wireline Competition Bureau
instructs USAC to hold in abeyance for 90 days its decision against InterCall,
pending further Commission action.
InterCall, Inc. Letter: Word | Acrobat
3/19/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Pine Belt Cellular, Inc.
seeking waiver of the October 1, 2006, filing deadline required by section
54.209 of the Commission’s rules for receipt of universal service
funds. Comments due April 18, 2008. Reply Comments due May 5, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
3/11/08
Berrien County Intermediate School District,
Berrien Springs, Michigan: Berrien County Independent School District
Request for Review: In this letter, the Bureau directs USAC to review
Berrien’s appeal in light of information provided to the Commission
on appeal indicating that there was an inadvertent miscommunication regarding
the amount of funding requested by Berrien.
Letter: Word | Acrobat
3/4/08
Public Notice: Comment cycles were
established for the Identical Support Rule NPRM, the Reverse Auctions
NPRM, and the Joint Board Comprehensive Reform NPRM. Comments are due
April 3, 2008, and reply comments are due May 5, 2008. Parties may consolidate
their comments and reply comments for the three NPRMs.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
2/28/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on five petitions for waiver of various filing deadlines
associated with the receipt of universal service funds. Comments due
March 31, 2008; Reply Comments Due April 15, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
2/22/08
Order: SEND Technologies, L.L.C./Nexus
Systems, Inc. Request for Review of a Decision of USAC: The Bureau grants
in part and denies in part two Requests for Review filed by SEND seeking
review of decisions by USAC denying E-rate funding for Funding Years
2002-2004 for improper service provider involvement in the applicants’ competitive
bidding processes.
Order: Word | Acrobat
2/21/08
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by
ASTAC Wireless LLC (ASTAC) seeking waiver of the requirement in section
54.307(b) of the Commission’s rules that subscriber line count
data submitted for purposes of obtaining high-cost universal service
support be based on subscribers’ billing addresses. Comments are
due March 24, 2008 and reply comments are due April 8, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
2/14/08
Order on Reconsideration: In this Order,
the Commission grants the petition for reconsideration filed by APCC,
finding that application of the Centrex-adjusted portion of the universal
service line item to payphone service providers would be inconsistent
with Congress’ direction in section 276(b) of the Act.
Order on Reconsideration: Word | Acrobat
2/14/08
Order on Reconsideration: In this Order
on Reconsideration, the Commission grants in part a Petition for Reconsideration
by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), seeking limited reconsideration
of the Commissions’ Rural Health Care Support Mechanism Second
Report and Order. Specifically, the Commission grants ATA’s Petition
for Reconsideration in part and extends for three years the Commission’s
prior determination to grandfather those health care providers who were
eligible under the Commission’s definition of “rural” prior
to the Second Report and Order.
Order on Reconsideration: Word | Acrobat
2/14/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on petitions filed by Saddleback Communications
and Gila River Telecommunications, Inc., seeking waivers of the October
1, 2006, filing deadline associated with the receipt of universal service
funds pursuant to section 54.209 of the Commission’s rules. Comments
on the petitions are due February 25, 2008, and reply comments are due
March 3, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
2/14/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on Intercall, Inc.’s (Intercall's) request
for review of a decision by the Universal Service Administrative Company
(USAC) and petition for stay. On February 1, 2008, Intercall filed a
request seeking review and reversal of a USAC decision, in which USAC
ruled that Intercall’s audio bridging services are toll teleconferencing
services, requiring Intercall to submit FCC Form 499 filings to USAC.
On February 5, 2008, Intercall filed a petition requesting that the Commission
stay USAC’s decision pending the Commission’s review. Comments
are due February 25, 2008 and reply comments are due March 3, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
2/8/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Thumb Cellular, LLC (Thumb
Cellular) seeking review and reversal of a decision of the Universal
Service Administrative Company (USAC) regarding the results of a 2007
Improper Payment Improvement Act (IPIA) audit of the high-cost support
received by Thumb Cellular during the period October 1, 2004 through
September 30, 2005. Comments are due March 10, 2008 and reply comments
on or before March 24, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
2/8/08
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau grants an appeal filed by Franklin-McKinley School
District (Franklin-McKinley) for review of a decision by USAC that rescinded
funding already committed for Funding Year 2005. The Bureau grants Franklin-McKinley
a limited waiver of section 54.504(c) of our rules, which requires that
the FCC Form 471 requesting support for the services ordered by the applicant
shall be submitted "upon signing a contract for eligible services." Consistent
with the Adams County Order, the Bureau finds that Franklin-McKinley
had a legally binding agreement with its service provider and, although
it missed the deadline, it eventually had a signed contract. The Bureau
remands the appeal to USAC, and directs USAC to reinstate the funding
commitment no later than 60 days from release of the Order.
Order: Word | Acrobat
01/29/08
Commission issues NPRM seeking comment on
rules governing the amount of high-cost universal service support provided
to competitive eligible telecommunications carriers.
NPRM (Identical Support): Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat
01/29/08
Commission issues NPRM seeking comment on
the merits of using reverse auctions to determine the amount of high-cost
universal service support provided to eligible telecommunications carriers
serving rural, insular, and high-cost areas.
NPRM (Reverse Auctions): Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat
01/29/08
Commission issues NPRM seeking comment on
the recommendation of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service
regarding comprehensive reform of high-cost universal service support.
NPRM (Joint Board): Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat
1/29/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by USCOC of Greater Missouri,
LLC d/b/a U.S. Cellular, pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s
rules, requesting the Commission’s agreement with the decision
of the Missouri Public Service Commission to redefine the service areas
of certain rural telephone companies.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
1/28/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by TracFone Wireless, Inc. seeking
designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC), only for
purposes of participating in the Lifeline program, in the District of
Columbia. Comments are due February 27, 2008 and reply comments on or
before March 13, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
1/24/08
Declaratory Order: In this Order, the
Commission addresses petitions filed by CTIA-The Wireless Association
(CTIA) and Cingular Wireless, LLC, seeking clarification of the definition
of “toll services” for purposes of determining contribution
obligations to the federal universal service fund (USF or Fund). The
Commission grants both petitions to the extent that they ask the Commission
to declare that the definition of “toll services” discussed
in the 2006 Contribution Methodology Order is the definition to be used
on the FCC Form 499 for reporting the revenues derived from toll service
charges. The Commission also addresses CTIA’s request to clarify
how wireless carriers should allocate toll service revenues to the interstate
and international jurisdiction. In particular, the Commission clarifies
that, to the extent a Fund contributor (including wireless and interconnected
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers) uses a traffic study or
studies to determine its contribution obligations, such traffic study
or studies must specifically account for the interstate or international
nature of toll service revenues.
Declaratory Order: Word | Acrobat
1/22/08
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau announces the Office of Management and
Budget Approval of the Universal Service Rural Health Care Pilot Program
Information Collection Requirements.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
1/22/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Sagebrush Cellular, Inc.,
pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules, requesting
the Commission’s agreement with the decision of the North Dakota
Public Service Commission to redefine the service area of Northwest Communications
Cooperative at the wire center level.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
01/22/08
Public Notice: Office of Management
and Budget Approves Rural Health Care Pilot Program Information Collection
Requirements.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
1/18/08
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau
extends the deadline for filing reply comments in response to Osirus
Communications, Inc.'s petition seeking to become a member of the National
Exchange Carrier Association (NECA), to participate in NECA tariffs and
pools, and to begin immediately to receive universal service high-cost
support. Reply comments are due February 1, 2008.
Order: Word | Acrobat
1/18/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Hawaiian Telcom, Inc. (Hawaiian
Telcom) on December 31, 2007, seeking waiver of the Commission’s
rules regarding high-cost universal service support.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
1/18/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau (Bureau) provides notice that it is initiating a proceeding to
consider a petition filed by United States Cellular Corporation (U.S.
Cellular), pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
1/18/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on petitions filed by Texas RSA 1 Limited
Partnership, d/b/a XIT Wireless, Hardy Telecommunications Inc. and Thumb
Cellular, LLC, seeking waiver of filing deadlines associated with the
receipt of universal service funds.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
01/17/08
WCB Letter to USAC on Rural Health Care Pilot
Program Carry-Over of Funds.
Letter: Acrobat
1/8/08
Order: In this order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau denies Cedar Valley Communications, Inc.'s request
for a waiver of a line count filing deadline to allow Cedar Valley to
receive universal service high-cost loop support after missing the filing
deadline by more than five months.
Order: Word | Acrobat
12/26/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Allo Communications, seeking
waiver of the September 28, 2007, filing deadline associated with the
receipt of universal service support pursuant to section 54.802 of the
Commission’s rules. Comments on the petition are due by January
25, 2008, and reply comments are due by February 11, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
12/26/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau released a Public Notice initiating a proceeding to consider USCOC
of Greater Missouri, LLC d/b/a U.S. Cellular's petition for redefinition
of certain rural telephone company study areas in the state of Missouri.
Comments in the proceeding are due by January 25, 2008, and reply comments
are due by February 11, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
12/20/07
WCB sends letter congratulating RHC Pilot Program selected participants
and reminding them of the program’s competitive bid requirements.
Letter: Acrobat | Text
12/20/07
Order: In this order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau approves NECA's and USAC's proposed 2008 high-cost
loop and local switching support formulas for providing universal service
support to average schedule companies.
Order: Word | Acrobat
12/17/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau has under consideration a Request for Review filed
by Troup County school System, LaGrange, Georgia (Troup County), seeking
review of a Funding Year 2006 Universal Service Administrative Company,
Inc. (USAC) decision in which USAC denied schools and libraries universal
service funding because the applicant's contracts were not signed by
both parties prior to the filing of the FCC Form 471. We grant Troup
County’s Motion to Dismiss Appeal and, accordingly, dismisses Troup
County’s Request for Review.
Order: Word | Acrobat
12/13/07
Public Notice: Virgin Mobile: The Wireline
Competition Bureau seeks comment on four petitions filed by Virgin Mobile
USA, L.P. (Virgin Mobile). One petition requests that the Commission
forbear from applying the requirement in section 214(e)(1)(A) of the
Act that an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) offer services
supported by the universal service fund using either its own facilities
or a combination of its own facilities and resale of another carrier’s
services. In the remaining three petitions, Virgin Mobile seeks designation
as an ETC, only for purposes of participation in the Lifeline/Link Up
program, in the state of New York and the commonwealths of Pennsylvania
and Virginia. Comments are due January 14, 2008 and reply comments are
due January 29, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
12/13/07
Public Notice: TracFone: The Wireline
Competition Bureau seeks comment on two petitions filed by TracFone Wireless,
Inc. seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC),
only for purposes of participating in the Lifeline program, in the states
of Delaware and New Hampshire. Comments are due January 14, 2008 and
reply comments are due January 29, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
12/12/07
Order: In this Order, we grant 13 appeals
of 12 petitioners that were denied funding because USAC determined that
the consortia leaders did not provide evidence of their authority to
represent their respective consortium members. We find that the petitioners
have provided evidence to the Commission on appeal demonstrating that
each consortia member knew it was represented, and consented to its representation,
on the applications. For five petitioners, consistent with our reasoning
in the South Carolina CIO Order, we find that USAC should not have denied
the requests for failure to comply with a new USAC procedure for FY2005
because USAC did not provide sufficient notice for consortia applicants
to comply with the new policy. For four petitioners, we find that evidence
submitted on appeal either remedies any deficiencies in their LOAs or
is consistent with USAC's guidance that documentation other than LOAs
may be accepted as proof of authorization. Finally, for three petitioners,
we find that the failure to specify the timeframe covered by the LOA
is not sufficient to deny the entire application.
Order: Word | Acrobat
12/12/07
Order: In this Order, we grant 10 requests
for reversal of late fees associated with the filing of the FCC Form
499-A for 2007. We find that good cause exists to grant the requests,
as more fully discussed below. We further direct the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC) and the other plan administrators to reverse
any late payment fees that have been assessed on the applicants listed
in the attached Appendix.
Order: Word | Acrobat
12/12/07
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau
released an order granting a request from Bristol Bay Cellular Partnership
(Bristol Bay), a competitive eligible telecommunications carrier in Alaska,
for a waiver of section 54.307(b) of the Commission’s rules. Specifically,
due to the unique circumstances presented by Bristol Bay, the order waives
the requirement that subscriber line count data submitted for purposes
of obtaining universal service support be based on the subscriber’s
billing address.
Order: Word | Acrobat
12/4/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Osirus Communications, Inc.,
seeking waiver of Commission rules to allow it to join the National Exchange
Carrier Association (NECA) and to receive immediate universal service
support. Comments are due January 3, 2008 and reply comments are due
January 18, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
11/29/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by CC Cellular, seeking waiver
of the March 30, 2007, filing deadline associated with the receipt of
universal service funds pursuant to sections 54.307(c)(4) of the Commission's
rules. Interested parties may file comments on or before December 29,
2007 and reply comments on or before January 13, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
11/29/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Hargray Wireless, LLC, pursuant
to section 54.207 of the Commission's rules, requesting the Commission's
agreement with the decision of the South Carolina Public Service Commission
to redefine the service area of United Telephone Company of the Carolinas
d/b/a Embarq at the wire center level. Interested parties may file comments
on or before December 29, 2007 and reply comments on or before January
13, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
11/26/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau released a Public Notice initiating a proceeding to consider Triangle
Communication System, Inc.'s petition for redefinition of certain rural
telephone company study areas in the state of Montana. Comments in the
proceeding are due by December 26, 2007, and reply comments are due by
January 10, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
11/20/07
Recommended Decision: Federal-State
Joint Board on Universal Service Issues Recommended Decision on High-Cost
Reform.
Recommended Decision: Word | Acrobat
FCC Chairman Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
FCC Commissioner Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
FCC Commissioner Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
Commissioner Ray Baum Statement: Word | Acrobat
Chairman Lisa Polak Edgar Statement: Word | Acrobat
Commissioner Larry S. Landis Statement: Word | Acrobat
Commissioner John D. Burke Statement: Word | Acrobat
Assistant Attorney General Public Counsel Simon ffitch Statement: Word | Acrobat
11/19/07
FCC Launches Initiative to Increase Access
to Health Care in Rural America Through Broadband Telehealth. WCB
Docket No. 02-60.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
Selected Participants: Word | Acrobat
Corrected Order: Acrobat
Erratum (12/17/07): Word | Acrobat
Order: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat
11/9/07
Public Notice: Comment is sought on
petitions filed by Saddleback Communications, Gila River Telecommunications,
Inc., and Pine Belt Cellular, Inc. seeking waivers of the October 1,
2007, deadline for Commission-designated eligible telecommunications
carriers to file annual reports pursuant to section 54.209 of the Commission’s
rules. Comments are due by November 23, 2007 and reply comments are due
by November 30, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
11/6/07
Public Notice: Comment is sought on
a petition filed by Texas RSA 8 South Limited Partnership d/b/a Westex
Wireless seeking waiver of filing deadlines associated with the receipt
of universal service funds, pursuant to sections 54.307(c)(2), 54.802(a),
and 54.903(a) of the Commission’s rules. Comments are due by December
6, 2007 and reply comments are due by December 21, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
11/6/07
Order: Oblio Telecom, Inc. In this
Order, at the request of Oblio Telecom, Inc. (Oblio), Telecommunications
Access Policy Division dismisses with prejudice Oblio’s petition
for declaratory ruling regarding the universal service certification
process between resellers and their underlying carriers. Word | Acrobat| Text
10/30/07
Order: Joseph Jingoli & Son, Inc.,
et al. In this Order, the Telecommunications Access Policy Division granted
13 appeals of decisions by the Universal Service Administrative Company
(USAC) denying funding from the E-rate program, on the grounds that Petitioners
sought cancellation of their funding requests. Word | Acrobat| Text
10/22/07
Public Notice: TCA High-Cost Waiver
Petition: Comment is sought on a petition by The Community Cable Television
Agency of O'Brien County d/b/a The Community Agency and TCA (TCA) seeking
wavier of the December 31, 2006, filing deadlines associated with the
receipt of universal service funds pursuant to sections 54.307 and 54.802
of the Commission's rules. Comments are due by November 21, 2007 and
reply comments are due by December 6, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
10/22/07
Public Notice: United States Cellular
Redefinition: Comment is sought on a petition filed by United States
Cellular requesting the Commission’s agreement with the decision
of the Nebraska Public Service Commission to redefine the service areas
of certain rural telephone companies in Nebraska at the wire center level.
Comments are due by November 21, 2007 and reply comments are due by December
6, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
10/19/07
Public Notice: Funding Year 2008 Eligible
Services List: On October 19, 2007, the Commission released the Funding
Year 2008 Eligible Services List (ESL) for the schools and libraries
universal service support mechanism pursuant to section 54.522 of the
Commission’s rules.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text
Eligible Services List: Word | Acrobat | Text
Erratum: Word | Acrobat | Text
10/5/07
Public Notice: Comment is sought on
the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc.'s 2008 modification of
average schedule universal service high-cost loop support formula, and
on the Universal Service Administrative Company's 2008 average schedule
company local switching support formula. Comments are due November 5,
2007 and reply comments are due November 20, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
10/5/07
Public Notice: Comment is sought on
the petition for study area waiver filed jointly by Beaver Creek Cooperative
Telephone Company and Qwest Corporation. Comments on the petition are
due November 5, 2007 and reply comments are due November 20, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
9/28/07
Order: Pursuant to sections 254(a)(1)
and 410 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the Federal Communications
Commission (Commission) appoints Simon ffitch, Assistant Attorney General,
Chief, Public Counsel Section, Attorney General of Washington, to serve
on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, effective October
1, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
9/27/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a high-cost filing deadline waiver petition filed
by Dixie-Net Communications, Inc. Dixie-Net is seeking a waiver of the
June 30, 2007 filing deadline required by section 54.802 of the Commission's
rules. Comments on the petition are due October 29, 2007 and reply comments
are due November 13, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
9/27/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by USCOC of Greater Missouri,
Inc. d/b/a U.S. Cellular requesting the Commission’s agreement
with the decision of the Missouri Public Service Commission to redefine
the service areas of certain rural telephone companies in Missouri at
the wire center level. Comments on the petition are due October 29, 2007
and reply comments are due November 13, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
9/21/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau announces Office of Management and Budget approval of the revised
2007 Federal Communications Commission Forms 499-A, 499-Q, and accompanying
instructions. Word | Acrobat| Text
9/20/07
Order: The Telecommunications Access
Policy Division adopted a protective order to provide limited access
to confidential information in Centennial USVI Operations Corp.'s petition
for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in the U.S.
Virgin Islands. Word | Acrobat| Text
9/20/07
Order: The Telecommunications Access
Policy Division adopted a protective order to provide limited access
to confidential information in Choice Communications LLC's petition for
designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in the U.S. Virgin
Islands. Word | Acrobat| Text
9/6/07
Public Notice: The Universal Service
Joint Board continues to work on the issue of fundamental reform. This
document reflects a tentative agreement among the board members on the
principles that may guide their deliberations. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/31/07
Public Notice: On November 21, 2006,
Gila River Telecommunications Inc. (GRTI) filed a petition seeking a
waiver of sections 36.3; 36.123-126, 36.152-157, and 36.372-382 of the
Commission’s rules to unfreeze GRTI’s category relationships.
In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment
on GRTI’s petition. Comments due October 1, 2007 and reply comments
due October 15, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/30/07
Public Notice: The Wireline competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Decatur Telephone Company
seeking waiver of the June 30, 2007, filing deadline associated with
the receipt of universal service funds pursuant to section 54.904 of
the Commission's rules. Comments due October 1, 2007 and reply comments
due October 15, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/29/07
Public Notice: American Telecommunications
Systems, Inc.: In the Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau
(WCB) seeks comment on two applications for review of WCB orders denying
universal service fund contributor appeals by American Cyber corp. et
al. American Telecommunications Systems, Inc. Comments are due September
13, 2007 and reply comments are due September 28, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/29/07
Public Notice: Triangle Communication
Redefinition: In the Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB)
seeks comment on two applications for review of WCB orders denying universal
service fund contributor appeals by American Cyber corp. et al. American
Telecommunications Systems, Inc. Comments are due September 28, 2007
and reply comments are due October 15, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/29/07
News Release: FCC Takes Further Action
to Safeguard Universal Service Fund From Risk of Waste, Fraud and Abuse.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
R&O: Word | Acrobat
8/16/07
Public Notice: Extension of Katrina
Relief Order: In the Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks
comment on a request for a further waiver to extend relief provided in
the Katrina Relief Order under the E-rate program for schools and libraries
in Louisiana and Mississippi for Funding Year 2007. 8/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/16/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by ICORE, Inc. on behalf of
Pattersonville Telephone Company, seeking waiver of the June 30, 2007
filing deadline associated with the receipt of interstate common line
support universal service funds pursuant to section 54.903 of the Commission's
rules. Comments on the petition are due September 17, 2007 and reply
comments are due October 2, 2007. 8/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/15/07
Order: The Telecommunications Access
Policy Division adopted a protective order to provide limited access
to confidential information in Corr Wireless Communications LLC's petition
for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in Alabama.
8/15/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/15/07
Order: The Telecommunications Access
Policy Division adopted a protective order to provide limited access
to confidential information in NEP Cellcorp, Inc.'s petition for designation
as an eligible telecommunications carrier in Pennsylvania. 8/15/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/15/07
Order: The Telecommunications Access
Policy Division adopted a protective order to provide limited access
to confidential information in Cingular Wireless LLC's petition for designation
as an eligible telecommunications carrier in Georgia. 8/15/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/15/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on two petitions seeking
eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designations. One petition
was filed by NEP Cellcorp, Inc., which is seeking ETC designation in
Pennsylvania, and the other was filed by Corr Wireless Communications
LLC, which is seeking ETC designation in Alabama. Comments on the petitions
are due August 29, 2007 and reply comments are due September 5, 2007.
8/15/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/13/07
Order: In this order, Telecommunications
Access Policy Division grants Sagebrush Cellular, Inc. (Sagebrush) a
waiver of the certification filing deadline in section 54.904(d) of the
Commission's rules to allow Sagebrush to receive Interstate Common Line
Support from the date of its ETC designation. 8/13/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/8/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a study area waiver
petition filed by Qwest. Qwest seeks a waiver of the study area boundary
freeze to allow it to transfer a territory in Wyoming to RT Communications.
