12/29/08
South Dakota Commission Service Area Redefinition Proceeding Public Notice: Pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission's rules, the Wireline Competition Bureau provides notice that it is initiating a proceeding to consider a redefinition of service area petition filed by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. Comments on the proceeding are due January 28, 2009 and reply comments are due February 12, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF | text

12/15/08
Alltel Communications, Inc., et al.: The Wireline Competition Bureau amends certain ETC designations granted in the Interim Cap Order. The Bureau amends the ETC designation of New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership, limiting the designation to the 13 wire centers requested; grants designation to St. Lawrence Seaway Cellular Partnership in 9 wire centers in the study area of Citizens Telecommunications of New York d/b/a Frontier Communications; and accepts the relinquishment of the designation of Dobson Cellular Systems Inc. and American Cellular Corp. in the state of New York.
Order: Word | PDF | text

12/10/08
2009 Modification of Average Schedule Universal Service Support Formulas: 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. The high-cost loop and local switching support formulas are proposed by NECA and USAC, respectively. The Commission’s rules require that these formulas simulate the disbursements that would be received by a company that is representative of average schedule companies. The formulas proposed for 2009 are consistent with the methods we have approved in previous years.
Order: Word | PDF | text

12/10/08
Competitive ETC March 2008 Capped High-Cost Support: The Wireline Competition Bureau provides notice that competitive ETCs should confirm their March 2008 universal service high-cost support amount information with USAC and file any corrections on or before December 31, 2008. To provide certainty regarding the amount of high-cost support available to competitive ETCs under the cap in each state, after December 31, 2008, USAC will not accept changes from competitive ETCs regarding the data on which their March 2008 high-cost support is based, absent grant of a waiver of this deadline by the Commission.
Public Notice: Word | PDF | text

12/08/08
Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation (Vitelco) on November 21, 2008, seeking waiver of sections 32.2000(g)(2)(ii) and 36.621 of the Commission’s rules to address these rules’ effect on Vitelco’s receipt of universal service high-cost loop support. Comments on the petition are due January 7, 2009, and reply comments are due January 22, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF | text

12/04/08
Worldcall Interconnect, Inc.: WCB seeks comment on an ETC designation petition filed by Worldcall Interconnect, Inc. for two counties in New York. Comments are due January 5, 2009, and reply comments are due January 21, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF | text

12/04/08
Open Mobile: WCB seeks comment on a request by PRWireless, Inc. (d/b/a Open Mobile) for waiver of the March 30, 2008 line count filing deadline for ICLS. PRWireless is an ETC in Puerto Rico. Comments are due January 5, 2009, and reply comments are due January 21, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF | text

12/04/08
Filing Deadline Waiver Requests: WCB seeks comment on: (i) a request by FiberNet LLC for waiver of the June 30, 2008 line count filing deadline for IAS; and (ii) a request by CommuniGroup of Jackson, Inc. for waiver of the of the September 30, 2008 line count filing deadline for IAS, HCLS and HCMS. Comments are due January 5, 2009, and reply comments are due January 21, 2009.
Public Notice: Word | PDF | text

12/03/08
Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. Withdrawal: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants Virgin Mobile's request to withdraw its petition for designation as an ETC in Massachusetts.
Order: Word | PDF | text

12/03/08
Hopi Telecommunications, Inc.: WCB seeks comment on (i) a request by Hopi Telecommunications, Inc. for waiver of the October 1, 2008 annual certification for ICLS; and (ii) a request by Etex Telephone Cooperative for waiver of the October 1, 2008 projected-data filing deadline for LSS.
Public Notice: Word | PDF | text

11/28/08
U.S. Virgin Islands Telephone Corp. High-Cost Abeyance Request: This letter directs USAC to hold in abeyance until February 28, 2009, any adjustments in universal service fund high-cost loop support for the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation.
Letter: Word | PDF | Text

11/6/08
Commission Responds to D.C. Circuit Mandamus and Joint Board Recommended Decision and Seeks Further Comment on Comprehensive Reform: The Commission addresses compensation rates for ISP-bound traffic, declines to adopt the Joint Board's recommendations for reforming distribution of high-cost universal service support, and seeks further comment on comprehensive universal service and intercarrier compensation reform. Comments will be due 14 days after publication in the Federal Register, and reply comments will be due 21 days after Federal Register publication.
Order: Word | PDF
Martin Statement: Word | PDF
Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell Joint Statement: Word | PDF

10/22/08
HTC Services, Inc.
Wireline Competition Bureau denies a petition by HTC for a waiver of the filing deadlines in section 54.802(a) of the Commission rules.

Order: Word | PDF

10/22/08
Wireline Competition Bureau Addresses Universal Service Fund Waiver Requests
Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) grants six separate requests, filed by Advanced Communications Technology, Inc. (ACT); Allo Communications (Allo); Aventure Communication Technology, LLC (Aventure); CC Cellular; PrairieWave Black Hills, LLC (PrairieWave); and Texas RSA 1 Limited Partnership dba XIT Wireless (XIT), for waivers of various high-cost universal service support filing deadlines set forth in sections 54.307 and 54.802 of the Commission’s rules.

Order: Word | PDF

10/6/08
National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc., (NECA) and Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on NECA's and USAC's proposed modifications to universal service high-cost loop and local switching support formulas, respectively, for average schedule companies. Pursuant to Commission rules, each year NECA and USAC submit modifications to these formulas. The proposed formulas, if approved, will be effective January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. Comments are due November 5, 2008 and reply comments are due November 20, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | PDF

9/17/08
Ballard Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation, Inc. and HTC Communications, LLC: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on two petitions for waiver of universal service high-cost filing deadlines submitted by Ballard Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation, Inc. and HTC Communications, LLC of the Commission's rules. Comments are due October 17, 2008, and reply comments are due November 3, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | PDF

8/27/08
Sacred Wind Communications, Inc. And Qwest Corporation: In this order, WCB grants Sacred Wind's request to extend the timing of our previously granted waiver of sections 36.611 and 36.612, permitting Sacred Wind to receive immediate high-cost loop support based on projected costs, subject to true-up, to the end of 2008. Sacred Wind requests this extension because approval of the transaction by the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission was delayed until December 15, 2006, which resulted in only 15 days of network costs during calendar year 2006 (actual costs for 2006 are the basis for 2008 high-cost support payments).

Order: Word | PDF

8/25/08
WCB Grants WeavTel Petition for Waiver of USF Filing Deadline
In this order, the Wireline Competition Bureau grants Westgate Communications LLC d/b/a WeavTel waiver of a filing deadline required by section 54.903(a) of the Commission's rules to allow WeavTel to receive universal service high-cost support.

Order: Word | PDF

8/22/08
WCB Seeks Agreement with Study Area Redefinitions: In its May 1, 2008 Interim Cap Order, the Commission redefined the service areas of several rural telephone companies in New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. Pursuant to section 54.207(d) of the Commission's rules, the Wireline Competition Bureau sent the order to the respective state commissions seeking their agreement with the redefinitions.

New York letter: PDF | Text
North Carolina letter: PDF | Text
Pennsylvania letter: PDF | Text
Tennessee letter: PDF | Text
Virginia letter: PDF | Text

8/20/08
High-Cost Support Filing Waiver Petitions
The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on petitions for waiver of filing deadlines submitted by H&B Cable Service, Inc.; Flat Rock Telephone Co-op, Inc.; Western New Mexico Telephone Company, Inc.; Yukon Telephone Company, Inc.; