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

8/17/09
Howe Independent School District 67, Howe, Oklahoma: Telecommunications Access Policy Division denies an appeal of a USAC decision that rescinded E-rate funding already committed to the Howe Independent School District 67 (Howe ISD) for discounted services for Funding Year 2004.  The order finds that Howe ISD requested ineligible services and directs USAC to continue its commitment adjustment recovery actions regarding this matter.
Order: Word | PDF

8/17/09
Global Crossing Bandwidth, Inc.: Wireline Competition Bureau denies requests filed by Global Crossing seeking review of USAC’s February 15, 2007 audit and appealing invoices submitted to Global Crossing based on the audit report. The order finds that the record does not support Global Crossing’s contention that it reasonably expected customers to directly contribute to the universal service fund as resellers, and therefore finds that USAC’s assessment of contributions on Global Crossing based on revenue from these non-contributing customers was proper.
Order: Word | PDF

8/13/09
TeleQuality Communications, Inc.: Wireline Competition Bureau grants a request by TeleQuality Communications, Inc. (TeleQuality) to waive section 54.611 of the Commission’s rules concerning reimbursement for services provided under the universal service rural health care support mechanism. We find that TeleQuality has demonstrated that good cause exists to waive this rule because, absent waiver, TeleQuality will be unable to sustain its operations and will be unable to provide discounted telecommunications services to the rural health care providers it serves. In this order, WCB also directs USAC to make an initial reimbursement payment no later than 10 calendar days from release of this order to TeleQuality for the current rural health care support payments to which it is entitled without deducting any universal service contributions that TeleQuality may owe. USAC shall also remit to TeleQuality any additional subsequent rural health care payments on a bi-monthly basis.
Order: Word | PDF

8/12/09
Lazo Technologies, Inc., et al.: The Wireline Competition Bureau denies a request for review filed by Lazo Technologies, Inc., Hill Professional Services, and Advanced Technology Solutions South (collectively, petitioners) of a decision by USAC denying payment for work performed by the petitioners for the Dallas Independent School District under the E-rate program after concluding that the underlying contract for E-rate services violated the Commission’s competitive bidding requirements and program rules. The Bureau affirms USAC’s decision and finds that USAC properly denied the petitioners’ request for payments.
Order: Word | PDF

8/12/09
Juniata Valley Network and Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Alliance: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants a merger request from two participants in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, the Juniata Valley Network (JVN) and Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Alliance and its designated agent, Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Resource Development (collectively PMHA).
Order: Word | PDF

8/10/09
Panora Communications Cooperative and Prairie Telephone Company Inc. Study Area Waiver Petition: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a joint petition filed by Panora Communications Cooperative (Panora) and Prairie Telephone Co., Inc. (Prairie) for waiver of the Commission's study area boundary freeze. Specifically, Panora and Prairie seek a waiver to remove 35 access lines from Prairie’s Iowa study area and include those access lines in Panora’s Iowa study area. Comments are due September 9, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 24, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

8/10/09
General Communications, Inc. High-Cost Waiver : Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request by General Communications, Inc. for waiver of the December 30, 2008 and March 30, 2009 line count filing deadlines for high-cost support. Comments are due September 9, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 24, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

8/10/09
Network Enhanced Telecom : Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Network Enhanced Telecom’s request for review of a USAC audit, in which USAC determined that revenues from Network Enhanced Telecom’s software service platform should be treated as prepaid card revenues for purposes of USF contributions. Comments are due September 9, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 24, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

8/10/09
Conexions LLC ETC Forbearance : Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Conexions’ petition for forbearance from the facilities-based requirement in order to be eligible for designation as an ETC for Lifeline support. Comments are due September 9, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 24, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

8/10/09
Rural Health Care Pilot Program Form 466-A Deadline Waiver : Wireline Competition Bureau establishes June 30, 2010 as the filing deadline for Form 466-A (Funding Commitment Requests) for the second funding year of the Rural Health Care Pilot Program.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

8/10/09
Lifeline Verification & Certification : Wireline Competition Bureau reminds ETCs of the Aug. 31, 2009 deadline for their submission of annual Lifeline verification surveys and certifications and on August 31 of each subsequent year thereafter, attesting that the ETC has complied with the state verification procedures.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