Comments on the petition are due September 7, 2007, and reply comments
are due September 24, 2007. 8/8/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/6/07
Order: The Commission denied a petition
filed by Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. requesting that the Commission
forbear from enforcing certain sections of the Commission’s rules
to permit Iowa Telecom to be eligible for high-cost universal service
support under the non-rural mechanism, rather than under the high-cost
loop support mechanism for rural carriers. 8/6/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/1/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
comment is sought on two petitions for waiver of universal service line
count filing rules, filed by Vantage Point and WeavTel Communications
LLC. Comments on the petitions are due August 31, 2007, and reply comments
are due September 17, 2007. 8/1/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
8/1/07
Order: This order grants Centennial
Communications Corp.'s request to extend the reply comment deadline on
its request for review and reversal of a decision by USAC regarding the “true-up” of
interstate common line support (ICLS) universal service payments disbursed
to Centennial Puerto Rico in 2004. The deadline for filing reply comments
is extended from August 13, 2007 to August 31, 2007. 8/1/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
7/27/07
Public Notice: The Commission today
sought comment on USAC’s proposed schools and libraries program
eligible services list (ESL) for Funding Year 2008. The changes that
are being proposed for the Funding Year 2008 ESL include (1) treating
Centrex service as basic telephone service for purposes of the schools
and libraries program with the intention of eliminating the requirement
that applicants file a technology plan for Centrex service; (2) clarifying
that the basic conduit access to the Internet for the purpose of accessing
distance learning and video conferencing is eligible for funding in the
Internet access category but distance learning and video conferencing
tools are not eligible for funding; and (3) clarifying that program participants
are not required to provide cost allocation for calendaring functions
ancillary to E-mail service. Comments are due Aug. 10, 2007 and reply
comments are due Aug. 17, 2007. 7/27/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
7/11/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau announces the availability of revised FCC Forms 472, 473, 474,
479, 486 and 500. The revised forms are posted on the web site of the
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) at www.usac.org. 7/11/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
7/10/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau announces that an eligible telecommunications
carrier (ETC) in a state with its own state-based Low-Income program
must submit a certification, signed by an officer of the company to USAC
by August 31, 2007, and on August 31 of each subsequent year thereafter,
attesting that the ETC has complied with state lifeline verification
procedures. ETCs in federal default states must also submit their annual
Lifeline verification survey results to USAC by August 31, 2007. 7/10/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
7/10/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Sprint's Petition requesting
a declaratory ruling concerning a Kansas Corporation Commission ruling
that requires an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) to apply federal
Lifeline support to reduce the cost of any rate plan offered by an ETC,
as opposed to only the carrier’s lowest-cost generally available
rate plan. Sprint requests that the Commission find that the Kansas ruling
violates section 47 U.S.C. § 254(f) of the Act. Sprint also asks
the Commission to declare that the Kansas ruling violates 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(3)(A).
Comment Date: August 9,2007. Reply Comment Date: August 24, 2007. 7/10/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
7/9/07
Public Notice: Comment is sought on
a petition filed by TDS, FairPoint, and Burke's Garden Telephone Company,
seeking revocation of Sprint/Nextel's ETC designation in Virginia. Comments
on the petition are due August 8, 2007, and reply comments are due August
23, 2007. 7/9/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
7/2/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition denied the appeal filed by Radiant Telecom, Inc. seeking
review of the Universal Service Administrative Company's Decision on
Contributor Appeal. 7/2/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
6/27/07
Public Notice: Released 6/27/07, Comment
sought on Centennial Communications Corp.’s request for review
of a USAC decision regarding the true-up of interstate common line support
universal service payments for Puerto Rico in 2004. Comments on the request
for review are due July 27, 2007, and reply comments are due August 13,
2007. 6/19/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
6/19/07
Public Notice: Oblio filed a petition
for declaratory ruling requesting (1) to have the Commission declare
that a wholesale telecommunications carrier may not refuse to honor a
telecommunication reseller’s proof of exemption from USF pass-through
charges where the reseller has certified that it is a direct contributor
to the USF; (2) a declaration of the obligation of the wholesale telecommunications
carrier to refund collected USF charges where the reseller has provided
the wholesale telecommunications carrier a certification letter; and
(3) a declaration that AT&T’s refusal to honor Oblio's refund request,
while providing refunds to other resellers amounts to a discriminatory
practice under §202(a) of the Act. At 2. 6/19/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
6/19/07
Public Notice: The Bureau released
a Public Notice seeking comment on six petitions seeking waivers of various
filing requirements associated with the receipt of universal service
support pursuant to the Commission’s rules. The petitions were
filed by the Illinois Commerce Commission; Pine Cellular Phones, Inc.;
Grande Communications Network, Inc.; Range Telephone Cooperative, Inc.;
Prairie Wave Black Hills, L.L.C.; and Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.
Comments on the petitions are due July 19, 2007 and reply comments are
due August 3, 2007. 6/19/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
Public Notice: The Bureau released a
Public Notice seeking comment on petitions for waiver of section 36.611
and 36.612 of the Commission’s rules filed by Allband Communications
Cooperative and Direct Communications Cedar Valley. Comments on the petitions
are due July 19, 2007 and reply comments are due August 3, 2007. 6/19/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
Public Notice: The Bureau released a
Public Notice seeking comment on a petition for study area waiver filed
by El Paso Telephone Company and Qwest Corporation. Comments on the petition
are due July 19, 2007 and reply comments are due August 3, 2007. 6/19/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
6/12/07
Order: On June 12, 2007, the Commission
released an order granting an extension of time for parties to file reply
comments in response to the May 14, 2007 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
which sought comment on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service’s
recommendation that the Commission adopt an interim, emergency cap on
high-cost universal service support for competitive eligible telecommunications
carriers. The reply comment date is changed from June 13, 2007, to June
21, 2007. 6/12/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
6/11/07
Public Notice: Pursuant to section
54.709(a)(3) of the Commission’s rules, on May 2, 2007, the Universal
Service Administrative Company (USAC) submitted projections of demand
and administrative expenses for the Federal Universal Service Fund for
the Third Quarter of 2007. According to USAC’s projections, $650
million in unused funds from Funding Years 2001 through 2004 is available
to carry forward to increase disbursements to schools and libraries via
the schools and libraries universal service mechanism. Section 54.507(a)(2)
of the Commission’s rules states, in pertinent part, that "all
funds that are collected and that are unused from prior years shall be
available for use in the next full funding year of the schools and libraries
mechanism in accordance with the public interest and notwithstanding
the annual cap." 6/11/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
6/4/07
Order: On May 21, 2007, Dobson Cellular
System and the American Cellular Corporation (Dobson/ACC) filed a petition
seeking the Commission's agreement with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission's
redefinition of certain rural incumbent local exchange carriers. Pursuant
to section 54.207(c)(2) of the Commission's rules, the Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on Dobson/ACC's petition. Comment Date: 7/5/07.
Reply Comment: 7/19/07. 6/4/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/25/07
Order: On October 10, 2006, Twin Valley
Telephone, Inc. (Twin Valley) filed a Petition for Clarification of the
effective date of the Wireline Competition Bureau’s order granting
it waivers of the study area boundary freeze and section 69.3(e)(11)
of the Commission’s rules. On April 26, 2006, Twin Valley filed
a request to withdraw the Petition for Clarification. We grant Twin Valley’s
request for withdrawal. 5/25/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/24/07
Order: On March 5, 2007, Alenco Communications,
Inc. (Alenco), et al., filed a petition seeking a declaratory ruling
that customer equipment used in connection with fixed or mobile satellite
service is not within the definition of “facilities” as used
in section 214(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. On April
25, 2007, the Wireline Competition Bureau released a Public Notice requesting
that comments on the Alenco Petition be filed by May 25, 2007 and reply
comments by June 11, 2007. On May 16, 2007, DialToneServices, L.P. (DTS)
filed a letter seeking to extend the comment and reply comment deadlines
by six weeks. DTS states that the extension would enable parties and
the Commission to develop a more complete record of the important issues
raised in the petition. On May 18, 2007, Alenco, the Texas Telephone
Association, the Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc., and others
(collectively Petitioners) filed a letter responding to DTS’ request,
and arguing that a six-week extension was unwarranted. Instead, the Petitioners
suggest extending the comment and reply comment deadlines by two weeks.
Comments Due: June 22, 2007. Reply Comments Due: July 9, 2007. 5/24/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/23/07
Public Notice: On May 14, 2007, the
Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking comment
on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service’s recommendation
that the Commission adopt an interim, emergency cap on high-cost universal
service support for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers.
The Commission set the comment and reply comment deadlines as 14 and
21 days, respectively, after publication of the Notice in the Federal
Register. On May 23, 2007, a summary of the Notice appeared in the Federal
Register. Accordingly, comments will be due on June 6, 2007, and reply
comments will be due on June 13, 2007. 5/23/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/18/07
Order: In this order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau grants 27 appeals of decisions by the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC). USAC denied funding on the grounds that
the requests for telecommunications service were from service providers
that do not provide telecommunications on a common carrier basis and
therefore were not eligible for direct reimbursement from the E-Rate
program. Because the Petitioners may have used incorrect Service Provider
Information Numbers (SPINs), the order grants the Petitioners the opportunity
to correct the SPINs. 5/18/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/18/07
Public Notice: The SECA (State E-Rate
Coordinators Assoc.) PN establishes a comment cycle for a petition for
reconsideration of our recent order (DA 07-1272, rel. 3/13/07) granting
AT&T's petition for clarification of the E-rate billing rules filed by
SECA. In its petition, SECA argues that AT&T's billing system requires
applicants to pay the entire amount of the billed charges by the due
date, including the discounted and non-discounted portions, regardless
of when the applicant receives the reimbursement check from AT&T. SECA
notes that all other companies have been able to implement discounted
billing. Comment Date: June 1, 2007. Reply Comment Date: June 15, 2007.
5/18/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/18/07
Public Notice: The Eureka / Value Added
PN establishes a comment cycle for two petitions seeking review of WCBs
Reseller Order. In the Reseller Order, the Bureau denied petitions filed
by Eureka and Value-Added, both resellers of telecommunication services,
challenging USAC’s decisions not to recognize USF contributions
which petitioners contended they made indirectly through underlying carriers.
Comment Date: June 1, 2007. Reply Comment Date: June 15, 2007. 5/18/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/14/07
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: In this
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice), we seek comment on the recommendation
of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Joint Board) that
the Commission take immediate action to rein in the explosive growth
in high-cost universal service support disbursements. Specifically, we
seek comment on the Joint Board’s recommendation that the Commission
impose an interim, emergency cap on the amount of high-cost support that
competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) may receive.
The Joint Board also recommended that both it and the Commission further
explore comprehensive high-cost distribution reform, and sought comment
on various reform proposals in a Public Notice released on the same day
as the Recommended Decision. 5/14/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/14/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau initiates a proceeding to consider a petition by Dobson Cellular
Systems, Inc. and its affiliate American Cellular Corporation to redefine
the service areas of twelve rural telephone companies in the state of
Oklahoma. Due to creamskimming concerns in four of the service areas,
the Public Notice initiates a proceeding to examine the request. Comment
Date: June 13, 2007. Reply Comment Date: June 28, 2007. 5/14/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/11/07
Order: In this Order, pursuant to section
1.429 of the Commission’s rules, we dismiss the Expedited Petition
to Reduce or Adjust the Proposed Fourth Quarter Contribution Factor filed
by WilTel Communications, LLC (“WilTel”). Specifically, we
find that the Petition was untimely filed. 5/11/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/8/07
Order: In this Order, the Commission
grants in part and denies in part Macomb Intermediate School District
Technology Consortium’s (Macomb ISD) Request for Review. Macomb
ISD requested the same type of Internet access (T-3 lines) from three
separate service providers. The order finds that Macomb ISD violated
the Commission’s competitive bidding rules by not selecting the
bids that were the most cost-effective. We find, however, that Macomb
ISD is entitled to E-rate program funding for the T-3 lines in an amount
associated with the least expensive of the services, consistent with
the Commission’s rules on competitive bidding. 5/8/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/8/07
Order: In this Order, the Bureau grants
62 appeals and denies one pertaining to applicants that were denied E-rate
program funding on the grounds that they did not wait 28 days after their
FCC Form 470s were posted on the USAC website before entering into an
agreement with a service provider or submitting their FCC Form 471s for
the requested services. 5/8/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/8/07
Order: In this Order, the Commission
grants 17 Requests for Review of decisions by USAC denying petitioners’ requests
for funding under the E-rate program because more than 30 percent of
the funding requests were for entities ineligible for E-Rate support.
