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

3/11/2010
Level 3 App for Review Public Notice:On March 1, 2010, Level 3, LLC, ICG Telecom Group, Inc., Looking Glass Networks, Inc., Looking Glass Networks of Virginia, Inc., Progress Telecom, LLC, and Wiltel Communications, LLC, (collectively Level 3) filed an application for review of a Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) order, in which the Bureau upheld a decision of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Specifically, Level 3 asserts that the Bureau erred when it upheld USAC’s assessment of late fees, interest, and penalties on Level 3 due to the late filing of the Level 3 companies’ revised 2008 FCC Forms 499-A.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/10/2010
USAC Form 497 Line 9 Letter Public Notice:The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on USAC’s February 23, 2010 letter asking: (1) what recovery action, if any, USAC should take against an ETC that has failed to pro-rate support claims for partial-month Lifeline customers; and (2) whether ETCs may use Line 9 of FCC Form 497 for any purpose other than to report the amount of support attributed to partial-month Lifeline customers.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/9/2010
E-rate Community Use Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Public Notice:On February 19, 2010, the FCC released an order and notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) enabling schools that receive funding from the E-rate program to allow members of the general public to use the schools’ Internet access during non-operating hours through funding year 2010 and seeking comment on revising its rules to make this change permanent. The FCC set the comment and reply comment deadline for the NPRM as 30 and 45 days, respectively, after publication of the summary of the NPRM in the Federal Register. On March 5, 2010, a summary of the NPRM appeared in the Federal Register. Accordingly, comments will be due on April 5, 2010, and reply comments will be due on April 19, 2010.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

3/1/2010
USAC Board Public Notice and Letter:On March 1, 2010, Chairman Julius Genachowski named five members to the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). In a public notice released on September 28, 2009, the Wireline Competition Bureau solicited nominations to fill vacancies on the USAC Board of Directors in accordance with the nomination and appointment procedures of section 54.703(c) of the Commission’s rules. The nominations period closed on November 1, 2009. These five members are selected as successors to Board members whose terms expired on December 31, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF
Letter: Word | PDF

3/1/2010
Colorado 911 Public Notice :The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the Adams County E-911 Emergency Telephone Service Authority, the Arapahoe County E-911 Emergency Communication Service Authority, and the Jefferson County Emergency Communications Authority (collectively, the Colorado 911 Authorities).
Public Notice: Word | PDF

February 2010

2/26/2010
Virgin Mobile ETC Designation in CT DC DE NH Public Notice :The PN seeks comment on four petitions filed February 17, 2010, by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. (Virgin Mobile), a provider of commercial mobile radio services. Virgin Mobile seeks designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, and New Hampshire and the District of Columbia. Virgin Mobile seeks ETC designation for the limited purpose of participating in the universal service low-income Lifeline program and does not request ETC designation to receive universal service high-cost support.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

2/26/2010
Bayou Internet PN: The Wireline Competition seeks comment on a petition filed by Bayou Internet. Bayou Internet seeks review of a decision of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) in which USAC denied Bayou Internet’s request for waiver of the late filing fees related to Bayou Internet’s 2009 FCC Form 499-A.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

2/25/2010
Ad Hoc Carrier's Carrier Petition Public Notice:The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the Ad Hoc Coalition of International Telecommunications Companies. In that petition, the Coalition requests that the Commission commence a rulemaking to address the Universal Service Administrative Company’s interpretation and application of the rules and requirements for carriers’ reporting of revenues from the provision of service to other carriers (i.e., wholesale revenues) for purposes of determining universal service contribution obligations.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

2/24/2010
Standing Rock Petition for Redefinition PN: The Wireline Competition Bureau provides notice that it is initiating a proceeding to consider a petition filed by Standing Rock Telecommunications, Inc., pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules, to redefine the service area served by several rural telephone companies in North and South Dakota.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

2/24/2010
Verizon-Frontier Study Area Waiver PN: Verizon California and Frontier seek a waiver of the study area boundary freeze to transfer seven exchanges from Verizon California’s existing California study area to a newly created Frontier study area in California. Verizon South and Frontier also seek a waiver of the study area boundary freeze to transfer all exchanges, with the exception of the Knotts Islands exchange, from Verizon South’s existing North Carolina study area to a newly created Frontier study area in North Carolina. The study area waiver requests are in connection with the transaction in which Verizon proposes to transfer operating companies in a number of states to Frontier. The attached public notice seeks comment on the requested study area waiver.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