8/10/09
Nebraska PSC and Kansas Corporation Commission Nomadic VoIP contributions to state USF : Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a filing by the Nebraska PSC and the Kansas Corporation Commission (Petitioners), requesting a declaratory ruling that the Commission has not preempted states from assessing universal service charges on the intrastate revenues of providers of “nomadic” interconnected VoIP services. In addition, the Petitioners request that the Commission declare that individual states have discretion to adopt any mechanisms that do not assess interstate revenues and that contain procedures designed to ensure that no provider pays assessments to more than one state on the same intrastate revenues. In the alternative, if the Commission does not issue declaratory rulings, the Petitioners ask that the Commission propose and adopt rules to allow states to assess universal service charges on the intrastate revenues of nomadic interconnected VoIP providers. Comments are due September 9, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 24, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/31/09
Carryover of Unused Federal Universal Service Funds for Funding Year 2009: In this order, the Bureau announces that $900 million in prior unused E-rate funds will be carried forward to increase disbursements to schools and libraries in Funding Year 2009.
Order: Word | PDF

7/31/09
North Carolina TeleHealth Network, Albemarle Health, Western Carolina University, and University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants a merger request from four participants in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, NCTN, Albemarle, WCU, and UHS, to merge their respective Pilot Program projects and designate NCTN as the successor to Albermarle, WCU, and UHS.
Order: Word | PDF

7/21/09
Minford Local Schools, Minford, OH: The Telecommunications Access Policy Division (the Division) grants a request for waiver filed by Minford Local Schools (Minford) of the FCC Form 471 application filing window deadline for funding year 2008 under the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism consistent with the relief given to Minford by the Division in the Acorn Public Library District Order.
Order: Word | PDF

7/21/09
Advantage Cellular Systems Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Advantage Cellular Systems, Inc., a competitive eligible telecommunications carrier, seeking to receive universal service high-cost support based on the own-costs exception in the Commission's Interim Cap Order. The Bureau also issued a protective order for any parties that want to review Advantage Cellular's cost information, for which it seeks confidential treatment. Comments on the request are due August 20, 2009, and reply comments are due September 4, 2009. Public Notice: Word | PDF Protective Order: Word | PDF

7/21/09
Huron Mountain Communications Company: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Huron Mountain Communications Co. (Huron) for waiver of the Commission’s rules to participate in the National Exchange Carrier Association pools and to obtain accelerated universal service support. Huron intends to provide telecommunications services to an unserved area located in the upper peninsula of the state of Michigan. Comments are due August 20, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 4, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/21/09
Mobi PCS, Inc. and Cricket Communications, Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Mobi PCS, Inc. and Cricket Communications, Inc. for guidance regarding permissible implementations of Section 54.307(b) of the Commission’s rules. Specifically, petitioners request guidance on how competitive ETCs should report lines pursuant to Section 54.307(b) when a customer’s billing address contains a Post Office Box rather than a street address. Comments are due August 20, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 4, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/21/09
AT&T Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request for review filed by AT&T (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico) regarding the results of an Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA) high-cost support audit for the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. Specifically, AT&T seeks review of USAC's findings that AT&T was in material noncompliance because of inaccurate line count filings which resulted in adjustments exceeding a $100,000 quantitative materiality threshold. Comments are due August 20, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 4, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/21/09
BitWise Communications, Inc. a/k/a OmniLEC (BitWise): TThe Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by BitWise Communications, Inc. a/k/a OmniLEC seeking review and reversal of three decisions of USAC, in which USAC denied BitWise’s requests to amend its 2006, 2007, and 2008 FCC Forms 499-A more than one year past the filing deadlines. Comments are due August 20, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 4, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/21/09
West River/Midcontinent High-Cost waivers petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on: (i) a request by West River Telecommunications Cooperative for waiver of the December 31, 2008 true-up data filing deadline for local switching support (LSS); and (ii) a request by Midcontinent Communications for waiver of the September 30, 2008 line count filing deadline for high-cost support. Comments are due August 20, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 4, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/21/09
Alabama Commercial Mobile Radio Service Emergency Telephone Services Board: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the Alabama Commercial Mobile Radio Service Emergency Telephone Services Board asking the Commission to reject TracFone Wireless Inc.'s ETC self-certification. Comments are due August 20, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 4, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/21/09
Windy City/Pine Belt High-Cost waivers petitions: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on: (i) a request by Pine Belt Cellular, Inc., a competitive ETC in Alabama, for waiver of the October 1, 2008 annual certification filing deadline for high-cost interstate common line support (ICLS); and (ii) a request by Windy City Cellular, LLC, a competitive ETC in Alaska, for waiver of the 60-day deadline set forth in section 54.307(d) of the Commission’s rules for high-cost loop support (HCLS), local switching support (LSS), and ICLS. Comments are due August 20, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 4, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/21/09
Achilles Networks: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Achilles Networks requesting waiver of the late fees associated with its December 2008 filing of its FCC Form 499-A. Comments are due August 20, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 4, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/21/09
Consumer Cellular, Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Consumer Cellular’s Petition for Forbearance from the facilities-based requirement in order to be eligible for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) for Lifeline support only. Comments are due August 20, 2009 and Reply Comments are due September 4, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/21/09
USAC Board Nominations: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks nominations for the two vacant board member positions on the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Board of Directors (for commercial mobile radio service providers and for low-income consumers). Nominations are due August 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