The Commission finds that 11 petitioners have provided sufficient evidence
that the entities for which they sought discounted services were eligible
for support and that four petitioners have provided sufficient evidence
justifying further review by USAC. For the remaining two petitioners,
the Commission holds that the Commission’s 30 percent rule is not
applicable to the petitioners’ applications. 5/8/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/8/07
Order: In this Order, the Commission
grants 59 appeals of decisions by USAC denying petitioners’ requests
for funding under the E-rate program because applicants violated section
54.504(d) of the Commission’s rules, which requires USAC to deny
a request for E-rate support if 30 percent or more of a request for discounts
is for ineligible services. The Commission finds that 23 petitioners
provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that at least 70 percent
of the requested services are eligible for support. For the remaining
36 petitioners, the Commission finds that good cause exists to justify,
on our own motion, waivers of section 54.504(d). 5/8/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/8/07
Order: In this Order, the Commission
grants 56 Requests for Review of decisions by USAC denying petitioners’ requests
for funding under the E-rate program because the applicants failed to
demonstrate access to the resources required to effectively use the requested
eligible services or to pay their non-discounted share for the services.
In this order, the Commission finds that the petitioners either provided
sufficient evidence to demonstrate they had the resources to make effective
use of the requested eligible services or they should have an additional
opportunity to provide the documentation to USAC. Accordingly,
the Commission grants the appeals and remands the underlying applications
to USAC for further action consistent with the Order. 5/8/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/1/07
News Release: The Federal-State Joint
Board on Universal Service recommended that the Federal Communications
Commission take immediate action to rein in explosive growth in high-cost
universal service support disbursements. The Joint Board is also seeking
comment on proposals for long-term, comprehensive reform of the high-cost
program. 5/1/07. Word |Acrobat
5/1/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Joint Board) seeks
comment on various proposals to reform the high-cost universal service
support mechanisms. In a companion Recommended Decision released today,
the Joint Board recommends that the Commission take immediate action
to rein in the explosive growth in high-cost universal service support
disbursements by imposing an interim, emergency cap on the amount of
high-cost support that competitive eligible telecommunications carriers
(ETCs) may receive. The Joint Board is committed to making further recommendations
regarding long term, comprehensive high-cost universal service reform
within six months. To assist the Joint Board in accomplishing this goal,
we seek comment on several proposals that have been placed in the record
since the close of the last comment cycle, as well as other possible
reforms. The Joint Board expects parties to put forth detailed, comprehensive
proposals within this comment cycle. Comments on the Public Notice are
due May 31, 2007, and reply comments are due July 2, 2007. 5/1/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
5/1/07
Recommended Decision: In this Recommended
Decision, the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Joint Board)
recommends that the Commission take immediate action to rein in the explosive
growth in high-cost universal service support disbursements. Specifically,
we recommend that the Commission impose an interim, emergency cap on
the amount of high-cost support that competitive eligible telecommunications
carriers (ETCs) may receive for each state based on the average level
of competitive ETC support distributed in that state in 2006. We also
recommend that the Joint Board and the Commission further explore comprehensive
high-cost distribution reform. As part of that effort, today in a companion
Public Notice we seek comment on various proposals to reform the high-cost
universal service support mechanisms. We also commit to making further
recommendations regarding comprehensive high-cost universal service reform
within six months of this Recommended Decision. Finally, we recommend
that the Commission act on these further recommendations within one year
from the date of our further recommended decision. 5/1/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
4/25/07
Public Notice: Public Notice seeks
comment on a petition for declaratory ruling and preemption of a Texas
PUC order filed by a group of rural carriers. The petitioners request
that the Commission issue a declaratory ruling affirming that rooftop
or pole-mounted antenna used with fixed satellite service and mobile
handset and accessories used with mobile satellite service do not satisfy
the "facilities" requirement of sec. 214(e) of the Act. The petitioners
also seek an order preempting the Texas PUC's designation of DialToneServices
(DTS) as an ETC, because DTS does not meet section 214(e)'s facilities
requirement. Comments on the petition are due May 25, 2007, and reply
comments are due June 11, 2007. 4/25/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
4/25/07
Public Notice: Public Notice seeks
comment on a petition by the State E-rate Coordinators Alliance for clarification
and/or waiver of E-rate rules concerning technology plan creation and
approval under the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism.
Comments on the petition are due May 10, 2007, and reply comments are
due May 25, 2007. 4/25/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
4/17/07
Order on Reconsideration: In this Order,
the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants and remands a Petition
for Reconsideration filed by the Virginia State Department of Education
(Virginia DOE) asking the Bureau to reconsider its order denying Virginia
DOE’s Request for Review of a decision issued by the Universal
Service Administrative Company. 4/17/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
4/16/07
Notice of Inquiry: This Notice of Inquiry
(Notice) begins our fifth inquiry under section 706 of the Telecommunications
Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act) into “whether advanced telecommunications
capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely
fashion.” We seek comment on various market, investment, and technological
trends in order for the Commission to analyze and assess whether infrastructure
capable of supporting advanced services is being made available to all
Americans. 4/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
4/10/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) denies the request for review filed by i-Tel
Long Distance a/k/a Impact Telecommunications, Inc. (i-Tel) of two Administrator’s
Decisions on Contributor Appeal. In its request, i-Tel alleges that qualifies
for de minimis status and, thus, is not subject to universal service
contributions. The Bureau finds that i-Tel did qualify for de minimis
status for the billing periods at issue and affirms the Administrator’s
Decisions. 4/10/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
4/10/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) dismisses in part and denies in part a request
for review of a USAC administrator decision filed by National Network
Communications, Inc. National Network alleges that it qualifies for de
minimis status and, thus, is not subject to universal service contributions.
The Bureau finds that National Network was eligible for the de minimis
exemption for the billing period January – December 2002, but,
pursuant to the true-up process, has already received relief for this
time period. The Bureau also finds that National Network was not eligible
for the de minimis exemption for the billing periods January – December
2000 and January – December 2001. 4/10/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
4/6/07
Order: In this order, pursuant to section
10(c) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act), the Wireline
Competition Bureau extend by 90 days the date by which the petition requesting
forbearance filed by Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. (Iowa Telecom)
shall be deemed granted in the absence of a Commission decision that
the petition fails to meet the standards for forbearance under section
10(a) of the Act. 4/6/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
4/3/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau grant a joint request from SRT Communications, Inc.
(SRT) and North Dakota Telephone Company (NDTC) (collectively, the Petitioners)
for a waiver of the study area boundary freeze codified in the Appendix-Glossary
of Part 36 of the Commission’s rules. This waiver will permit NDTC
to remove the Velva exchange comprising approximately 720 lines from
its North Dakota study area and will permit SRT to add that exchange
to its existing North Dakota study area. We also grant SRT’s request
for waiver of section 69.3(e)(11) of the Commission’s rules so
that it can include the acquired exchange in the National Exchange Carrier
Association (NECA) common line tariff. 4/3/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
4/2/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Northwest Missouri Cellular
Limited Partnership pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission's rules,
47 C.F.R. section 54.207, requesting the Commission's agreement with
the decision of the Missouri Publi Service Commission to redefine the
study areas of three rural telephone companies at the wire center level.
Comment Date: April 16, 2007. Reply Comment Date: April 23, 2007. 4/2/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/29/07
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau
grant Cellular South's petition for waiver of sections 54.904(d) of the
Commission's rules to enable Cellular South to receive Interstate Common
Line Support as of its ETC designation date. Specifically, Cellular South
seeks waiver of a filing deadline that occurred prior to its ETC designation
date. We find that Cellular South has demonstrated good cause to grant
this waiver. 3/29/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/28/07
Public Notice: Public Notice To Wireless
Carriers Who Filed FCC Form 499-Q in November 2006 With The Universal
Service Administrative Company And Sought Confidential Treatment Of The
Information Submitted. 3/28/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/28/07
Public Notice: Public Notice To All
Carriers Who Filed FCC Form 499-Q in November 2006 With The Universal
Service Administrative Company And Sought Confidential Treatment Of The
Information Submitted. 3/28/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/28/07
Order: In this Order, the Commission
grants 29 appeals of decisions by the Universal Service Administrative
Company reducing or denying funding under the E-rate program on the grounds
that Petitioners' funding requests were not supported by an approved
technology plan. 3/28/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/28/07
Order: In this Order, the Commission
grants 76 appeals of decisions by the Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) reducing or denying funding from the E-rate program on
the grounds that applicants failed to respond to USAC’s requests
for information within the USAC-specified time frame. 3/28/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/28/07
Order: In this Order, the Commission
grants 72 appeals of decisions by the Universal Service Administrative
Company reducing or denying funding on the grounds that the applicant
did not have a legally binding agreement in place when it filed its FCC
Form 471, that the applicant’s existing contract expired before
the end of the funding year, or that the execution date of the contract
did not accompany the signature lines of both the applicant and the service
provider. 3/28/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/26/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau Seeks Comment on a Petition by Missouri RSA No. 5 Partnership
to Redefine the Study Areas of Four Rural Telephone Companies in Missouri.
The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on a petition
filed by Missouri RSA No. 5 Partnership pursuant to section 54.207 of
the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 54.207 requesting the
Commission’s agreement with the decision of the Missouri Public
Service Commission (MPSC) to redefine the study areas of four rural telephone
companies at the wire center level. 3/26/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/23/07
Order: This order addresses 14 appeals
of USAC decisions denying funding on the ground that the Petitioners
violated the Commission's competitive bidding requirements. The Order
denies one appeal because the record shows that the Petitioner’s
competitive bidding process violated program rules, but grants and remands
the remaining appeals to USAC for further action. 3/23/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/19/07
Public Notice: On December 18, 2006,
the Commission sought approval from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) of the information collection for the revised FCC Form 499-A, FCC
Form 499-Q, and accompanying instructions. 3/19/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/19/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) deny the Petition for Waiver filed by Sprint
Corporation (Sprint). Sprint asks for a waiver of the Commission's rule
requiring that private branch exchange (PBX) and key systems be treated
as "Priority Two" services under the schools and libraries universal
service support mechanism (also known as the E-rate program). Sprint
asks that the Commission treat such services as "Priority One" services
for the duration of those contracts that were signed prior to December
1, 2003, because the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
had treated these services as Priority One services prior to this date.
We deny the Petition. 3/19/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/14/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) deny requests for review filed by ABS-CBN
Telcom North America, Incorporated (ABS-CBN), Southwest Communications,
Inc. (SCI), and Trans National Communications International, Inc. (TNCI)(collectively
Petitioners). 3/14/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/14/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) deny the request filed by Big River Telephone
Company, LLC (Big River or Petitioner) seeking review of the Decision
on Contributor Appeal issued by the Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC or the Administrator). Specifically, Big River challenges
the Administrator’s application of adjustments posted to Big River’s
account and reflected on its July, August, and September 2002 invoices.
For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the Administrator’s
Decision. 3/14/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/14/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) grant in part and deny in part a petition
by Corr Wireless Communications, LLC (Corr), an eligible telecommunications
carrier (ETC), for waiver of certain filing deadlines set forth in sections
54.313(d)(3) and 54.307(c) of the Commission’s rules. 3/14/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/14/07
Public Notice: On February 21, 2007,
Alltel Communications, Inc. (Alltel) requested that the Commission resolve
previously filed petitions for declaratory ruling seeking preemption
of the Arkansas Telecommunications Reform Act of 1997. Specifically,
Alltel requests that Commission consider whether Section 5 of the Arkansas
Telecommunications Regulatory Reform Act of 1997 (Arkansas Act) conflicts
with federal law and the Commission’s implementing regulations.
Interested parties are invited to comment on Alltel’s request.