2/22/2010
Form 499 2010 Revisions Public Notice: The Commission released the revised annual and quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheets (FCC Form 499-A and FCC Form 499-Q) and accompanying instructions.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

2/19/2010
E-rate Community Use Order: In this order, the Commission waives, on  its own motion, through funding year 2010 (which ends June 30, 2011), rules that currently discourage public use of resources funded by E-rate.  In the notice of proposed rulemaking,  the Commission seeks comment on revising  its rules to make the change permanent.  This change will leverage universal service funding to serve a larger population at no increased cost to the E-rate program.  The general public will be able to use the Internet access already present in schools, at the schools’ discretion, for purposes such as job searches and applications, digital literacy programs, and online access to governmental services and resources. 
Order: Word | PDF

2/18/2010
RHC Pilot Program Extension Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau extends by one year, to June 30, 2011, the deadline for participants in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program to select a vendor and request a funding commitment from the USAC.
Order: Word | PDF

2/16/2010
Alltel Audit Public Notice Extension : The Wireline Competition Bureau grants an extension of the deadline for filing comments in the above-captioned proceeding from February 18, 2010 to February 25, 2010, and an extension of the deadline for filing reply comments from March 5, 2010 to March 12, 2010. Parties must comply with all other procedures and filing requirements announced in the CIPA PN.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

2/16/2010
Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act Extension Public Notice : The Wireline Competition Bureau extends the deadline to file comments on modifying the E-rate rules to comply with the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act to February 25, 2010 and extends the deadline for filing reply comments to March 12, 2010.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

2/2/2010
New Orleans E-rate Order : The Commission addresses requests for waivers of its rules filed by the State of Louisiana Department of Education, the Recovery School District, and the New Orleans Public Schools, under the E-rate program, generally seeking to make changes to their applications for funding years 2004, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The requested changes are not ministerial or clerical errors, pursuant to the Commission’s Bishop Perry Order, and thus require Commission action.
Order: Word | PDF

2/2/2010
Twin Valley Declaratory Order: In this order, in response to a referral from the United States District Court for the District of Kansas pursuant to the primary jurisdiction doctrine, we clarify the effective date of the Wireline Competition Bureau’s (Bureau’s) order granting Twin Valley Telephone, Inc. (Twin Valley) waivers of the study area boundary freeze and section 69.3(e)(11) of the Commission’s rules. We find that the waivers granted in the Twin Valley Order became effective upon release of that order.
Order: Word | PDF

2/2/2010
Lifeline Declaratory Ruling Order: In this order, we address four petitions for waiver of section 54.410 of the Commission’s rules and six requests for a declaratory ruling concerning the Commission’s Lifeline certification and verification requirements. We grant the requests for waiver seeking an extension of the June 22, 2005, deadline to submit sample Lifeline verification data in the US Cellular Washington Petition, the ADT Petition, and the VA Cellular Petition. We also grant the Petitioners’ requests for a declaratory ruling and conclude that when a state commission mandates Lifeline support, but does not impose certification and verification requirements on certain carriers within the state, the affected carriers must follow federal default criteria for certification and verification purposes. Finally, we grant the requests filed by Wisconsin RSA #4 and US Cellular Wisconsin to withdraw their petitions.
Order: Word | PDF

2/1/2010
Verizon Wireless Extension Order: In this order, WCB grants a request by Verizon Wireless for a limited extension of waivers of certain universal service FCC Form 499 reporting requirements previously granted by WCB. Specifically, the order extends temporary waivers of universal service revenue reporting requirements to allow Verizon Wireless to file a consolidated revenue data report for affiliated entities it acquired in its mergers with Alltel Corporation and Rural Cellular Corporation and to report revenues for all affiliated companies using a weighted average of actual and safe harbor revenues. The order finds that good cause exists to extend these waivers due to special circumstances arising out of the Commission’s pending review of divestiture issues related to Verizon Wireless’s merger.
Order: Word | PDF

January 2010

1/29/2010
Bayland Public Notice:The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Bayland Communications, LLC seeking waiver of a filing deadline required by section 54.904(d) of the Commission’s rules for receipt of universal service high-cost support funds.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/29/2010
Level 3 Contributions Appeal Order:The Wireline Competition Bureau denies a request for review of a decision by USAC, filed by Level 3 Communications, asking the Commission to reverse USAC’s computation of Level 3’s annual true-up based on Level 3’s original FCC Form 499 filings, which were timely filed on or about April 1, 2008, and USAC’s subsequent refusal to expedite processing of Level 3’s revised FCC Form 499-A filings reporting revenue for the 2007 calendar year. We also find that Level 3 has not demonstrated good cause sufficient to warrant waiver of the interest that has accrued on the universal service contribution invoices issued by USAC based on Level 3’s original 2008 FCC Form 499-A filings. Additionally, in light of the decision reached here, we deny as moot Level 3’s requests seeking stay from USAC’s issuance of invoices based on Level 3’s original 2008 499-A filings and seeking waiver of the public notice requirement for Commission action.
Order: Word | PDF

1/28/2010
Virgin Mobile ETC PN: WCB seeks comment on a petition filed by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. (Virgin Mobile), a provider of commercial mobile radio services. Virgin Mobile seeks designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) in the state of Alabama. Virgin Mobile seeks ETC designation for the limited purpose of participating in the universal service low-income Lifeline program and does not request ETC designation to receive universal service high-cost support.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/28/2010
PEMA TracFone Opposition Withdrawal Order: In this order, WCB grants the request filed by PEMA to withdraw its petition to reject TracFone’s self-certification that TracFone is in full compliance with applicable Pennsylvania 911 and E-911 obligations.
Order: Word | PDF

1/28/2010
Equant Dismissal Order: In this order, WCB dismisses as moot Equant's request for review of a USAC decision rejecting its revised 2000 499-A filing.
Order: Word | PDF

1/22/2010
Western New Mexico Telephone Company,Inc. High Cost Order : In this order, the Wireline Competition Bureau grants thirteen requests for waiver of high-cost universal service support filing deadlines, filed by: Western New Mexico Telephone Company, Inc.; Yukon Telephone Company, Inc.; Northern New England Telephone Operations LLC and Telephone Operating Company of Vermont LLC; Ballard Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation, Inc.; PRWireless, Inc.; CommuniGroup of Jackson, Inc.; Hopi Telecommunications, Inc.; Midstate Telecom, Inc.; T-Mobile USA, Inc.; WorldNet Telecommunications, Inc.; QSI Consulting, Inc., on behalf of Midcontinent Communications; and General Communications, Inc.
Order: Word | PDF

1/20/2010
Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act Public Notice: On November 5, 2009, the Commission released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on revising rules regarding the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism, also known as the E-rate program, to comply with the requirements of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act. Among other things, section 215 of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act, titled Promoting Online Safety in Schools, revised section 254(h)(5)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, by adding a new certification requirement for elementary and secondary schools that have computers with Internet access and receive discounts under the E-rate program. The Commission also proposed to revise related Commission rules to reflect existing statutory language more accurately. Interested parties may file comments on or before February 18, 2010, and reply comments on or before March 5, 2010.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/19/2010
Standing Rock Telecom ETC PN: WCB seeks comment on a petition filed by Standing Rock Telecommunications, Inc. (SRTI), a tribal-government owned wireless carrier. SRTI seeks designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier for a service area coterminous with the existing rural study areas within the external boundaries of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and North Dakota.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/19/2010
Grande Contributions PN: WCB seeks comment on a petition filed by Grande Communications Networks (Grande). Grande seeks review of a USAC decision that resulted in reclassification of certain of the company’s revenues reported for purposes of universal service contribution assessments for calendar years 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/19/2010
TelePacific Contributions PN: WCB seeks comment on two requests filed by U.S. TelePacific Corp. d/b/a TelePacific Communications (TelePacific). In its first request, TelePacific seeks review and reversal of a USAC decision that would reclassify certain revenues for purposes of universal service contribution assessments for calendar year 2007 and require TelePacific to refile its 2008 FCC Form 499-A by February 8, 2010. In its second request, TelePacific seeks a stay of that decision.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/13/2010
Clarification Regarding Comment Cycle for Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking On E-rate Eligible Services List: In this PN, WCB clarifies that EDOCS had erroneously set comment dates for the E-rate Eligible Services List FNPRM. The comment cycle will not be set until after the Federal Register publication, which has not yet happened. As soon as a summary of the further notice is published in the Federal Register, WCB will release a public notice with the correct comment deadlines. We will consider all comments that already have been filed in response to the FNPRM and note that commenters may refile or supplement comments already filed.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/12/2010
Thumb Cellular Order: TAPD dismisses as moot Thumb Cellular’s motion for ruling on an appeal of USAC’s denial of USF funding because the Bureau already granted the underlying appeal.
Order: Word | PDF

