Universal Service 2008 Headlines
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 | Text
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
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
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