3/14/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/14/07
Order: On May 19, 2005, GTA Wireless,
LLC (GTA), filed a Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications
Carrier (Petition) in the above-captioned proceeding. In its Petition,
GTA sought designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier throughout
the Territory of Guam, pursuant to section 214(e)(6) of the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended. On October 3, 2006, Pulse Mobile, LLC, formerly
GTA, submitted a request to withdraw the Petition. We grant the GTA request
for withdrawal. 3/14/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/14/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) deny the petitions filed by American Telecommunication
Systems, Inc. (ATS), Equivoice, Inc., (Equivoice), Eureka Broadband Corporation
(Eureka), TON Services, Inc. (TON) and Value-Added Communications, Inc.
(VAC), collectively Petitioners. Petitioners, all resellers of telecommunication
services, challenge the Universal Service Administrative Company’s
(USAC’s or Administrator’s) decisions not to recognize the
Universal Service Fund (USF or Fund) contributions which Petitioners
contend that they made indirectly through underlying carriers. The time
periods at issue vary by case, but all fall within the years 1999-2003.
For the reasons set forth below we deny the petitions and direct that
all outstanding payments, including late fees, penalties, or other monies
owed be made not later than 30 days from release of this Order. 3/14/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/16/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) deny Allegheny Telephone Company's (Allegheny)
appeal of the Administrator's Decision on Contributor Appeal by the Universal
Service Administrative Company (USAC). 3/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/16/07
Public Notice: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks to refresh the record on issues raised
in the Petition of Genesis Communications International, Inc. (Genesis)
for Declaratory Rulings Regarding Lifeline Assistance Revenues (Petition).
Because comments and reply comments on the issue were filed several years
ago, the passage of time and intervening developments have rendered the
records developed by those commenters stale. Moreover, some issues raised
by commenters may have become moot or irrelevant in light of intervening
events. For these reasons, the Bureau requests that parties refresh the
record with any new information or arguments they believe to be relevant
to deciding the issues still pending. 3/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/16/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) deny the request for review of action taken
by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) filed by Telco
Group Inc. (Telco). 3/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/16/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) deny the request for review of a decision
taken by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC or the Administrator)
filed by WorldxChange Corp. (WorldxChange). 3/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/16/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) dismiss as moot the request for review of
action taken by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) filed
by Advantage Telecommunications Corp. (Advantage). 3/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/16/07
Order: The National Exchange Carrier
Association (NECA) files annually a proposed formula for calculating
high-cost loop support for average schedule members of the common line
pool. The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) issued orders modifying
each of NECA’s proposed formulas for the years 2000 through 2005.
In turn, NECA filed Applications for Review (Applications) or Petitions
for Reconsideration (Petitions) of each of the Bureau orders, requesting
in each instance that the Commission or the Bureau adopt NECA’s
preferred formula. 3/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/13/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) grant the petition of AT&T Corp. (AT&T) for
clarification or, in the alternative, waiver of section 54.514(a) of
the Commission’s rules, which states that service providers must
allow the billed entity to choose the method of payment for the discounted
services. Specifically, AT&T requests the Commission to clarify that
AT&T’s on-line reimbursement process complies with section 54.514(a)
of the Commission’s rules or, in the alternative, waive this rule
as it applies to AT&T’s reimbursement process. As explained below,
we find that AT&T’s on-line reimbursement process complies with
the Commission’s rules. 3/13/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/13/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) has under consideration two Requests for
Review filed by Send Technologies L.L.C. (Send Technologies) relating
to services provided by Send Technologies to Union Parish School Board,
Farmerville, Louisiana (Union Parish). Send Technologies seeks review
of decisions by USAC denying Send Technologies’ appeal of commitment
adjustment recovery actions. Consistent with precedent, we deny the Requests
for Review and direct USAC to continue the commitment adjustment recovery
actions regarding this matter. To the extent that Send Technologies requests
a waiver of the Commission’s rules, we deny that request as well.
3/13/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/13/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) deny three separate requests for waiver,
filed by three eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) – NPI-Omnipoint
Wireless, LCC (NPI), SouthEast Telephone, Inc. (SouthEast), and SEI Data,
Inc. (SEI) (collectively, Petitioners) – of certain filing deadlines
required for receipt of high-cost universal support service as set forth
in sections 54.307(c), 54.802(a), 54.809(c), and 54.903 of the Commission’s
rules. We find that the Petitioners have failed to demonstrate that good
cause warrants waiver of the Commission’s rules. 3/13/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/12/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) deny the petitions filed by American Cyber
Corp. (ACC), Coleman Enterprises, Inc. (Coleman), Inmark, Inc., d/b/a
Preferred Billing (Inmark), Lotel, Inc., d/b/a Coordinated Billing (Lotel),
Protel Advantage, Inc. (Protel) (collectively, Petitioners) seeking review
of the Universal Service Administrative Company’s (the Administrator)
Decision on Contributor Appeal. 3/12/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/13/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks to refresh the record
on issues raised in the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the
Lifeline and Link-Up docket. Because comments on the issue were filed
several years ago, the passage of time and intervening developments may
have rendered the records developed by those commenters stale. Moreover,
some issues raised by commenters may have become moot or irrelevant in
light of intervening events. For these reasons, the Bureau requests that
parties refresh the record with any new information or arguments they
believe to be relevant to deciding the issues still pending. The refreshed
record will enable the Commission to undertake appropriate consideration
of the issue of how best to provide support through the Lifeline and
Link-Up programs to more low-income individuals and families. 3/13/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/12/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks to refresh the record
on issues raised in the Twelfth Report and Order and Twenty-Fifth Report
and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the above proceeding
related to what constitutes a “near reservation” area for
federal Lifeline and Link-Up support purposes. Because comments on the
issue were filed several years ago, the passage of time and intervening
developments have rendered the records developed by those commenters
stale. Moreover, some issues raised by commenters may have become moot
or irrelevant in light of intervening events. For these reasons, the
Bureau requests that parties refresh the record with any new information
or arguments they believe to be relevant to deciding the issues still
pending. The refreshed record will enable the Commission to undertake
appropriate consideration of the issue of how best to provide support
through Lifeline and Link-Up to “near reservation” areas.
3/12/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/13/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) deny four appeals of decisions by the Universal
Service Administrative Company (USAC) reducing or denying funding from
the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism (also known
as the E-rate program) for Funding Year 2001 on the grounds that they
failed to timely submit an FCC Form 486. Under the E-rate program, eligible
schools, libraries, and consortia that include eligible schools and libraries
may apply for discounts for eligible telecommunications services, Internet
access, and internal connections. After an applicant for discounted services
under the E-rate program has entered into agreements for eligible services
with one or more service providers, it must file an FCC Form 471 with
USAC. The FCC Form 471 notifies USAC of the services that have been ordered
and supplies an estimate of funds requested for eligible services. USAC
then issues a funding commitment decision letter indicating the funding,
if any, for which the applicant is approved to receive. After the funding
year begins and the applicant begins receiving services at the discounted
rate, the applicant submits an FCC Form 486 to USAC. The FCC Form 486
indicates that the service has begun, specifies the service start date
and demonstrates that the applicant has received approval of its technology
plans. The timely submission of FCC Form 486 ensures that disbursements
for discounts on eligible services occur in a prompt and efficient manner.
3/13/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/13/07
Public Notice: In the Second Report
and Order, the Commission changed its definition of “rural” for
the purposes of the rural health care support mechanism. In March 2005,
the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) filed a Petition for Reconsideration
of the Commission’s Second Report and Order, in which it requested
that the Commission grandfather, for an indefinite period of time, rural
sites that were no longer eligible for rural health care support under
the new definition of rural in the Second Report and Order, but which
were eligible prior to the date of the Second Report and Order. By this
Public Notice, we seek comment on the ATA Petition for Reconsideration.
3/13/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/13/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) address three appeals of decisions by the
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) denying requests for
funding under the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism.
The decisions at issue involve the denial of funding on the ground that
the underlying applications violated the Commission’s competitive
bidding requirements. As discussed below, we find that the Petitioners
complied with the Commission’s competitive bidding requirements
in place at the time of their applications. We therefore grant the appeals
and remand the underlying applications to USAC for further action consistent
with this Order. To ensure that the underlying applications are resolved
expeditiously, we direct USAC to complete its review of the applications
and issue a decision based on a complete review and analysis no later
than 90 days from release of this Order. 3/13/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/12/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) dismiss as moot the request of the Telecommunications
Regulatory Board of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Board) for clarification
or, in the alternative, waiver of section 54.311(b) of the Commission’s
rules. 3/12/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/9/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) granted requests by California Youth Authority,
Florence County School District 3, Lee County School District, and Moreno
Valley Unified School District (collectively, Applicants) for an extension
of the deadline for implementing non-recurring services under the E-rate
program. The Bureau extended, until September 30, 2008, the deadline
for Applicants to complete installation of non-recurring services for
the funding years at issue in their Extension Requests. 3/9/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/9/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) denied a Request for Waiver filed by the
Otsego Local School District seeking a waiver of the designation of its
district as “urban” under section 54.505(b)(3) of the Commission’s
rules by USAC for purposes of calculating its discount level under the
schools and libraries universal service support mechanism. 3/9/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/9/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) dismissed as moot a Request for Review filed
by Kress Independent School District Kress, seeking a service provider
identification number (SPIN) change and a service substitution. Upon
review of the record, the Bureau found that USAC had previously approved
Kress’s request. 3/9/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/9/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) granted a request for review filed by the
Tri-River Educational Computer Association (TRECA) of a decision by USAC
that denied TRECA funding from the schools and libraries universal service
support mechanism because USAC determined that TRECA failed to provide
evidence of its authority to represent its consortium members. 3/9/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/9/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants Requests for Waiver filed by 44 applicants
seeking waiver of the FCC Form 471 filing window deadline for Funding
Years 2004, 2005, 2006, or 2007 under the schools and libraries support
mechanism. The Bureau remands the underlying applications to USAC for
further action consistent with the Bishop Perry Order. 3/9/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
3/9/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants the petition of the Kentucky Department
of Education (Kentucky) seeking a waiver of section 54.504(c) of the
Commission’s rules to enable Kentucky schools to use state master
contracts to apply for universal service support under the schools and
libraries support mechanism for Funding Year 2005 and future funding
years. 3/9/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
2/12/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Dobson
Cellular Systems Inc. and American Cellular Corporation pursuant to section
54.207 of the Commission’s rules, requesting the Commission’s
agreement with the decision of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to
redefine the service areas of certain rural telephone companies in Oklahoma
at the wire center level. 2/12/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
2/9/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Joint Board) will
hold an en banc hearing on Tuesday, February 20, 2007, in Washington,
DC. 2/9/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
2/8/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau grant a petition filed by Smith Bagley, Inc. (SBI)
seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) on
the Navajo Reservation (Reservation) in Utah pursuant to section 214(e)(6)
of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act). 2/8/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
2/8/07
Order: In this Order, the Telecommunications
Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau adopted a protective
order granting limited access to Exhibit E of the Cingular petition for
designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in the Commonwealth
of Virginia. 2/8/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
2/6/07
Order on Reconsideration: In this Order,
the Commission grant a Petition filed by National LambdaRail, Inc. (NLR)
seeking reconsideration or, in the alternative, clarification of the
Commission’s order establishing a rural health care pilot program
to encourage the provision of telehealth and telemedicine services throughout
the nation. Specifically, we find that pilot program applicants may request
and, if selected, may receive funding to support up to 85 percent of
the cost of connecting state and regional broadband networks to the University
Corporation for Advanced Internet Development, Inc. (Internet2) or NLR.
We further find that an applicant that proposes to connect its state
or regional broadband networks to Internet2 or NLR may either (1) pre-select
Internet2 or NLR; or (2) seek a competitive bid for the provision of
nationwide backbone services from Internet2 or NLR. To ensure the success
of the pilot program, we expect that Internet2 and NLR will interconnect
or peer with each other. Finally, we provide applicants with an additional
thirty (30) days time to submit their applications to the Commission.