1/12/2010
CenturyTel of Eagle Order: TAPD grants the request of CenturyTel of Eagle to withdraw its application for review. On August 1, 2002, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission petitioned the Commission for agreement with its proposed redefinition of the service area of CenturyTel of Eagle. On November 25, 2002, that redefinition petition was deemed approved under Commission rule 54.207(c)(2)(ii). CenturyTel filed an application for review arguing that the Commission’s deemed-approved process violates the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and that the redefinition of its service area was not in the public interest. On October 20, 2009, CenturyTel filed a request for withdrawal of its application for review.
Order: Word | PDF

1/12/2010
Cricket ETC Designation Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Cricket Communications, Inc. (Cricket), a provider of commercial mobile radio services. Cricket seeks designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) for certain counties in New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia as well as in the District of Columbia. Cricket seeks ETC designation for the limited purpose of participating in the universal service low-income Lifeline and Link-Up programs and does not request ETC designation to receive universal service high-cost support. Please note: Cricket is a facilities-based ETC and thus does not require forbearance before being designated an ETC.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/12/2010
Consumer Cellular ETC Designation Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Consumer Cellular, Inc. (Consumer Cellular), a reseller of commercial mobile radio services. Consumer Cellular seeks designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) for certain counties in Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Consumer Cellular seeks ETC designation for the limited purpose of participating in the universal service low-income Lifeline program and does not request ETC designation to receive high-cost universal service support. Please note: Consumer Cellular has a petition pending before the Commission seeking forbearance from the facilities-based ETC requirement; this ETC designation petition assumes that the Commission will grant that petition.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/12/2010
NextGen Order: TAPD grants the request of NextGen Telephone to withdraw a letter it had filed requesting review of a decision by USAC, in which USAC determined that NextGen should report subscriber line charges as interstate revenue subject to federal universal service fund contributions.
Order: Word | PDF

1/12/2010
Direct Allband Waiver Order: In this order, we deny requests from Direct Communications Cedar Valley, LLC (Direct) and Allband Communications Cooperative (Allband) for waivers of sections 36.611 and 36.612 of the Commission’s rules. Direct requests a waiver of sections 36.611 and 36.612 to allow it to receive universal service high-cost loop support payments as of February 1, 2006, the date that Direct closed its purchase of the Eagle Mountain City municipal telephone system (EMC). Allband requests a waiver of sections 36.611 and 36.612 to allow it to receive support retroactively to the month that its first customer is provided service.
Order: Word | PDF