7/02/09
Cellular Properties Service Area Redefinition: The Wireline Competition Bureau initiated a proceeding to examine the request of Cellular Properties, Inc. to redefine the service area of Wabash Telephone Cooperative, Inc. in Illinois. Comments are due July 16, 2009 and reply comments are due July 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

6/10/09
Centennial Michigan RSA 6 Cellular Corp. and Centennial Michigan RSA 7 Cellular Corp.: The Wireline Competition Bureau denies a request for review filed in 2005 by Centennial Michigan RSA 6 Cellular Corp. and Centennial Michigan RSA 7 Cellular Corp. (Centennial). In its request, Centennial asked the Commission to reverse a USAC decision to recover universal service high-cost support funds. We find that USAC properly recovered funds that were disbursed to Centennial prior to the Commission's approval of the redefinition of the study areas of certain rural incumbent local exchange carriers.
Order: Word | PDF

6/10/09
Centennial Communications Corp.: The Wireline Competition Bureau denies a request filed by Centennial Communications Corp. for waivers of the September 30, 2005, June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2007, filing deadlines for universal service Interstate Access Support (IAS) set forth in section 54.802(a) of the Commission's rules. Centennial argues that it was confused by the language in its Louisiana ETC designation order, which was granted in March 2004, and therefore did not file IAS annual certifications or line counts until February 2008. Centennial seeks a waiver to permit it to receive IAS funds for the first and second quarters of 2008, and a further waiver to permit it to receive retroactive payments beginning October 1, 2005 through the end of 2007. The order provides that even though we deny Centennial’s request for waiver, the amount of IAS that Centennial would have been able to receive in March 2008 if it had not missed the filing deadlines will be included in the capped level of support available to competitive ETCs in Louisiana pursuant to the Commission’s Interim Cap Order.
Order: Word | PDF