2/6/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
2/5/07
Public Notice: Due Dates Extended for
Comments and Reply Comments on Petition of Cingular Wireless, LLC for
Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of
Georgia. In the interest of developing a thorough and complete record
in this proceeding, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) hereby extends
the comment and reply comment filing deadlines. Parties therefore have
until February 20, 2007 to file comments on the Cingular Petition in
this docket, and until February 27, 2007 to file reply comments. 2/5/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
1/31/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Federal Communications Commission requires telecommunications providers
to register with the Commission, comply with periodic reporting requirements,
and contribute to certain regulatory programs. In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau reminds telecommunications providers
that are considered "de minimis" under the Commission’s rules of
how these requirements apply to them. 1/31/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
1/31/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau grant Hopi request to be designated as an ETC on the
Hopi Reservation and on a small portion of the Navajo Reservation in
Arizona. 1/31/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
1/26/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau grants a request by Pine Cellular Phones,
Inc. (Pine Cellular), an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) in
Oklahoma, for a waiver of 54.307 of the Commission’s rules. 1/26/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
1/26/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau grants a request by MTA Communication
Inc. d/b/a MTA Wireless (MTAW), an eligible telecommunications carrier,
for a waiver of section 54.314(d) of the Commission’s rules. 1/26/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
1/26/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau granted a request by the Kansas Corporation
Commission (Kansas Commission) for a waiver of section 54.313 and 54.314
of the Commission’s rules. 1/26/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
1/26/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau grants a request by AT&T Communications
of NY and AT&T Communications of California (collectively, AT&T), eligible
telecommunications carriers (ETC), for a waiver of section 54.802(a)
of the Commission’s rules. 1/26/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
1/23/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau Invites Parties to Comment on the Petition
of Cingular Wireless, LLC for Designation as an ETC in the State of Georgia.
Comment Date: 2/6/07. Reply Comment Date: 2/13/07. 1/23/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
1/9/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau approves NECA’s proposed high-cost loop formula
and USAC’s proposed local switching support formula. As we have
done previously, we direct NECA and USAC to provide support to average
schedule carriers consistent with this Order retroactive to January 1,
2007. 1/9/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
1/4/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice,
the Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on a Petition filed by
American Cellular Corporation to Redefine the Service Areas of Certain
Rural Telephone Companies in the State of Minnesota. Comment Date: 1/18/07.
Reply Comment Date: 1/25/07. 1/4/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
1/1/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline
Competition Bureau grants a request by NPCR, Inc. (NPCR), an eligible
telecommunications carrier (ETC), for a waiver of section 54.802(a) of
the Commission’s rules. 1/1/07. Word | Acrobat| Text
12/28/06
Order: In this Order, we grant the
request of North River Telephone Cooperative (North River), an eligible
telecommunications carrier (ETC) in Virginia, for a waiver of the annual
filing deadline set forth in section 54.904(d) of the Commission’s
rules. We find that North River has demonstrated good cause that warrants
this waiver. 12/28/06. Word | Acrobat| Text
Order: In this Order, we grant MCI's
petition for waiver of sections 54.802(a) and 54.809(c) of the Commission's
rules. MCI missed its annual certification and three quarterly line reports
for interstate access support (IAS) during a time when it was transitioning
from bankruptcy. We find that MCI has demonstrated good cause to grant
this waiver: MCI's difficulties with emerging from bankruptcy and the impact
of a loss of approximately $1.5 million in IAS funding. 12/28/06. Word | Acrobat| Text
Order: In this Order, we grant Mid-Tex's
petition for waiver of section 54.314(d)(5) of the Commission's rules and
deny Mid-Tex's petition for waiver of section 54.904 of the Commission's
rules. We find that Mid-Tex's ETC designation date made it impossible for
the state commission to file the high-cost use certification prior to the
deadline in section 54.314(d)(5). We also find that Mid-Tex's confusion
over the ICLS certification deadline in section 54.904 did not warrant
a waiver. 12/28/06. Word | Acrobat| Text
Order: In this Order, we grant San Isabel's
request for a waiver of various line count and certification filing deadline
so that it may receive universal service support beginning immediately
after its ETC designation date of December 30, 2002. We conclude that the
missed deadlines were not the fault of San Isabel. We deny, however, San
Isabel's request for waiver of the two line count filing deadlines that
occurred after the date the state commission certified San Isabel (Sept
24, 2003). We find no reason why San Isabel could not have submitted those
required filings. As a result, San Isabel will not be eligible for universal
service support for the first and second quarters of 2004. In summary,
the Order permits San Isabel to be eligible for universal service support
from Jan 1, 2003 to Dec 31, 2003 and from July 1, 2004 and thereafter.
12/28/06. Word | Acrobat| Text
11/17/06
Public Notice: Wireline Competition
Bureau Seeks Nominations for Seven Board Member Positions on the Universal
Service Administrative Company Board of Directors Pursuant to section
54.703(c) of the Commission's rules. 11/17/06. Word | Acrobat
7/27/06
Public Notice: Wireline Competition
Bureau Seeks Comment on NPCR, Inc., Petition for Waiver of Section 54.802(a)
of the Commission's Rules. In its petition, NPCR requests a waiver of
the June 30, 2006, line count filing deadline set forth in 47 C.F.R.
section 54.802 to enable it to receive Interstate Access Support for
the months of July, August, and September 2006. Comment Date: 11/20/06.
Reply Comment Date: 11/27/06. Word | Acrobat
7/27/06
Public Notice: Wireline Competition
Bureau Seeks Comment on Petitions Requesting Waiver of Various Filing
Deadlines Related to the Universal Service Program. Comment Date: 9/8/06.
Reply Comment Date: 9/15/06. Word | Acrobat
Report and Order: Biennial Regulatory
Review of Regulations Administered by the Wireline Competition Bureau.
Section 11 requires the Commission to review biennially its regulations
that apply to the operations and activities of any provider of telecom
service and to determine whether these regulations are "no longer necessary
in the public interest as the result of meaningful economic competition
between providers of such service." FCC 06-86 CC Docket No. 02-313 Word | Acrobat
Public Notice: Wireline Competition
Bureau Streamlines Reporting Requirements for Interconnected VoIP Providers
and Announces OMB Approval of New FCC Forms 499-A and 499-Q. Word | Acrobat
6/21/06
Report & Order & NPRM: FCC Updates
Approach for Assessing Contributions to the Federal Universal Service
Fund. Acrobat
News Release: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat
Order: Federal-State Joint Board on Universal
Service, Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism, Rural
Health Care Support Mechanism, Lifeline and Link-up. The Commission extend
certain steps taken to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina through targeted
Universal Service Fund support. Granted petitions. FCC 06-23. CC Docket
No. 96-45 and 02-6; WC Docket No. 02-60 and 03-109. Word | Acrobat
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau
Seeks Nominations for Board Member Position on USAC Board of Directors.
Nominations Due: 3/17/06. Word | Acrobat
Order: Federal-State Joint Board on
Universal Service, Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations,
The Commission appoints the Honorable Deborah Taylor Tate, Commissioner
of the Federal Communications Commission, to serve on the Federal-State-Joint
Board on Universal Service and Jurisdictional Separations. Commissioner
Tate shall also serve as the Federal Chair of both the Universal Service
Joint Board and th3 Separations Joint Board. FCC 06-3. CC Docket No.
96-45 and 80-286. Word | Acrobat
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau
grants a joint request for waiver of the study area boundary freeze filed
by Sully Telephone Association, Inc. (Sully) and Reasnor Telephone Company,
LLC (Reasnor). This waiver permits Sully to remove one exchange from its
Iowa study area, and permits Reasnor to create a new Iowa study area for
the acquired exchange. Reasnor is also granted a waiver of section 69.605(c)
of the Commission’s rules to allow it to operate its new study area
in Iowa as an interstate average schedule company. DA 05-3106. CC Docket
No. 96-45. Word | Acrobat
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau
grants a joint request for waiver of the study area boundary freeze filed
by Direct Communications Cedar Valley, LLC (Direct Communications) and
Qwest Corporation (Qwest). This waiver allows the territory served by
Eagle Mountain City’s municipal telephone system (EMC) to be removed
from Qwest’s study area and will allow Direct Communications to
establish a new study area in the state of Utah. Direct Communications
is also granted waiver of certain of the Commission's rules to allow
it to become a member of the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA),
to receive interstate access settlements and universal service support
pursuant to NECA’s average schedule formulas, and to receive, to
the extent it is eligible, federal universal service support on the date
that it would otherwise be entitled to receive such support. DA 05-3105.
CC Docket No. 96-45. Word | Acrobat
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau
grants a joint request for waiver of the study area boundary freeze filed
by Madison River Telephone Company, LLC, its wholly owned subsidiary
MebTel, Inc. d/b/a MebTel Communications (Madison River) and BellSouth
Telecommunications, Inc. (BellSouth). The waiver permits BellSouth to
remove two exchanges from its North Carolina study area, and permits
Madison River to add these exchanges to its MebTel study area in North
Carolina. Madison River is also granted a waiver of section 69.3(e)(11)
of the Commission’s rules to allow it to continue to use the National
Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) as its tariff pool administrator.
DA 05-3104. CC Docket No. 96-45. Word | Acrobat
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau
grants a joint request for waiver of the study area boundary freeze filed
by United Telephone Company of Kansas (United) and Blue Valley Telecommunications,
Inc. (Blue Valley). The waiver permits United to remove two exchanges
from its Kansas study area, and permits Blue Valley to add these exchanges
to its existing Kansas study area. Blue Valley is also granted a waiver
of section 69.3(e)(11) of the Commission’s rules to allow it to
continue to use the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) as its
tariff pool administrator. DA 05-3103. CC Docket No. 96-45. Word | Acrobat
9/21/05
Hurricane Katrina Relief Order: We
waived our procedural rules relating to the Universal Service Fund ("USF")
on an emergency interim basis. FCC 05-178 CC Docket Nos. 96-45 and 02-6
WC Docket Nos. 02-60 and 03-109 Word | Acrobat
9/21/05
Waived Commission's procedural rules relating
to universal service fund submissions. We waived our procedural
rules relating to the Universal Service Fund ("USF") on an emergency
interim basis. DA 05-2484 CC Docket Nos. 02-6 and 96-45; WC Docket Nos.
02-60 and 03-109 Word | Acrobat
6/14/05
News Release: The Federal Communications
Commission launched a broad inquiry into the management, administration
and oversight of the Universal Service Fund. 6/14/05. Word | Acrobat
6/14/05
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: In this NPRM we initiated a broad
inquiry into the management and administration of the Universal Service
Fund (USF), as well as the Commission's oversight of the USF and the
USF Administrator. We sought comment on ways to improve the management,
administration, and oversight of the USF, including simplifying the process
for applying for USF support, speeding the disbursement process, simplifying
the billing and collection process, addressing issues relating to the
Universal Service Administrative Company, and exploring performance measures
suitable for assessing and managing the USF programs. We sought comment
on ways to further deter waste, fraud, and abuse through audits of USF
beneficiaries or other measures, and on various methods for recovering
improperly disbursed funds. 6/14/05. Word | Acrobat| Text
12/10/04
FEDERAL STATE JOINT BOARD ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE,
1998 BIENNIAL REGULATORY REVIEW, CHANGES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE NATIONAL EXCHANGE CARRIER ASSOCIATIONS, INC. Order
modified the deadline for filing revisions to annual Telecommunications
Reporting Worksheet (Worksheet or Form) 499-A. Granted and Remanded the
Requests for Review of decisions by the Universal Service Administrative
Company listed in Appendix A. CC Docket Nos. 96-45, 98-171,
97-21. Word | Acrobat
11/29/04
Order on Reconsideration: In this Order
the Commission addresses 12 petitions for reconsideration of the Universal
Service First Report and Order and the Fourth Order on Reconsideration.
