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:

• The High-Cost program
• The Low Income program, including initiatives for Native Americans
• The Schools and Libraries program, commonly referred to as E-rate
• The Rural Health Care program

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

12/29/08
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Service Area Redefinition Proceeding Public Notice:: Pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission's rules, the Wireline Competition Bureau provides notice that it is initiating a proceeding to consider a redefinition of service area petition filed by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. Comments on the proceeding are due January 28, 2009 and reply comments are due February 12, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/30/08
Madison River Communications, LLC: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Madison River Communications, LLC (Madison River) seeking review of a USAC decision, in which, as a result of an audit, USAC determined that Madison River should have reported the transmission portion of its Internet access services separately as assessable telecommunications service revenues. Madison River also seeks review of USAC’s conclusion that it owed universal service contributions on T-1 revenues Madison had classified as intrastate for calendar year 2005. Madison River requests that the Commission reverse USAC’s decisions, and instruct USAC to reject the audit report findings regarding the classification of Madison River’s services for universal service contribution purposes. Comments are due January 29, 2009 and reply comments are due February 13, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/23/08
TracFone Wireless, Inc.: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on TracFone’s request to modify the requirement that it obtain certification from each public safety answering point (PSAP) where it offers Lifeline service that it has 911 and E911 capabilities. The requirement was imposed by the order granting TracFone forbearance from the ETC facility requirement.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/15/08
Wholesale Carrier Services, Inc.: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Wholesale Carrier Services for waiver of the 45-day window for filing revisions to the FCC Form 499-Q. Wholesale Carrier Services contends that it inadvertently reported annual revenue instead of quarterly revenues in its first quarter 2008 FCC Form 499-Q, which it filed on January 15, 2008. Wholesale Carrier Services requests a waiver because it became aware of its mistake after the 45-day window closed. Wholesale Carrier Services has paid in full and is disputing.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/15/08
Maritime Communications/Land Mobile, LLC: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Maritime Communications/Land Mobile, LLC (Maritime) for reconsideration of the Bureau's recent Watercom Mobex Order (DA 08-1971, rel. 8/26/08), which found, based on Commission precedent, that Waterway Communications System, LLC (Watercom) and Mobex Network Services, LLC (Mobex) are commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers and, as such, are required to contribute directly to the universal service fund. Maritime alleges that the Watercom Mobex Order erroneously concluded that these providers are commercial radio service providers.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/15/08
Alltel Communications, Inc., et al.: Wireline Competition Bureau amends certain ETC designations granted in the Interim Cap Order. The Bureau amends the ETC designation of New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership, limiting the designation to the 13 wire centers requested; grants designation to St. Lawrence Seaway Cellular Partnership in 9 wire centers in the study area of Citizens Telecommunications of New York d/b/a Frontier Communications; and accepts the relinquishment of the designation of Dobson Cellular Systems Inc. and American Cellular Corp. in the state of New York.
Order: Word | Acrobat | text

12/15/08
Nex-Tech Wireless, LLC: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Nex-Tech Wireless, pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules, requesting the Commission’s agreement with the decision of the Kansas Corporation Commission to redefine the service area of Home Communications, Inc.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/15/08
Achieve Telecom Network of Massachusetts, LLC, et al.: Wireline Competition Bureau In this order, we dismiss as moot ten requests for waiver of actions taken by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Specifically, Petitioners request that the Commission waive certain filing deadlines associated with the filing of their FCC Form 499-Qs and allow them to late-file corrected forms. Because the annual true-up process for the FCC Forms 499-Q at issue in these requests has already provided the relief sought by Petitioners, we dismiss as moot Petitioners’ requests. We also deny separate requests, filed by Achieve Telecom Network of Massachusetts, LLC (Achieve), Ascent Media Group (Ascent), and New Edge Network, Inc. (New Edge) for a refund of late fees, penalties and interest charges assessed, resulting from these petitioners’ late filed FCC Forms 499-Q.
Order: Word | Acrobat | text

12/10/08
2009 Modification of Average Schedule Universal Service Support Formulas: Each year, the Commission must review and approve or modify any proposed modifications to the formulas used to calculate universal service high-cost loop support and local switching support for average schedule companies. The high-cost loop and local switching support formulas are proposed by NECA and USAC, respectively. The Commission’s rules require that these formulas simulate the disbursements that would be received by a company that is representative of average schedule companies. The formulas proposed for 2009 are consistent with the methods we have approved in previous years.
Order: Word | Acrobat | text

12/10/08
Competitive ETC March 2008 Capped High-Cost Support: The Wireline Competition Bureau provides notice that competitive ETCs should confirm their March 2008 universal service high-cost support amount information with USAC and file any corrections on or before December 31, 2008. To provide certainty regarding the amount of high-cost support available to competitive ETCs under the cap in each state, after December 31, 2008, USAC will not accept changes from competitive ETCs regarding the data on which their March 2008 high-cost support is based, absent grant of a waiver of this deadline by the Commission.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/08/08
Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation (Vitelco) on November 21, 2008, seeking waiver of sections 32.2000(g)(2)(ii) and 36.621 of the Commission’s rules to address these rules’ effect on Vitelco’s receipt of universal service high-cost loop support. Comments on the petition are due January 7, 2009, and reply comments are due January 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/05/08
Virgin Mobile Forbearance Extension Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau extends by 90 days the date by which the forbearance petition filed by Virgin Mobile shall be deemed granted in the absence of Commission action. Pursuant to the extension, the statutory deadline by which the Commission must act on Virgin Mobile's petition is March 5, 2009.
Order: Word | Acrobat | text