06/08/2009
Virginia Cellular ETC Relinquishment Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau accepts the relinquishment of the eligible telecommunications carrier designation of Virginia Cellular, LLC in the Williamsville wire center in the study area of MGW Telephone Company in Virginia.
Order: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
TracFone Lifeline Petition to Modify Lifeline Head of Household: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a TracFone petition to modify a condition (imposed by the Commission’s designation of TracFone) that TracFone must require each of its Lifeline customers to annually self-certify that they are the head of their household and receive Lifeline-supported service only from TracFone. Specifically, TracFone requests that it be allowed to verify annually that its Lifeline customers are heads of households and receive Lifeline-supported service only from TracFone through use of a statistically valid sample of those customers. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
TracFone Lifeline Tier 1 Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by TracFone in which TracFone requests that it be allowed to receive Tier One Lifeline support in the amount of $6.50 per month per Lifeline customer in all service areas where it operates as en eligible telecommunications carrier, provided that TracFone: (1) passes through the full amount of its federal Lifeline support to its Lifeline customers; and (2) provides each of its Lifeline customers with an additional monthly Lifeline benefit of $3.50. This petition for waiver seeks the same relief that TracFone is seeking in a petition for rulemaking that it recently filed. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
Head Start ETC Forbearance Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Head Start's petition for forbearance from the eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) facilities requirement for designation as a limited ETC eligible for low-income support. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
i-wireless ETC Forbearance Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on i-wireless's petition for forbearance from the eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) facilities requirement for designation as a limited ETC eligible for low-income support. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
TeleQuality Communications Waiver Request: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request by TeleQuality Communications, seeking a waiver of section 54.611 of the Commission’s rules, which requires that USAC reimburse any monies due a carrier from the universal service rural health care support mechanism only after an offset is credited against that carrier’s universal service support obligations. TeleQuality also requests that the Commission grant an expedited stay of USAC’s decision, allowing TeleQuality to continue to receive bi-monthly rural health care support disbursements pending the Commission’s review of the instant waiver request. Comments are due June 19, 2009 and reply comments are due June 26, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
Alexicon Petition to Change FCC Form 499 Deadline: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Alexicon’s petition to change the filing date for the annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet (FCC Form 499-A) from April 1st to September 1st. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
Accipiter/Qwest Joint Petition for Study Area Waiver: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a joint petition filed by Accipiter and Qwest for a study area waiver in Arizona. On April 30, 2009, Accipiter Communication, Inc. d/b/a Zona Communications (Accipiter) and Qwest Corporation (Qwest) filed a joint petition for waiver of the study area boundary freeze as codified in the Appendix-Glossary of Part 36 of the Commission’s rules. The requested waiver would permit Accipiter and Qwest to exchange territories and add those exchanged territories to their existing study areas in Arizona. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
WorldNet Telecommunications, Inc. Request for Waiver: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request by WorldNet Telecommunications, Inc., a CETC in Puerto Rico, for waiver of the December 30, 2008 line count filing deadline for Interstate Common Line Support (ICLS). Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
Long Lines and OTZ High-Cost Waiver Requests: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on: (i) a request by Long Lines Wireless, LLC for waiver of the September 30, 2008 line count filing deadlines for High-Cost Model Support and Interstate Access Support (IAS); and (ii) a request by OTZ Telecommunications, Inc. for waiver of the December 30, 2008 and March 30, 2009 line count filing deadlines for high cost support. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
AT&T Lifeline Audit Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on AT&T’s petition regarding USAC’s Lifeline audit of AT&T. In its petition, AT&T seeks review of USAC’s findings that: (1) USAC should recover toll limitation service (TLS) support from AT&T because AT&T cannot supply documentation detailing its incremental cost of providing TLS to its Lifeline customers; (2) AT&T was required to advertise to its Lifeline customers toll blocking and all other services supported by federal universal service support mechanisms; and (3) AT&T 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 July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
Verizon and Hospital Network Management Request: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on requests for review filed by Verizon and Hospital Network Management, seeing reversal of USAC’s decision to seek recovery from Verizon of universal service rural health care funds relating to services it performed for HNM. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

06/05/2009
North Carolina RHCPP Merger Request: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request to merge four participants in the universal service Rural Health Care Pilot Program: the North Carolina TeleHealth Network (NCTN); Albemarle Health (Albemarle); Western Carolina University (WCU); and University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina (UHS). Comments are due June 19, 2009 and reply comments are due June 26, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

6/3/09
Cook Telecom, Inc.: The Telecommunications Access Policy Division grants Cook Telecom, Inc.’s request for review of a decision by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) rejecting Cook’s initial FCC Form 457 filing, and directs USAC to accept Cook’s revised FCC Form 457 filing dated December 2, 1997.
Order: Word | PDF

06/02/2009
E-rate Eligible Services List: WCB Seeks Comment on Proposed Funding Year 2010 E-rate Eligible Services List.
Public Notice: PDF | Text