These petitions concerned, among other issues, contributions and schools. Word | Acrobat
4/29/04
Order: In this Order the Commission
modifies it's rules to improve the effectiveness of the low-income support
mechanism, which ensures that quality telecommunications services are
available to low income consumers at just, reasonable and affordable
rates. Word | Acrobat
3/11/04
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau
grants and dismisses Genuity Telecom. Inc.'s petition to withdraw it's
petition filed on November 13, 2003 which sought filing provisions of
FCC Form 499-Q. Word | Acrobat
2/27/04
Federal State Joint Board ("Joint Board")
on Universal Service: Joint Board provides its recommendations
concerning the process for designation of eligible telecommunications
carriers and the Commission's rules regarding high-cost universal service
support. Docket No. 96-45
Recommended Decision: Word | Acrobat
Abernathy Statement: Word | Acrobat
Jaber (Florida PSC) Statement: Word | Acrobat
Dunleavy (NY State PSC) Statement: Word | Acrobat
Gregg (West Virginia PSC) Statement: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Joint Separate Statement of Adelstein, Thompson (Regulatory Commission
of Alaska), and Rowe (Montana PSC): Word | Acrobat
2/26/04
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau released a draft of the revised Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet
(FCC Form 499-A) for 2003 revenues. Word | Acrobat
Appendix
A in Acrobat
Instructions
in Acrobat
1/22/04
Order: The Commission grants in part
and denies in part, subject to enumerated conditions, the petition of
Virginia Cellular, LLC to be designated as an eligible telecommunications
carrier throughout its licensed service area in the Commonwealth of Virginia
pursuant to section 214(e)(6) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Word | Acrobat
12/24/03
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition
Bureau Released Estimated State-By-State High-Cost Universal Service
Support Amount for Non-Rural Carriers for 2004. Word | Acrobat | Erratum | Excel
Erratum
12/24/03
Line Counts Order: The Wireline Competition
Bureau update line counts and other input data used in the Commission’s
forward-looking economic cost model for purposes of calculating and targeting
non-rural high-cost support beginning January 1, 2004. We deny a petition
filed by the Maine Public Utilities Commission and the Vermont Public
Service Board seeking reconsideration of the Wireline Competition Bureau’s
(Bureau) 2002 Line Counts Update Order. Word | Word | Acrobat | Excel
12/24/03
NECA Proposed 2004 Modification of Average
Schedule Formulas: On October 1, 2003, the National Exchange Carrier
Association, Inc. (NECA) filed proposed modifications to the current
universal service formulas for average schedule companies, requesting
that they take effect on January 1, 2004, and remain in effect through
December 31, 2004 These formulas include a local switching support formula
and a Part 36 high-cost support formula. On October 17, 2003, a public
notice was issued soliciting comments on NECA’s filing.For the
reasons discussed below, we approve NECA's modified local switching support
formula and, with respect to Part 36 high-cost support, we adopt NECA’s
cost per loop formula (CPL formula). Word | Acrobat
12/22/03
Monitoring Report: News Release RE:
The Federal-State Joint Board Staff Releases Monitoring Report. The Comprehensive
Report Tracks Trends Related to Universal Service. Word | Acrobat
12/8/03
FCC-03-314, Released 12/8/03, CC DKT 96-45 and 97-21 Order RE: The Commission
finds that the facts presented by the application of the Winston-Salem
/ Forsyth County School District for discounts under the schools and
libraries universal service support mechanism do not justify a denial
of funding based on the Commission’s Ysleta decision (FCC 03-313). Word | Acrobat
12/8/03
FCC-03-313, Released 12/8/03, CC DKT 96-45 and 97-21 Order RE: The Commission
finds that Yselta Independent School District and other similarly-situated
schools that contracted with International Business Machines, Inc.
(IBM) as their service provider in Funding Year 2002 engaged in various
practices that violated its competitive bidding rules under the schools
and libraries universal service support mechanism. The Commission also
concluded, however, that the circumstances of these applicants justified
a waiver of the filing window requirements so that the applicants could
re-bid on the requested services. Word | Acrobat
11/25/03
DA-03-3740, CC DKT 96-45 Order RE: BellSouth Corporation Petition for
Clarification of Request for Immediate Relief by the State of Tennessee:
Order clarifies that in the event it becomes necessary to initiate
COMAD procedures with respect to the Tennessee FY 2002 application
for discounts under the schools and libraries universal service support
mechanism, that USAC should seek repayment directly from the subcontractors,
or service providers, that receive funding from the Good Samaritan
under the Tennessee Order. Word | Acrobat
11/10/03
DA-03-3601, CC DKT 96-45 Public Notice RE: The Public Notice announces
the release of the revised Form 498 and accompanying instructions to
be used to collect, contact, remittance and payment information from
Service Providers that receive support from the Federal Universal Service
Support Mechanisms. Word | Acrobat
10/6/03
DA-03-3056, CC DKT 96-45 Public Notice RE: The Public Notice initiates
a proceeding to consider RCC Minnesota's Petition to Redefine Rural
Telephone Company Service Areas in the State of Maine. Word | Acrobat
10/3/03
FCC-03-232, CC DKT 96-45 and CG 03-123 Order RE: The Order amends the
Commission's rules governing certain financial reporting and auditing
requirements applicable to the Universal Service Fund and the Telecommunications
Relay Services (TRS) Fund. Word | Acrobat
9/9/03
DA-03-2859, CC DKT 96-45 Public Notice RE: The Public Notice indicates
that it is initiating a proceeding to consider a service area redefinition
petition filed by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
The CPUC is requesting the Commission’s agreement with the CPUC's
proposed service area definition for areas served by the Wiggins Telephone
Association within Colorado. Word | Acrobat
7/14/03
FCC-03-170, CC DKT 96-45 Order and Order on Reconsideration RE: The Order
retains the existing list of services supported by universal service.
With regard to equal access the Commission held that several of the
arguments were within the scope of the Portability Proceeding and the
Commission declined to make a decision with regard to equal access
at this time.
Word | Acrobat
7/11/03
DA-03-2294, CC DKT 96-45 Public Notice RE: The Federal-State Joint Board
on Universal to hold En Banc hearing on the Portability of the High-Cost
Universal Service Support and the ETC designation process. Word | Acrobat
7/10/03
FCC-03-164, CC DKT 96-45 Remand Order RE: The Order on Remand which addresses
two issues on remand from the United States Court of Appeals for the
Fifth Circuit. This Order on Remand concludes that the $650 million
IAS amount adopted in the CALLS Order represents a reasonable estimate
of the implicit support in access charges to be replaced with explicit
support and is supported by the record in this proceeding. The Order
on Remand also concludes that the record supports the adoption of a
6.5 percent X-factor to achieve the Commission's target rate levels
for price cap carriers. Word | Acrobat
7/3/03
FCC-03-151, CC DKT 96-45 Order RE: The Commission’s biennial regulatory
review under section 11 of the Act. The order eliminates the requirement
that NECA hold annual elections for its board of directors and that its
directors serve one-year terms. The order also modifies the contested
election requirement for NECA’s non-telecommunications industry
directors (Outside Directors) so that no Outside Director may serve for
more than six consecutive calendar years without standing for an election
in which that director is opposed by at least one other qualified candidate.
Word | Acrobat
6/30/03
DA-03-1958, CC DKT 96-45 Order RE: Status of CIPA Filtering Rules for
Libraries Following Supreme Court Decision
Word | Acrobat
6/16/03
DA-03-1958, CC DKT 96-45 Order RE: WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION: Granted
Western Wireless' Request to Withdraw and Dismissed the Petition.
Word Acrobat
6/13/03
DA-03-1937, CC DKT 96-45 Order RE: Palau National Communications Corporation:
Granted the request to hold the petition in abeyance.
Word | Acrobat
5/21/03
FCC-03-115, CC DKT 96-45 Order on Reconsideration and Order RE: Addresses
petitions for reconsideration of the Twelfth Report and Order, which
adopted rules to provide additional targeted support to low-income
consumers on tribal lands, and clarifies rules regarding the qualification
criteria for enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up service.
Word | Acrobat
5/8/03
FCC-03-106, CC DKT 96-45; 00-256 Third Order on Reconsideration RE: Federal-State
Joint Board on Universal Service, Mulit-Association Group Plan for
Regulation of Interstate Services of Non-Price Cap Uncumbent Local
Exchange Carriers and Interexchange Carriers and Interexchange Carriers
. Addressed Administrative issues related to the Interstate Common
Line Support Mechanism. Adopted 3rdOrder on Recon. Amended Part 54
of the Commission's Rules.
Word | Acrobat
3/14/03
FCC 03-58, CC DKT 96-45; 98-171; 90-571; 92-237; 99-200; 95-116; NSD
File No. L-00-72 and 98-170 Order and Second Order on Reconsideration
RE: Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service addresses petitions
for interim waiver and several petitions for reconsideration of rules
recently adopted in the Interim Contribution Methodology Order regarding
the assessment and recovery of contributions to the federal universal
service support mechanisms.
Word | Acrobat
3/12/03
DA 03-754, CC DKT 96-45 Memorandum Opinion and Order RE: Grants the petition
of Farmers to be designated as an ETC for its requested, non-rural
service area in the state of Alabama.
Word | Acrobat
2/28/03
Order: DA 03-614, CC DKTS 96-45 and
97-21 Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service RE: Petition for
Limited Waiver of 47 C.F.R. Section 54.717(f) Regarding Audit Report
Deadline Extended the filing deadline by which the independent auditor
hired by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) must submit
its draft audit reoprt to the Wireline Competition Bureau for this year
until 4/15/03.
Word | Acrobat
2/26/03
Order: FCC 03-31, CC DKTS 96-45; 98-171;
90-571; 92-237; 99-200; 95-116; 98-170 and NSD File # L-00-72 Staff Study
RE: Staff study relating to alternative methodologies for calculating
contributions to federal universal service.
Word | Acrobat | Text | Staff
Study Cover Sheet | Staff Study
2/21/03
Public Notice: DA 03-486, CC DKT 96-45
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service RE: BellSouth, SBC, and
Verizon Joint Petition for Waiver of Section 54.712 of the rules is Permit-But-Disclose
Proceeding.
Word | Acrobat
1/30/03
Order and Order on Reconsideration: FCC
03-20, CC DKTS 96-45; 98-171; 90-571; 92-237; NSD File No. L-00-72; 99-200;
95-116 and 98-170 Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service RE:
The Commission reconsidered its definition of affiliate for purposes
of CMRS providers making the single election whether to report actual
interstate telecommunications revenues or use the applicable interim
safe harbor.
Word | Acrobat
12/17/02
Order: DA 02-3474, CC DKT 96-45 and
97-21 ABC Cellular Corp. Page Now, Inc. ABC Paging, Inc. RE: Grants ABC
Cellular's petition requesting that USAC accept its late-filed, revised
Form 499-Q.
Word | Acrobat
12/4/02
Memorandum Opinion and Order: DA 02-3317,
CC DKT 96-45 Cellular South License, Inc. RE: Grants the Petition of
Cellular to be designated as an ETC throughtout its licensed service
area under section 214(e)(6) of the Act.
Word | Acrobat
11/27/02
Memorandum Opinion and Order, DA 02-3181, CC DKT 96-45 RCC Holdings,
Inc. RE: Grants the Petition of RCC to be designated as an ETC throughtout
its licensed service area in the state of Alabama.
Word | Acrobat
11/8/02
Order, FCC 02-307, CC DKT 96-45 Federal-State Joint Board on Universal
Service RE: The Commission asks the Joint Board to review the Commission's
rules relating to high-cost universal service support in study areas
in which a competitive ETC is providing service and support.