1/12/2010
Smith Bagley Interim Cap Waiver: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Smith Bagley, Inc. (SBI) seeking a waiver of the interim cap that the Commission imposed on the amount of universal service high-cost support that competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) may receive. Specifically, SBI requests a waiver to enable SBI and other competitive ETCs to obtain uncapped high-cost support to provide or expand telecommunications services to residents of the Eastern Navajo Agency of the Navajo Nation in the state of New Mexico.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/12/2010
Partner Forbearance Petition, and Protective Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Partner Communications Cooperative (Partner) seeking forbearance from section 54.305(b) and (d) of the Commission’s rules. Specifically, Partner requests that the Commission forbear from enforcing section 54.305(b) and (d) of the Commission’s rules so that Partner may receive additional universal service high-cost support and local switching support for four exchanges it acquired in 2006. Partner states that grant of its petition will allow Partner to upgrade its telephone network and provide the platform for eventual ubiquitous broadband coverage in the four acquired high-cost exchanges, as well as in its two original exchanges. Please note: Partner seeks confidential treatment of certain data provided in its filing, and a protective order is also attached.
Order: Word | PDF
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/12/2010
Pine Belt High-Cost Waiver: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request by Pine Belt Telephone Company, Inc. that the Commission: (1) direct NECA to re-open the 24-month window that NECA established for its members to adjust cost studies submitted to NECA, so that Pine Belt may adjust its 2005 cost study; and (2) require that NECA reimburse Pine Belt for any amounts that may become due to Pine Belt as a result of Pine Belt’s desired adjustments. Comments are due on February 11, 2010. Reply comments are due on February 26, 2010.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/12/2010
CTC High-Cost Waivers Petition: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request by CTC Telecom, Inc. (d/b/a Snake River PCS) for waiver of the sixty-day filing deadline set forth in section 54.314(d) of the Commission’s rules for high-cost support.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

1/4/2010
Qwest II – Tenth Circuit Remand: On December 15, 2009, the Commission released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding high-cost universal service support for non-rural carriers, in response to the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Qwest Communications International, Inc. v. FCC. The Commission set the comment and reply comment deadlines for this Further Notice as 30 and 45 days, respectively, after publication of the summary of the Further Notice in the Federal Register. On December 29, 2009, a summary of the Further Notice appeared in the Federal Register. Accordingly, comments will be due on January 28, 2010, and reply comments will be due on February 12, 2010.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

December 2009

12/30/09
2010 Average Schedule Order: Each year, NECA and USAC submit to WCB for approval proposed modifications of formulas that determine universal service high-cost loop and local switching support, respectively, for average schedule companies. The formulas are based on statistical analysis of sample companies. In the attached order, WCB approves the formulas.
Order: Word | PDF

12/30/09
Cellco/Verizon ETC PN: WCB seeks comment on the Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless requests to amend the eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designations currently held by Alltel in Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia (and also ETC designations held by RCC Holdings in Virginia). Under the proposed amendment, Alltel’s and RCC’s ETC designations would reflect Cellco as the designated entity.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

12/30/09
Alltel Lifeline Audit PN: In this Public Notice, the Commission seeks comment on the Verizon/Alltel Management Trust’s request for review of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) low-income support audit findings that the Verizon/Alltel Management Trust: (1) lacked effective procedures for excluding duplicate claims for universal service low-income support under the Lifeline program from a single address; (2) claimed Tier 4 Lifeline support for subscribers not residing on Tribal lands and failed to provide Tier 4 Lifeline support to eligible households on Tribal lands; (3) sought Lifeline reimbursement for subscribers claimed on other carriers’ FCC Forms 497; and (4) claimed Lifeline support for subscribers on Tribal lands who received a rate plan that included toll-free calling.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

12/22/09
Wellman/Iowa Telecom Study Area Waiver: WCB seeks comment on a joint petition for waiver of the study area boundary freeze filed by Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. (Iowa Telecom) and Wellman Cooperative Telephone Association (Wellman). Iowa Telecom and Wellman seek a waiver of the study area boundary freeze to transfer a small area from Iowa Telecom’s existing Iowa study area to Wellman’s existing Iowa study area. Wellman also requests a waiver of section 54.305 of the Commission’s rules so that it may receive universal service support for the acquired line in the same manner as its existing lines, and Wellman seeks a waiver of the average schedule company definition so that it may continue to operate as an average schedule company after the transfer.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

12/22/09
Georgia PSC High-Cost Waiver: WCB seeks comment on a request by the Georgia Public Service Commission for waiver of the October 1, 2009 certification deadline for high-cost funds.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

12/22/09
Millenium Telecom Contribution Waiver: WCB seeks comment on Millennium Telecom’s petition to waive certain contribution deadlines and penalties, resulting from Millenium’s inadvertent overstatement of its interstate telecom revenues on its Feb 2009 Form 499-Q and misstatement of its contact information on its 2008 Form 499-A.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