5/12/09
Judy Green: The Commission debar Judy Green from all activities associated with the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism.
Notice of Debarment: Word | PDF

5/7/09
Ad Hoc Coalition Petition for Declaratory Ruling: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition for declaratory ruling filed by the Ad Hoc Coalition of International Telecommunications Companies’ (Coalition) regarding universal service contributions. Comments are due June 8, 2009 and reply comments are due June 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/7/09
Spectrotel Contributor Appeal: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Spectrotel seeking review of a USAC decision to deny a waiver of fees associated with its late-filed August, 2008 FCC Form 499-Q. Comments are due June 8, 2009 and reply comments are due June 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/7/09
Masergy Contributor Appeal: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Masergy seeking clarification or review of the decision to include Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) in the FCC Form 499 Instructions. Comments are due June 8, 2009 and reply comments are due June 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/7/09
Aspire Contributor Appeal: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Aspire Telecom, Inc. seeking waiver of the 45-day FCC Form 499-Q revision window. Comments are due June 8, 2009 and reply comments are due June 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/6/09
Rural Health Care Pilot Program Pennsylvania Merger: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request to merge two participants in the universal service Rural Health Care Pilot Program, Juniata Valley Network and Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Resource Development. Comments are due May 20, 2009 and reply comments are due May 27, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/6/09
inContact Contributor Appeal: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by inContact, Inc. seeking waiver of contribution fees assessed by USAC in 2009 based on adjustments to inContact’s 2004 FCC Form 499-A. Comments are due June 5, 2009 and reply comments are due June 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/6/09
DTS NECA and Universal Service Support Waiver Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by DTS of California seeking a waiver to allow DTS to become a member of the National Exchange Carrier Association and to immediately receive universal service high-cost loop support initially based on its forecasted costs rather than its historical costs. Comments are due June 5, 2009 and reply comments are due June 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/6/09
Virgin Mobile ETC Compliance Plan: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on the compliance plan filed by Virgin Mobile USA L.P., in which Virgin Mobile seeks to comply with the conditions set out in the order granting it forbearance and designating it as an eligible telecommunications carrier. Comments are due June 5, 2009 and reply comments are due June 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/6/09
Pennsylvania PUC TracFone/Virgin Mobile Petition for Reconsideration: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission seeking reconsideration or clarification of the Commission’s TracFone Modification Order and Virgin Mobile Forbearance Order. Comments are due June 5, 2009 and reply comments are due June 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/4/09
Smith Bagley, Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Smith Bagley seeking an increase to Tier Four of the Universal Service Low-Income Program from $25 per month to $30 per month. Comments are due June 3, 2009 and reply comments are due June 18, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/4/09
Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Posting of Cost Model: The Wireline Competition Bureau announces that the publicly-available version of the High-Cost Proxy Model on the FCC's website has been updated to work with the Commission's current computer operating systems (Microsoft Windows XP Operating System, Service Pack 2 or greater, and Microsoft Office Suite 2003, Service Pack 3 or greater).
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/1/09
Verizon Wireless FCC Form 499 Waiver Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants a petition by Verizon Wireless seeking limited waiver of certain FCC Form 499 revenue filing requirements related to its mergers with Alltel and Rural Cellular Corporation. Specifically, Verizon Wireless is granted a limited waiver to allow it to report revenues for all affiliated companies using a weighted average of actual and safe harbor revenues until December 31, 2009.
Order: Word | PDF

4/28/09
Qwest Corporation and Pine Telephone Systems, Inc. Combined Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants a joint request filed by Qwest Corporation (Qwest), Pine Telephone Systems, Inc. (Pine), and Oregon Telephone Corporation (Oregon Telephone) for waivers of the study area boundary freeze codified in the Appendix-Glossary of Part 36 of the Commission's rules.
Order: Word | PDF

4/21/09
Centennial USVI High-Cost Waiver Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau acts on a request from Centennial USVI Operations Corp. for a waiver of high-cost universal service support filing deadlines.
Order: Word | PDF

4/21/09
Northeast Iowa High-Cost Waiver Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants a request by ICORE, Inc. on behalf of Northeast Iowa Telephone Company for a waiver of the data submission reporting deadline for local switching universal service support.
Order: Word | PDF

4/21/09
Xfone High-Cost Waiver Order:: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants in part and denies in part a request filed by Xfone USA, Inc. for waivers of high-cost universal service support filing deadlines.
Order: Word | PDF

4/21/09
LBH et al. High-Cost Waiver Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau denies three requests, filed by LBH, LLC; Knology of the Black Hills, LLC; and USCOC of Cumberland Inc. Hardy Cellular Telephone Company for waivers of high-cost universal service support filing deadlines.
Order: Word | PDF

4/21/09
Grande Communications Networks et al. High-Cost Waiver Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau acts on nine requests for waivers of various high-cost universal service support filing deadlines filed by Grande Communications Networks, Inc.; Hardy Telecommunications, Inc.; iBroadband Network, Inc.; IT&E Overseas, Inc.; Micronesian Telecommunications Company; Pattersonville Telephone Company; PTI Pacifica, Inc.; Texas RSA 8 South Limited Partnership dba Westex Wireless; and Thumb Cellular, LLC.
Order: Word | PDF

4/16/09
Rural Health Care Pilot Program Texas Projects Merger: In this order, the Wireline Competition Bureau grants a request from two participants in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, the Texas Healthcare Network (THN) and the Texas Health Information Network Collaborative (THINC), to merge their respective Pilot Program projects and designate THINC as the successor to THN’s Pilot Program project.
Order: Word | PDF

4/14/09
Albert Lea Area Schools, Albert Lea, Minnesota, et al: The Telecommunications Access Policy Division grants 39 appeals and denies 31 appeals of decisions by the Universal Service Administrative Company denying requests for funding under the schools and libraries universal service mechanism for funding years 1999 through 2008 due to the applicant's failure to comply with the Commission's 28-day competitive bidding requirement.
Order: Word | PDF

4/10/09
The Wireline Competition Bureau released the FCC Form 499-Q and accompanying instructions. The instructions incorporate nonsubstantive clarifications to ensure that all contributors are properly reporting revenues and are treating similar revenues uniformly.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

4/10/09
TracFone Wireless, Inc. Request for Waiver of Section 54.418 of the Commission's Rules: Granted a request from TracFone Wireless, Inc. for a conditional waiver of section 54.418 of the Commission's rules, which requires ETCs to notify their Lifeline and Link-Up customers about the DTV transition.
Order: Word | PDF

4/9/09
Corr Wireless Request for Review: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Corr Wireless Communication's (Corr) request for review of a decision by the Universal Service Administrative Corporation (USAC). Corr challenges USAC’s failure to include universal service high-cost support funds disclaimed by ALLTEL and Verizon in connection with their merger last year in the pool of funds available for distribution under the competitive eligible telecommunications carrier interim cap on high-cost universal service support. Comments are due May 11, 2009 and reply comments are due May 26, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

4/8/09
Twin Valley Telephone, Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants Twin Valley's request to withdraw its application for review of the Bureau's prior decision to deny Twin Valley's petition for clarification or expedited waiver of Section 54.305 of the Commission's rules.
Order: Word | PDF

4/8/09
High Cost Non-Rural Support Notice of Inquiry: The Commission seeks to refresh the record regarding the issues raised by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (Tenth Circuit) in the Qwest II decision. In that decision the Tenth Circuit invalidated the Commission’s high-cost universal service support mechanism for non-rural carriers, which determines the amount of support to be provided to each state by comparing the statewide average forward-looking cost per line for non-rural carriers to a nationwide cost benchmark. Comments are due May 8, 2009 and reply comments are due June 8, 2009.
Notice of Inquiry: Word | PDF

4/3/09
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 Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company. Comments are due on the petition May 4, 2009 and reply comments are due May 19, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

4/3/09
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 Wabash Telephone Cooperative Inc. Comments are due on the petition May 4, 2009 and reply comments are due May 19, 2009
Public Notice: Word | PDF

4/2/09
Schools and Libraries, Letter Approving Funding Year 2009 PIA Procedures: In this letter, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) notifies the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) that the Bureau has approved the Schools and Libraries Funding Year 2009 Program Integrity Assurance FCC Form 471 Review procedures.
Letter: Word | PDF