Word | Acrobat
10/4/02
Public Notice, DA 02-2551, CC DKT 96-45 Rural Health Care RE: New Universal
Service Deadline for Completing Funding Year 2001 Rural Healthcare
Appplication Process.
Word | Acrobat
7/10/02
Recommended Decision, FCC 02J-1, CC DKT 96-45 Federal-State Joint Board
on Universal Service RE: The Joint Board recommends that the Commission
retain the existing list of services supported by universal service
by Recommended Decision.
Word | Acrobat
6/28/02
Order, FCC 02-196, CC DKT 96-45 Federal-State Joint Board on Universal
Service Children's Internet Proctection Act (CIPA) RE: The Commission
adopted interim measures to ensure that our implementation of the CIPA
compiles with the recent decision issued by a 3-judge panel in the
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Word | Acrobat | Text
6/13/02
Order, DA 02-1419, CC DKT 96-45 AT&T Corp. RE: Denied petition for
waiver filed on 12/13/01, to access its contributions to universal service
on projected, rather than historical, revenies.
Word | Acrobat | Text
5/6/02
Order, DA 02-1027, CC DKTS 96-262, 94-1, 99-249 and 96-45 National Association
of State Utility Consumer Advocates RE: Granted in part the request
for limited modifications of Interim Protective Order to permit limited
access to certain carrier-filed line count information.
Word | Acrobat | Text
4/8/02
Order, DA 02-774, CC DKT 96-45 Roseville Telephone Company RE: Granted
the request to withdraw the petition for limited waiver, and dismissed
without prejudice for limited waiver of section 54.309.
Word | Acrobat | Text
4/8/02
Order, DA 02-775, CC DKT 96-45 WJG Maritel Corporation RE: Granted the
request to withdraw petition for waiver, and dismissed withut prejudice
the petition for waiver of section 54.706.
Word | Acrobat | Text
4/8/02
Order, DA 02-776, CC DKT 96-45 Cellular South License, Inc. RE: Granted
the request to withdraw the petition for waiver, and dismissed without
prejudice the petition for waiver of section 54.313.
Word | Acrobat | Text
3/28/02
FCC 02-97, Order, CC DKT 96-45 Federal-State Joint Board on Universal
Service RE: The Commission appoints the Honorable Billy Jack Gregg,
West Virginia Consumer Advocate, to serve on the Federal-State Joint
Board on Universal Service.
Word | Acrobat | Text
3/22/02
FIRST ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION IN CC DOCKET NO. 00-256, TWENTY-FOURTH
ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION IN CC DOCKET NO. 96-45 Re Multi-Association
Group (MAG) Plan for Regulation of Non-Price Cap Incumbent Local Exchange
Carriers. Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service. Modifying
the Commission's procedures with respect to the initial filing by rate-of-return
carriers of data necessary for the Universal Service Administrative
Company to calculate Interstate Common Line Support. (FCC 02-89, CC
Dockets 00-256 & 96-45).
Word | Acrobat | Text
3/8/02
Public Notice. Proposed Second Quarter 2002 Universal Service Contribution
Factor. (CC Docket No. 96-45, DA 02-562).
Word | Acrobat | Text
2/26/02
FNPRM and Report and Order. The Commission released a Further Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking and Report and Order seeking comment on Connection-Based
System to Provide Certainty, Reduce Administrative Costs and Avoid
Marketplace Distortions. The FCC took further steps toward reform of
the sytem for assessment and recovery of USF contributions. Comments
are due on April 12, 2002, and Reply Comments are due on April 29,
2002. (Dkt No. 96-45,98-171, 90-571, 92-237, 99-200, FCC No. 02-43).
Word | Acrobat | Text
2/15/02
NPRM. The Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking
comment on the regulatory classification of telephone-based broadband
Internet access services. The Commission tentatively concluded that
wireline broadband Internet access service is an information service
with a telecommunications component. The Notice also seeks comment
on whether providers of broadband Internet access should be required
to contribute to universal service. (Dkt. No. CC 02-33, 95-20, 98-10)
FCC 02-42.
Word | Acrobat | Text
2/15/02
NPRM and Order. The Commision released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
seeking comment on The NPRM seeks comment on: (1) how the Commission
should define the key statutory terms "reasonably comparable" and "sufficient";
(2) whether, in light of the interpretation of those key statutory
terms, the Commission can and should maintain the previously established
benchmark or, in the alternative, should adopt a new benchmark or benchmarks;
and (3) how the Commission should induce states to implement state
universal service policies. the Commission released an NPRM and Order
seeking comment on the issues in the Ninth Report and Order remanded
by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and referring the
record to the Joint Board on Universal Service for a recommended decision
by August 15, 2002. Comments Due: 30 days after publication in Federal
Register. Reply Comments Due: 45 days after publication in Federal
Register. (Dkt No. CC 96-45, 95-116, 98-170) FCC No. 02-41
Word | Acrobat | Text
2/6/02
Order. The Commission released an Order concerning the "Deployment
of Advanced Telecommunications Capability to All Americans in a Reasonable
and Timely Fashion." (Dkt. No. CC 98-146) FCC 02-33.
Text | Acrobat
1/29/02
Order. The Commission released an Order dismissing approximately 100
petitions for reconsideration in the Universal Service and Local Competition
Dockets (Dkt Nos. CC 96-45, 96-98.
Text | Word
1/25/02
NPRM and Order. The Commission released an NPRM and Order seeking comment
on a variety of ways to streamline the administrative and procedural
processes of the schools and libraries program, and denies certains
petitions for reconsideration. Comments are due April 5, 2002, and
reply comments are due May 6, 2002. ( Dkt No. 02-6, FCC 02-8) Text | Word 1/25/02 Commissioner
Copps' Statement 1/25/02
1/25/02
Order. The Common Carrier Bureau released an Order that grants the petition
of Guam Cellular and Paging for designation as an eligible telecommunications
carrier in Guam under section 214(e)(6). (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released
1/25/01) DA 02-174 Text | Word
12/18/01
Public Notice. Common Carrier Bureau announces estimated state-by-state
high-cost Universal Service support amounts for non-rural carriers
for 2002. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, DA 01-2927.
Text | Word | Attached
Spreadsheet
12/18/01
Order. Common Carrier Bureau released an Order that updates line
count input values for the high-cost universal service support mechanism
for non-rural carriers for purposes of calculating and targeting support
amounts for the year 2002. The Bureau also updates the company-specific
data used in the model to calculate investment in general support facilities
and switching costs. Finally, the Bureau denies a petition for reconsideration
filed by Sprint Corporation of the Bureau's 2001 Line Counts Update Order.
(Dkt No. CC-96-45, DA 01-2928.
Text | Word
11/14/01
Public Notice. The Commission released a Public Notice that provides
parties that filed petitions for reconsideration of the Universal Service
First Report and Order and Local Competition First and Second Report
and Order with a final opportunity to indicate an intent to pursue
their respective petitions. Comment Date: December 20, 2001. (Dkt
No. CC-96-45, 96-98, DA 01-2636
Acrobat | Text
11/8/01
Order. The Commission released a Report and Order in the Multi-Association
Group (MAG) proceeding that reforms the interstate access charge structure
for rate-of-return carriers, and creates a new universal service support
mechanism, Interstate Common Line Support, to replace implicit support
for universal service in their access charges. The companion Further
Notice seeks additional comment on the MAG incentive plan and on the
MAG's proposed changes to the Commission's "all-or-nothing" rule.
It also seeks comment on pricing flexibility measures for rate-of-return
carriers, and on merging the Long Term Support mechanism into the new
support mechanism as of July 1, 2003. (Dkt Nos. CC-96-45, 00-256, 98-77,
98-166, FCC 01-304 Comment date: February 15, 2002, Reply Comment date:
March 18, 2002.
Text | Word | Acrobat
11/2/01
Public Notice. Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service Seeks Nominations
for Board Member Position on the Universal Service Administrative Company
Board of Directors. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, 97-21) DA 01-2515
Acrobat | Text
10/11/01
Public Notice. Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service Seeks Comment
on Review of Lifeline and Link-Up Service For All Low-Income Consumers.
(Dkt No. CC-96-45) FCC 01J-2
Acrobat | Text
10/5/01
Order. The Commission released an Order appointing the Honorable Michael
J. Copps, Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, to
serve as Commissioner on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal
Service. (Dkt No. 96-45, Released 10/5/01). FCC 01-281.
Text | Word
10/5/01
Order. The Federal Communications Commission released an Order that finds
that the FCC, not the South Dakota PUC, has jurisdiction to designate
Western Wireless an ETC for service to tribal members on the Pine Ridge
Reservation. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 10/5/01) FCC 01-284
Acrobat | Text
10/5/01
Order. The Federal Communications Commission released an Order that designates
Western Wireless as an ETC for service to tribal members on the Pine
Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 10/5/01)
FCC 01-283
Acrobat | Text
9/11/01
Public Notice. The Common Carrier Bureau released a Public Notice seeking
comment on updating line counts and other limited information used
in calculating high-cost universal service support for non-rural carriers
for 2002. Comment Date: 15 days from publication in the Federal Register.
Reply Comment Date: 21 days from publication in the Federal Register
(Dkt No. CC-96-45, Released 9/11/01) DA 01-2107
Text | Word
9/4/01
Public Notice. The Common Carrier Bureau released a Public Notice seeking
nominations for seven Board member positions on the Board of Directors
of the Universal Service Administrative Company. All nominations must
be filed with the the Federal Communications Commission's Office of
the Secretary by October 4, 2001. (Dkt No. CC-96-45, 97-21, Released
9/4/01) DA No. 01-2078.
8/10/01
Notice: The Federal Communications Commission initiated its third inquiry
under section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 into whether "advanced
telecommunications capability" is being deployed to all Americans
in a reasonable and timely fashion. Comments Due: 30 days after publication
in Federal Register. Reply Comments Due: 45 days after publication
in Federal Register. (Dkt No 96-45, FCC No. 01-223)
Text | Word
7/12/01
Order. The Commission released an Order appointing the Honorable Kathleen
Q. Abernathy, the Honorable Kevin J. Martin, the Honorable Lila A.
Jaber, Commissioner of the Florida Public Service Commission, and the
Honorable Thomas J. Dunleavy to serve on the Joint Board on Universal
Service. ( Dkt No. 96-45) FCC 01-202
Text | Word
7/12/01
Order. The Commission released an Order appointing the Honorable Kevin
J. Martin and the Honorable Michael J. Copps, Commissioners of the
Federal Communications Commission, to serve on the Federal-State Joint
Board on Separations. ( Dkt No. 96-45) FCC 01-203
Text | Word
7/11/01
Public Notice. The Common Carrier Bureau released a Public Notice asking
parties to refresh the record regarding Reconsideration of Rules adopted
in the 1997 Universal Service Report and Order. (Dkt No. CC-96-45)
DA No. 01-1647.
Text | Word
6/29/01
Order. The Commission released the attached Report and Order that will
provide additional time for recipients under the schools and libraries
universal service support mechanism to implement contracts with service
providers for non-recurring services. Also, the Commission decided
to not revise the Commission's rules of priority for Funding Year 4
of the schools and libraries program. Federal-State Joint Board on
Universal Service, ( Dkt No. 96-45) FCC 01-195
Text | Word
6/20/01
Public Notice. The Common Carrier Bureau released Public Notice seeking
comment on translation of the cost model from Turbo-Pascal computer
language to Delphi computer language and announces posting of updated
Turbo-Pascal version of the cost model. Comments Due: 45 days from
publication in Federal Register. Reply Comments Due: 60 days from publication
in Federal Register. (Dkt No. CC-96-45) DA No. 01-1458.
Text | Word
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