12/05/08
Letter to USAC on TracFone Low-Income Support: The Wireline Competition Bureau informs USAC that, pursuant to the Commission's conditional grant of forbearance and limited eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation of TracFone, TracFone is not required to obtain certification from every public safety answering point (PSAP) within a state prior to receiving Lifeline support in any part of that state. Rather, TracFone is required to obtain certification from each PSAP in those areas where it offers Lifeline service prior to receiving Lifeline support in those areas of the state. TracFone should, however, demonstrate that it plans to obtain certifications from PSAPs throughout the rest of its licensed service areas within a state within a reasonable period of time.
Order: Word | Acrobat | text

12/05/08
As One Together for Health and the University of Mississippi Medical Center: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants a request from two participants in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, As One Together for Health (ATH) and the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC), to merge and designate UMC as ATH’s successor. In doing so, the Bureau finds that ATH has demonstrated that it is unable to continue to participate in the Pilot Program due to extenuating circumstances. The Bureau also finds that UMC has demonstrated that the public interest would be served by designating UMC as the successor to ATH because UMC: (1) has committed to fulfill the goals identified in ATH’s Pilot Program application; (2) will use any funds saved by combining the projects to broaden the goals identified in each application; and (3) has identified an eligible source for the 15 percent of costs not funded by the Pilot Program.
Order: Word | Acrobat | text

12/05/08
Southern Ohio Health Care Network and Holzer Consolidated Health Systems: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants the merger of two Rural Health Care Pilot Program projects in Ohio: (i) Southern Ohio Health Care Network (SOHCN), and (ii) Holzer Consolidated Health Systems (Holzer). SOHCN will assume responsibility for the project originally applied for by Holzer.
Order: Word | Acrobat | text

12/04/08
Worldcall Interconnect, Inc.: WCB seeks comment on an ETC designation petition filed by Worldcall Interconnect, Inc. for two counties in New York. Comments are due January 5, 2009, and reply comments are due January 21, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/04/08
Open Mobile: WCB seeks comment on a request by PRWireless, Inc. (d/b/a Open Mobile) for waiver of the March 30, 2008 line count filing deadline for ICLS. PRWireless is an ETC in Puerto Rico. Comments are due January 5, 2009, and reply comments are due January 21, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/04/08
Filing Deadline Waiver Requests: WCB seeks comment on: (i) a request by FiberNet LLC for waiver of the June 30, 2008 line count filing deadline for IAS; and (ii) a request by CommuniGroup of Jackson, Inc. for waiver of the of the September 30, 2008 line count filing deadline for IAS, HCLS and HCMS. Comments are due January 5, 2009, and reply comments are due January 21, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/03/08
Deadline Extension for USAC Board of Directors Nominations: The Wireline Competition Bureau extends the deadline for nominations for six positions on the USAC Board of Directors. Nominations are now due December 19, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/03/08
Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. Withdrawal: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants Virgin Mobile's request to withdraw its petition for designation as an ETC in Massachusetts.
Order: Word | Acrobat | text

12/03/08
Hopi Telecommunications, Inc.: WCB seeks comment on (i) a request by Hopi Telecommunications, Inc. for waiver of the October 1, 2008 annual certification for ICLS; and (ii) a request by Etex Telephone Cooperative for waiver of the October 1, 2008 projected-data filing deadline for LSS.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

12/03/08
Ambess Enterprises, Inc.: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Ambess Enterprises, Inc. (Ambess) seeking review and reversal of a decision of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), in which USAC denied Ambess’ request to accept its amended February 2008 FCC Form 499-Q.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

11/28/08
U.S. Virgin Islands Telephone Corp. High-Cost Abeyance Request: This letter directs USAC to hold in abeyance until February 28, 2009, any adjustments in universal service fund high-cost loop support for the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation.
Letter: Word | Acrobat | Text

11/26/08
Cellular Properties, Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Cellular Properties, Inc., 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 incumbent local exchange carriers.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text

11/21/08
Funding Year 2009 Eligible Services List for Schools and Libraries Universal Service Mechanism: FCC Releases Funding Year 2009 Eligible Services List For Schools And Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism .
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | text
Eligible Services List: Acrobat | text

11/12/08
The Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Nominations for Six Positions on the Universal Service Administrative Company Board of Directors. Nominations due by: December 1, 2008
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

11/6/08
Commission Responds to D.C. Circuit Mandamus and Joint Board Recommended Decision and Seeks Further Comment on Comprehensive Reform: The Commission addresses compensation rates for ISP-bound traffic, declines to adopt the Joint Board's recommendations for reforming distribution of high-cost universal service support, and seeks further comment on comprehensive universal service and intercarrier compensation reform. Comments will be due 14 days after publication in the Federal Register, and reply comments will be due 21 days after Federal Register publication.
Order: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell Joint Statement: Word | Acrobat

10/30/08
Wireline Competition Bureau Addresses Schools and Libraries Requests for Review or Waiver: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants 262 separate requests in 28 orders.