4/1/09
Universal Service Administrative Company: Wireline Competition Bureau provides letter to USAC concerning FCC Form 499-A Instructions and universal service contribution obligations.
Letter: Word | PDF

3/30/09
Kouso Communications, LLC: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Kouso's request for waiver of late fees associated with the late filing of 2008 FCC Form 499-A. Comments are due April 29, 2009 and reply comments are due May 14, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/30/09
Ready Telecom, Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request for review filed by Ready Telecom, Inc. seeking review of a USAC decision in which USAC denied Ready Telecom's request to amend its May 2008 FCC Form 499-Q filing. Comments on the request are due April 29, 2009 and reply comments are due May 14, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/30/09
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency TracFone Certification Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency asking the Commission to reject TracFone Wireless, Inc.'s certification of compliance with all Pennsylvania 911 and E911 obligations. Comments on the petition are due April 29, 2009 and reply comments are due May 14, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/30/09
Pelzer Communication Corporation Universal Service Contributions Request: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Pelzer Communications' request seeking review of USAC's decision declining to accept Pelzer's revised February 2007 FCC Form 499-Q filing. Comments on the request are due April 29, 2009 and reply comments are due May 14, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/30/09
Minerva Valley Telephone Company High-Cost Waiver: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition by Minerva Telephone Company, an incumbent local exchange carrier in Iowa, for waiver of the June 30, 2008 annual certification filing deadline for universal service interstate common line support. Comments on the petition are due April 29, 2009 and reply comments are due May 14, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
Ascent Media Group: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Ascent Media Group petition for reconsideration of the Wireline Competition Bureau's order dismissing Ascent's request for review of the Universal Service Administrative Company decision. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
Coalition for Equity in Switching Support: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on the petition of the Coalition for Equity in Switching Support for Clarification of Sections 36.125 and 54.301 of the Commission's rules concerning local switching Universal Service Support. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
CalTel Inc., CalTel Inc. of North Carolina, and South Bell Payphones, Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on CalTel Inc., CalTel Inc. of North Carolina, and South Bell Payphones, Inc. requests for review seeking review and reversal of late fees assessed by the Universal Service Administrative Company for their late-filed 2008 FCC Forms 499-A. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
Midstate Telecom, Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Midstate Telecom, Inc. seeking waiver of filing deadlines associated with the receipt of universal service funds, pursuant to sections 54.307(c) and 54.802(a) of the Commission's rules. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
Sunshine Community Health Center Rural Health Care: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Sunshine Community Health Center seeking review and reversal of a USAC decision which substantially reduced Sunshine's funding request for funding year 2006 under the rural health care support mechanism. Sunshine argues that USAC incorrectly rejected funding for connections originating in Alaska and terminating in Seattle, Washington. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
Via Talk, LLC Contributor Appeal: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Via Talk seeking review and reversal of a USAC decision denying Via Talk's request to accept its amended 2007 FCC Form 499-A, which was filed more than one year past the filing deadline. Via Talk requests that the Commission correct the amount of Via Talk's universal service debt and allow Via Talk to enter into a payment extension plan for the debt. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
Hargray Telephone Company High-Cost Waivers: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Hargray Telephone Company, a South Carolina ILEC, for waiver of the October 1, 2006 and October 1, 2007 projected-data filing deadlines for local switching support (LSS). Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
General Communication, Inc. Declaratory Ruling Regarding CETC Wireless Lines: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by GCI for a declaratory ruling finding that its wireless subsidiaries in Alaska: (i) are correctly reporting prepaid wireless lines based on a local address or point of sale address; and (ii) are correctly reporting wireless business lines based on the address to which a service invoice is sent rather than a separate or third-party address from where payments are processed. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
T-Mobile USA, Inc. Universal Service Fund High-Cost Waiver: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by T-Mobile for a waiver of the December 30, 2008 line count filing deadline to allow it to receive universal service high-cost support. This petition does not affect the amount of support available to competitive ETCs pursuant to the Interim Cap Order because it does not affect support received in March 2008. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
Centennial Communications Corp. Interim Cap Data Deadline Waiver: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Centennial Communications Corp. and its subsidiaries seeking a waiver of the December 31, 2008 deadline for submitting to USAC changes to the March 2008 data on which interim universal service high-cost capped support is based. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
10D Telecom, Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by 10D Telecom for a waiver of late fees assessed by USAC due to 10D Telecom's late-filing of its 2008 FCC Form 499-A. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/19/09
Eagle Telephone System, Inc. and Midvale Telephone Exchange, Incorporated Study Area Waiver: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a joint petition for waiver of the study area boundary freeze filed by Eagle Telephone System and Midvale Telephone Exchange. Eagle and Midvale seek a waiver of the study area boundary freeze to remove territory from Midvale's Idaho study area and recognize such territory as part of Eagle's Oregon study area. Comments are due by April 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by May 5, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/13/09
Texas Healthcare Network and Texas Health Information Network Collaborative: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request to merge two participants in the universal service Rural Health Care Pilot Program, Texas Healthcare Network (THN) and Texas Health Information Network Collaborative(THINC). Comments are due by March 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by March 24, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/13/09
Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative Redefinition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc., pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules, requesting the Commission’s agreement with the decision of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to redefine the service areas of certain rural local exchange carriers. Comments are due by April 13, 2009 and reply comments are due by April 28, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/5/09
Virgin Mobile Conditional Forbearance and Lifeline ETC Order: The Commission conditionally granted a petition filed by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. (Virgin Mobile) seeking forbearance from the requirement that a carrier designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) provide services, at least in part, over its own facilities. The Commission granted Virgin Mobile forbearance for ETC designation for Lifeline universal service support only. The Commission also conditionally designated Virgin Mobile an ETC for Lifeline support only in New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Order: Word | PDF

