On October 7, 2009, the Commission released the following Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the effect of line loss on high-cost universal service support received pursuant to the Local Switching Support mechanism:
High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket No. 05-337, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 09-89 (rel. Oct. 7, 2009) (Local Switching Support One-Way Rule NPRM)
The Commission set the comment and reply comment deadlines for this Notice as 14 and 21 days, respectively, after publication of the summary of the Notice in the Federal Register. On November 10, 2009, a summary of the Notice appeared in the Federal Register. Accordingly, comments will be due on November 24, 2009, and reply comments will be due on December 1, 2009.
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WC DKT No.
05-337 |
DA-09-2410 |
November 24, 2009 |
December 1, 2009 |
Local Switching Support Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM): In this order and NPRM the Commission denies the Coalition for Equity in Switching Support’s petition seeking clarification that the Commission’s rules allow an incumbent LEC ETC’s local switching support (LSS) to increase if the carrier’s access lines decrease below those thresholds. In the NPRM the Commission tentatively concludes that the LSS rules should be modified to permit incumbent LEC ETCs that lose lines to increase their LSS and seeks comment on these proposed rule changes.
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WC DKT No.
05-337 |
FCC-09-89 |
November 24, 2009 |
December 1, 2009 |
Comments sought on the health care delivery elements of the national broadband plan. The notice also seeks input relating to the universal service rural health care support mechanism and the rural health care Pilot Program, specifically as such programs may assist in the deployment and adoption of broadband services.
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WC DKT No.
02-60 |
DA-09-2413 |
December 4, 2009 |
Conexions LLC DBA Conexion Wireless: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Conexion Wireless seeking designation as an ETC in 8 states and D.C. for Lifeline program only.
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WC DKT No.
09-197 |
DA-09-2368 |
December 2, 2009 |
December 17, 2009 |
North Carolina Telehealth Network: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by the North Carolina TeleHealth Network for an extension of the June 30, 2010 deadline to file funding commitment requests under the universal service Rural Health Care Pilot Program.
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WC DKT No.
02-60 |
DA-09-2362 |
December 2, 2009 |
December 17, 2009 |
Action Communications, Inc.: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Action Communications, Inc. (Action) for a waiver of section 54.611 of the Commission's rules, which requires USAC to reimburse any monies due a carrier from the universal service rural health care mechanism only after an offset is credited against that carrier's universal service obligations. Action also requests that the Commission grant an expedited stay of USAC's decision which would allow Action to continue to receive monthly rural health care support disbursements pending the Commission's review of the instant waiver request.
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WC DKT No.
02-60 |
DA-09-2356 |
November 16, 2009 |
November 23, 2009 |
TracFone Lifeline letter: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a letter from TracFone Wireless, Inc., which (1) asks the Commission to clarify whether its ruling that carriers can receive universal service Lifeline support for a single telephone line in an eligible consumer’s principal residence is intended to limit the availability of Lifeline-supported service to only one qualified low-income resident per homeless shelter, and (2) requests guidance on how eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) may enroll residents of shelters in their Lifeline programs without risking violation of the “one-per-household” rule. WCB also seeks comment on the effects of the one-per-household rule for Lifeline support in the context of other types of group living facilities, such as nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, apartment buildings, trailer-home communities, halfway houses, and group homes. Finally, WCB requests comment on whether and how ETCs that provide Lifeline-supported service to homeless individuals who do not use shelters may comply with the one-per-household rule.
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WC DKT No.
03-109 |
DA-09-2257 |
November 20, 2009 |
December 7, 2009 |
Via Talk Form 499-Q petition: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Via Talk, LLC’s request for review and reversal of a USAC decision that denied Via Talk’s request that USAC accept late filed revised FCC Forms 499-Q for November 2007, February 2008, and May 2008. The Form 499-Q is filed quarterly by carriers with projected revenues for the upcoming quarter. The Commission uses this information to calculate the quarterly universal service contribution factor for the following quarter. Contributors file an annual form, the FCC Form 499-A, with actual revenues from the previous year. USAC then conducts a true-up process between the projected revenues from the four Form 499-Q filings and the Form 499-A filing, and issues credits or invoices accordingly.
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WC DKT No.
06-122 |
DA-09-2256 |
November 20, 2009 |
December 7, 2009 |
Michigan Access ILEC petition: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Michigan Access, Inc. (Michigan Access) to be designated as an incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC) in two rural exchanges in Northeast Michigan, to participate in the National Exchange Carrier Association pools, to receive accelerated high-cost loop support, and to receive a waiver of certain filing deadlines to allow it to receive universal service support on an expedited basis. Michigan Access recognizes that Osirus Communications, Inc. and Allband Communications Cooperative have each previously filed petitions with the Commission also seeking incumbent LEC status for portions of these same areas; Michigan Access, however, petitions the Commission to designate it as an incumbent LEC irrespective of the Allband and Osirus petitions.
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CC DKT No.
96-45 |
DA-09-2255 |
November 20, 2009 |
December 7, 2009 |
NECA and USAC proposed average schedule formulas: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on NECA's and USAC's proposed average schedule formulas for high-cost loop support and local switching support, respectively, for 2010. 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. Average schedule companies have been permitted by the Commission to estimate universal service support through the use of average schedule formulas to avoid the difficulties and expenses involved with conducting company-specific cost studies. Commission rules require that the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) file the formula modifications for high-cost loop support and that the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) file the formula modifications for local switching support. On August 27, 2009, NECA filed its 2010 Modification of Average Schedule Universal Service High-Cost Loop Support Formula. On September 28, 2009, the USAC filed its 2010 Average Schedule Company Local Switching Support Formula. The proposed formulas, if approved, would be scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2010, and remain in effect through December 31, 2010.
Please Note: We should release PN as soon as possible in order to have time to review any comments, replies, and release an order by December 31, 2009; the new formulas would take effect January 1, 2010.
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WC DKT No.
05-337 |
DA-09-2254 |
November 20, 2009 |
December 7, 2009 |
Lazo Petition for Recon: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Lazo Technologies for reconsideration of a WCB E-rate order (DA 09-1797, rel. Aug. 12, 2009).
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CC DKT No.
02-6 |
DA-09-2250 |
November 20, 2009 |
December 7, 2009 |
Integrity Petition for Recon: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Integrity Communications for reconsideration of a WCB E-rate order (DA 09-1946, rel. Aug. 28. 2009).
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CC DKT No.
02-6 |
DA-09-2249 |
November 20, 2009 |
December 7, 2009 |
USAC Board Nominations: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks nominations for the six USAC Board positions that expire at the end of the year. The six positions are: ILECs with annual operating revenues in excess of $40M; state telecom regulators; IXCs with more than $3B in annual operating revenues (revenue requirement currently waived); information service providers; eligible rural health care providers; and eligible schools. Pursuant to section 54.703(c)(1) of the Commission's rules.
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CC DKT No.
96-45, 97-21 |
DA-09-2127 |
Nominations due November 1, 2009 |
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USAC request for Wireline Competition Bureau guidance: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on requests filed by USAC for guidance from WCB on several policy issues related to the universal service high-cost support mechanism and contribution methodology.
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CC DKT No.
96-45 |
DA-09-2117 |
October 28, 2009 |
November 12, 2009
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