10/22/08
HTC Services, Inc.: Wireline Competition Bureau denies a petition by HTC for a waiver of the filing deadlines in section 54.802(a) of the Commission rules.
Order: Word | Acrobat

10/22/08
Wireline Competition Bureau Addresses Universal Service Fund Waiver Requests: Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) grants six separate requests, filed by Advanced Communications Technology, Inc. (ACT); Allo Communications (Allo); Aventure Communication Technology, LLC (Aventure); CC Cellular; PrairieWave Black Hills, LLC (PrairieWave); and Texas RSA 1 Limited Partnership dba XIT Wireless (XIT), for waivers of various high-cost universal service support filing deadlines set forth in sections 54.307 and 54.802 of the Commission’s rules.
Order: Word | Acrobat

10/7/08
Curry IP Solutions, et al.: Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) grants six requests for reversal of late fees associated with the filing of the FCC Form 499-A for 2007. Upon review of these requests, WCB finds that the issue raised here was recently addressed in the 2007 499-A Waiver Order. Thefefore, WCB directs Universal Service Administrative Company and the other plan administrators to reverse any late payment fees that have been assessed on the applicants..
Order: Word | Acrobat

9/30/08
Progress International, LLC: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request by Progress International seeking waiver of the 45-day revision deadline for its November 2007 FCC Form 499-Q. Progress International asserts that 100 percent of its revenues are international, and that it is de minimis, making it exempt from USF contribution. Comments are due October 30, 2008, and reply comments are due November 14, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

9/30/08
Larsen Communications: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request by Larsen Communications that the FCC waive fees assessed by USAC for late filing of Form 499-A (Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet). Larsen asserts that it timely filed an electronic version of its Form 499-A, but the Form was not certified. USAC assessed late-filing fees of $400. Larsen requests a waiver of the late-filing fees. Comments are due October 30, 2008, and reply comments are due November 14, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

9/30/08
Centennial Communications Corp.: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request by Centennial Communications that it be allowed to file annual certifications for IAS funding in 2008 and receive funding retroactively to the first quarter of 2005. Centennial was designated as an ETC by Louisiana in 2004, but did not file annual IAS certifications until February 2008. Comments are due October 30, 2008, and reply comments are due November 14, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

9/23/08
Centennial Communications Corp.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Centennial's request for review of a high-cost support decision of the Universal Service Administrative Company. Comments are due October 23, 2008, and reply comments are due November 7, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

9/19/08
Comment Sought On Request To Merge Mississippi Rural Health Care Pilot Program Projects.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

9/17/08
AT&T (Kansas, Indiana, and Oklahoma) Petition for Review: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition for review filed on August 18, 2008 by AT&T (Kansas, Indiana and Oklahoma) of USAC's audit findings of AT&T's participation in the Lifeline program. Specifically, AT&T seeks review of USAC's findings that AT&T: (1) was required to maintain copies of Lifeline subscriber self-certifications prior to the effective date of the Commission’s applicable rule; (2) failed to comply with the Commission’s rule requiring eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to secure Lifeline-compliance certifications from their resellers; (3) was required to advertise toll blocking and all other services supported by federal universal service support mechanisms; and (4) was required to populate Line 9 of FCC Form 497 (the Lifeline and Link-Up Worksheet) with pro-rata dollars attributable to Lifeline subscribers that entered or exited the Lifeline program mid-month. Comments are due October 17, 2008, and reply comments are due November 3, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

9/17/08
State of Iowa: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition by the State of Iowa. Iowa seeks a waiver of the E-rate rules similar to the relief that was granted for Hurricane Katrina victims on behalf of victims of storms and floods in Iowa this past spring and early summer. Comments are due October 1, 2008, and reply comments are due October 8, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

9/17/08
Hayneville Fiber Transport, Inc. d/b/a Camellia Communications: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request by Hayneville Fiber Transport, Inc. d/b/a Camellia Communications that it be allowed to revise its Form 525 line count reports filed with USAC. USAC adopted a policy that competitive ETCs may not make line count revisions to a Form 525 filing more than 24 months after the date of the original filing. Comments are due October 17, 2008, and reply comments are due November 3, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

9/17/08
CTE Telecom, LLC: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request for review by CTE Telecom, LLC of a USAC decision, in which, as a result of an audit, USAC determined that CTE inaccurately designated certain USF contribution revenues as enhanced services, instead of DSL services. Comments are due October 17, 2008, and reply comments are due November 3, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

9/17/08
NextGen Telephone: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request for review by NextGen Telephone of a USAC decision, in which, as a result of an audit, USAC determined that NextGen should report subscriber line charges as interstate revenue subject to USF contribution. Comments are due October 17, 2008, and reply comments are due November 3, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

Order: Word | Acrobat

8/26/08
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

8/20/08
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

July 2008

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

June 2008

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