3/5/09
TracFone PSAP Forbearance Condition Modification Order: The Commission modified a forbearance condition imposed on TracFone Wireless, Inc. as a requirement that TracFone must meet prior to receiving support under the Lifeline universal service program. Specifically, TracFone must request a certification from each public safety answering point (PSAP) where it provides Lifeline service confirming that TracFone provides its customers with access to basic and E911 service; however, if, within 90 days of TracFone's request a PSAP has not provided the certification and the PSAP has not made an affirmative finding that TracFone does not provide its customers with access to 911 and E911 service within the PSAP's service area, TracFone may self-certify that it meets the basic and E911 requirements..
Order: Word | PDF

3/5/09
Competitive ETC Interim Cap Alaska Native Regions/Tribal Lands Exception Waiver Order: The Commission waives on its own motion the limitation on the availability of uncapped high-cost universal service support for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) serving tribal lands or Alaska Native regions (Covered Locations). Specifically, for the period in which the interim cap is in effect, the Commission waives the restriction in paragraph 33 of the Interim Cap Order limiting the availability of uncapped per line support to competitive ETCs serving Covered Locations "to one payment per each residential account.".
Order: Word | PDF

2/27/09
U.S. Virgin Islands Telephone Corp. High-Cost Abeyance Request: This letter directs USAC to hold in abeyance until May 31, 2009, any adjustments in universal service fund high-cost loop support for the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation.
Letter: Word | PDF

2/27/09
RCC Minnesota (Verizon Wireless) relinquishment of New Hampshire ETC Status: The Wireline Competition Bureau accepts the reliquishment of the eligible telelcommunications carrier (ETC) designation of RCC Minnesota in the state of New Hampshire.
Order: Word | PDF

2/27/09
Updated FCC Form 499-A Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau released a public notice announcing the release of the updated FCC Form 499-A, which carriers file annually on April 1 with USAC. The public notice identifies non-substantive changes and clarifications to the instructions for filing the FCC Form 499-A.
Letter: Word | PDF

1/16/09
Schools and Libraries Program, "Table C" recovery Issues: Responded to the outstanding policy issues regarding recovery of funds in the schools and libraries universal service program, also known as the E-rate program, on which USAC has sought formal guidance from the Commission.
Letter: Word | PDF | text