12/22/09
RHCPP Extension Public Notice: WCB provides notice that requests to extend the June 30, 2010 RHCPP deadline, filed after the Bureau issued a public notice seeking comments on the North Carolina extension request, will be treated as ex parte comments on the pending proceeding.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

12/17/09
Joints Board Appointments Order: This order appoints Commissioners Clyburn and Baker to the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service and the Federal-State Joint Board on Separations, and appoints the two commissioners and Chairman Genachowski to the Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services.
Order: Word | PDF

12/15/09
Qwest II- Tenth Circuit Remand: The Commission released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (Tenth Circuit) in Qwest II, in which the court remanded the Commission’s rules for providing high-cost universal service support to non-rural carriers.
Further Notice for Proposed Rulemaking: Word | PDF

12/8/09
Clear World Communications Corporation: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Clear World Communications Corporation (Clear World) seeking review of a 2009 audit decision by USAC, in which USAC determined that, for calendar years 2005 and 2006, Clear World incorrectly allocated as international all of its revenue from monthly recurring charges and recovered its universal service contribution costs through line-item charges in excess of amounts permitted under the Commission’s rules. Comments are due January 7, 2010 and reply comments are due January 22, 2010.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

12/8/09
National Cable & Telecommunications Association: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition for rulemaking filed by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) proposing new rules for universal service high-cost support. Specifically, NCTA proposes that the Commission establish procedures to reduce the amount of universal service high-cost support provided to carriers in those areas of the country where there is extensive, unsubsidized facilities-based voice competition and where government subsidies no longer are needed to ensure that service will be made available to consumers. Comments are due January 7, 2010 and reply comments are due January 22, 2010.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

12/2/09
Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism. E-rate Funding Year 2010 Eligible Services List and Seeks Further Comment on Eligible Services: The report and order releases the Funding Year 2010 E-rate Eligible Service List, concluding that interconnected VoIP service is eligible and should continue to receive E-rate program funding. Additionally, the report and order clarifies the E-rate program eligibility of text messaging, video on-demand servers, ethernet, web hosting, wireless LAN controllers, VoIP-related services and requirements, and virtualization software. The report and order also clarifies that telephone broadcast messaging, unbundled warranties, power distribution units, softphones, interactive white boards and e-mail archiving are ineligible for universal service funding. The further notice of proposed rulemaking (FNPRM) tentatively concludes that firewall services, anti-virus/anti-spam software, scheduling services, web hosting, and wireless Internet access applications should not be eligible for E-rate funding. It also seeks comment on the tentative conclusion that eligible products and services should be listed in the ESL as opposed to being individually listed in the rules, and that USAC should be required to submit any proposed changes to the ESL to the Commission by March 30 of each year, instead of June 30, as currently required. The FNPRM also seeks comment on eliminating the requirement that the ESL be released by public notice. Comments are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register and reply comments are due 45 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Word | PDF
Eligible Services List: Word | PDF

11/12/09
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. Comments are due December 4, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

11/12/09
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.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

11/05/09
Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism: This notice of proposed rulemaking proposes revising the Commission’s rules for the E-rate program to comply with the requirements of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act. The Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act added a new certification requirement for elementary and secondary schools that have computers with Internet access and receive discounts under the E-rate program. The notice of proposed rulemaking also proposes to revise related Commission rules to reflect existing statutory language more accurately. Comments are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register and reply comments are due 45 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Word | PDF

11/03/09
Public Notice: Comment Sought on Broadband Needs in Education, Including Changes to E-rate Program to Improve Broadband Deployment. Comments are due November 20, 2009 and reply comments are due December 11, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

11/02/09
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. Comments are due December 2, 2009 and reply comments are due December 17, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

11/02/09
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. Comments are due December 2, 2009 and reply comments are due December 17, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

11/02/09
New ETC Docket: Wireline Competition Bureau announces a new docket for universal service ETC-related matters.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

11/02/09
Action Communications, Inc.: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request 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. Comments are due November 16, 2009 and reply comments are due November 23, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

10/30/09
Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. Petition for Forebearance: The Wireline Competition Bureau approved a plan submitted by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. for complying with conditions imposed in the Virgin Mobile ETC Order. Pursuant to the Bureau's action in this order, the conditional designations of Virgin Mobile as and ETC for the limited purpose of providing Lifeline service in its conditional designations of Virgin Mobile as an ETC for limited purpose of providing Lifeline service in its licensed service areas in New York, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee are effective as of October 29, 2009.
Order: Word | PDF

