WCB Announces Connect America Phase II Cost Model Workshop
PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
News Media Information 202 / 418-0513
445 12th St., S.W.Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
Washington, D.C. 20554
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 12-1313
Released: August 20, 2012
WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES
CONNECT AMERICA PHASE II COST MODEL WORKSHOP
WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 05-337
On November 18, 2011, the Commission released the USF/ICC Transformation Order,which comprehensively reforms and modernizes the universal service and intercarrier compensation
systems.1 In the Order, the Commission adopted a framework for providing ongoing support to
areas served by price cap carriers, including areas where broadband service is not currently provided,
known as Connect America Phase II. Specifically, the Commission will provide ongoing support to
these areas through “a combination of a forward-looking cost model and competitive bidding.”2
Today, the Wireline Competition Bureau announces that it will hold a Connect America
Phase II cost model workshop to discuss the design and mechanics of one model that estimates the
cost of providing service to the entire nation, submitted into the record by the ABC Coalition.3 The
event will be held September 13, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and September 14, 2012 from 9 a.m.
to 12 p.m.4 The workshop will be free and open to the public. Additional details concerning the
workshop agenda will be forthcoming. The Wireline Competition Bureau is also concurrently
releasing two maps that illustrate the cost of providing service, as estimated by the ABC Coalition
cost model, to served and unserved areas in the country utilizing either Fiber-to-the-Premises or
1 See Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 17663 (2011) (USF/ICC Transformation Order or Order), pets. for review
pending sub nom. In re: FCC, No. 11-9900 (10th Cir. filed Dec. 18, 2011).
2 Id., 26 FCC Rcd at 17673, para. 23. The Wireline Competition Bureau recently sought comment on a
number of cost model threshold issues. See Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Model Design
and Data Inputs for Phase II of the Connect America Fund, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 05-337, Public Notice, 27
FCC Rcd 6147 (Wireline Comp. Bur. rel. June 8, 2012).
3 Letter from Jonathan Banks, USTelecom, to Marlene H. Dortch, Federal Communications Commission, filed
Feb. 13, 2012 (attaching updated documentation of CQBAT model) (CQBAT letter). This submission updated
the ABC Coalition’s prior proposal for a forward-looking model, which had been submitted prior to the release
of the USF/ICC Transformation Order. Letter from Robert W. Quinn, Jr., AT&T, Steve Davis, CenturyLink,
Michael T. Skrivan, FairPoint, Kathleen Q. Abernathy, Frontier, Kathleen Grillo, Verizon, and Michael D.
Rhoda, Windstream, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Attach. 1 at 13 (filed
July 29, 2011) (ABC Plan). The ABC Coalition model was submitted pursuant to a protective order adopted
by the Bureau. See Connect America Fund, High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket Nos. 10-90 and
05-337, Second Supplemental Protective Order, 27 FCC Rcd 1503 (2012). Alaska Communications Systems
Group, Inc. has also submitted a model that estimates the cost of serving Alaska only. See Comments of
Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 and 05-337 (filed Feb. 1, 2012). This
model was submitted pursuant to a protective order adopted by the Bureau. Connect America Fund, High-Cost
Universal Service Support, WC Docket Nos. 10-90 and 05-337, Second Protective Order, 27 FCC Rcd 1494,
1494 n.2 (2012).
4 Times are subject to change pending release of the full workshop agenda.
Fiber-to-the-DLC technology. These maps are available at: http://www.fcc.gov/maps/abc-coalition-
fttp-cost-model and http://www.fcc.gov/maps/abc-coalition-fttd-cost-model.
On September 13th, the workshop will take place in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-
C305), 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. and will be streamed live at
http://www.fcc.gov/live. On September 14th, the workshop will take place in the Commission’s
fourth floor South Conference Room (4B-516) and will also be accessible via WebEx and audio
conference:
To Join the Online Meeting on September 14th:
1. Go to https://fccevents.webex.com/fccevents/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=996621188
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the meeting password: fcc123
4. Click "Join Now".
To Join the Audio Conference on September 14th:
Call in number: 1-888-858-2144
Access Code: 9639001
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. The
request should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed and contact information.
We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible in order to allow the agency
to satisfy such requests whenever possible. Send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer
and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).
For additional information about the workshop, please contact David Zesiger in the Wireline
Competition Bureau at (202) 418-2081, or via e-mail at David.Zesiger@fcc.gov.
- FCC -
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