10/21/09
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.
Order: Word | PDF

10/21/09
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. Order: Word | PDF

10/21/09
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.
Order: Word | PDF

10/21/09
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.
Order: Word | PDF

10/21/09
Heller Information Services, Inc.: In this order, Telecommunications Access Policy Division grants a request filed by Heller Information Services, Inc. (Heller) to withdraw its petition, and, accordingly, dismisses Heller’s pleadings. Heller had requested review of USAC’s rejection of Heller’s revised 2003 FCC Form 499-A filing and the universal service contribution assessments that resulted from Heller’s original 2003 FCC Form 499-A filing. Heller had also requested that the Commission take expedited action on its request for review, and that all universal service contribution collection actions be held in abeyance pending final action on Heller’s request for review by the Commission.
Order: Word | PDF

10/21/09
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).
Order: Word | PDF

10/21/09
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).
Order: Word | PDF

10/20/09
Iosco Regional Educational Service Agency, Tawas City, MI: The Division denies appeals of decisions by USAC by an applicant failing to pay the full non-discounted portion of the services received from its service provider and allowing its chosen service provider to act as a consultant during the competitive bidding process, both in violation of Commission rules.
Order: Word | PDF

10/20/09
Hancock County School District, New Cumberland, WV, et al.: The Division denies 7 appeals of USAC decisions denying E-rate funding on the grounds that the applicants sought discounts on telecommunications from non-eligible telecommunications carriers, in violation of Commission rules.
Order: Word | PDF

10/20/09
Hemet Unified School District, Hemet, CA: The Division grants an appeal of a USAC decision to deny a request for E-rate funding based on a late-filed request for an extension of the deadline for implementation of services.
Order: Word | PDF

10/20/09
Exigent Technologies, Parsippany, NJ: The Division denies an appeal of a USAC decision to seek recovery of E-rate funds. Exigent admitted to multiple violations of the rules, including improper service provider involvement in the competitive bidding process and failure to require applicants to pay the non-discounted portion of the price of services and equipment.
Order: Word | PDF

10/20/09
Eagle Hill School, Hardwick, MA, et al.: The Division denies 3 appeals of USAC decisions denying E-rate funding on the grounds that the applicants requested support for dormitory or residence rooms and for pre-K programs, neither of which was eligible for support.
Order: Word | PDF

10/20/09
Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV, et al.: The Division denies 3 appeals of USAC decisions denying E-rate funding for funding years 2004-2008 on the grounds that the applicants requested ineligible services. Specifically, the applicants sought funding for dark fiber service after funding year 2003, when dark fiber was no longer eligible for support.
Order: Word | PDF

10/20/09
Amy Biehl Charter High School, Albuquerque, NM, and Weld Library District, Greely, CO: The Division denies 2 requests for waiver of certain E-rate competitive bidding rules. The Division denies one request for waiver of the rule requiring the filing of an FCC Form 470 prior to entering into an agreement for services and another request for waiver of all E-rate filing deadlines.
Order: Word | PDF

10/20/09
Keyport School District, Keyport, NJ: The Division grants an appeal of a USAC decision to deny a request for E-rate funding based on USAC’s assessment that the applicant violated the Commission’s competitive bidding rules.
Order: Word | PDF

10/20/09
Hazelwood School District, Florissant, MO: The Division grants an appeal of a USAC decision to modify a request for E-rate funding based on USAC’s assessment that the services requested did not qualify as eligible services.
Order: Word | PDF

10/9/09
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.
Order and NPRM: Word | PDF

10/02/09
Centennial Interim Cap Deadline Waiver: In this order, the Bureau addresses a petition for waiver filed by Centennial Communications Corp. and its subsidiaries. Centennial requests that the Commission extend the deadline for submitting changes to the March 2008 data used to cap high-cost universal service support for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers. We dismiss Centennial’s petition for waiver as moot.
Order: Word | PDF

10/02/09
Centennial PRTC ICLS: In this order, the Bureau denies the request of Centennial Communications Corp. for reversal of a decision by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to recover universal service interstate common line support (ICLS) from Centennial. As a result of USAC's retroactive downward adjustment to Puerto Rico Telephone Company's (PRTC) ICLS for 2004 and 2005, USAC retroactively reduced Centennial's ICLS for the same period due to the identical support rule contained in section 54.307(a)(1) of the Commission rules. PRTC is the incumbent local exchange carrier in Puerto Rico. Centennial claims that USAC's decision to recover a portion of Centennial's ICLS was inappropriate because it was based on PRTC's late-filed data. The Bureau finds that USAC acted properly and within its authority to adjust Centennial’s ICLS payments pursuant to the requirements in section 54.307(a)(1) of the Commission’s rules.
Order: Word | PDF

9/28/09
Columbus Telephone High-Cost Waiver Petition: In this Public Notice, Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Columbus Telephone Company for waiver of the March 31, 2008 filing deadline for Interstate Common Line Support (ICLS). Comments are due October 28, 2009, and reply comments are due November 12, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/28/09
Skylink High-Cost Waiver Petition: In this Public Notice, Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by Skylink L.C. for waiver of the December 30, 2008 line count filing deadlines for high-cost support and Interstate Access Support (IAS). Comments are due October 28, 2009, and reply comments are due November 12, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/28/09
AT&T Petition Regarding USF Contribution Reform: In this Public Notice concerning AT&T's petition seeking immediate Commission action to reform the universal service contribution methodology, WCB announces that the petition will be treated as an ex parte filing in the open rulemaking proceeding seeking comment on comprehensive universal service and intercarrier compensation reform.  
Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/28/09
USAC Board Nominations: In this Public Notice, 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, nominations are due November 1.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/28/09
Form 498 – Mandatory Electronic Disbursement of USF Payments: In this Public Notice, Wireline Competition Bureau provides notice that, pursuant to the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, all universal service support payments shall be made by electronic funds transfer.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/28/09
Stratos Petition for Declaratory Ruling: In this Public Notice, Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition for declaratory ruling or clarification filed by Stratos Government Services, Inc. (Stratos). Stratos asks the Commission to confirm that entities that provide interstate services exclusively to public safety or government entities are exempt from contributing to the universal service fund. Specifically, Stratos states that the Commission has not explicitly addressed whether the existing exemption is available only to companies that act exclusively as a prime contractor, or if it also available to companies who sell exclusively to government end users either as a prime contractor or subcontractor.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/28/09
Rural Health Care Pilot Program Quarterly Reports: In this Public Notice, Wireline Competition Bureau reminds Rural Health Care Pilot Program participants that quarterly reports are due October 30.  In addition, we remind participants of specific information which must be included in the reports.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/28/09
ComScape Form 499-Q Waiver Petition: In this Public Notice, Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by ComScape Telecommunications requesting waiver of the filing deadline for revision of its May 2009 FCC Form 499-Q. (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.)
Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/28/09
Ad Hoc Coalition of International Telecom Companies Petition for Declaratory Ruling: In this Public Notice, Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition for declaratory ruling filed by the Ad Hoc Coalition of International Telecommunications Companies. The Ad Hoc Coalition requests that the Commission issue a declaratory ruling that the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) lacks authority to indirectly assess universal service contribution assessments on international-only providers. In addition, the Coalition requests that the Commission declare that it lacks jurisdiction over certain non-U.S. international providers.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/28/09
USAC Request for WCB Guidance: In this Public Notice, 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.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/23/09
USAC Board Appointments: Chairman Genachowski announces the selection of Ellis Jacobs, as representative for low-income consumers, and Scott K. Bergmann, as representative, for CMRS providers, to fill two vacancies on the USAC Board of Directors.  Each was the only nominee for their respective seats.
Public Notice: Word | PDF
Letter: Word | PDF

8/28/09
Integrity Communications, Ltd. Corpus Christi, TX: In this order, the Bureau denies the request for review of Integrity Communications, Ltd. (Integrity), finding that USAC acted consistent with its policies in requiring Integrity to file a compliance plan and suspending funding.
Order: Word | PDF

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: Wireline Competition Bureau 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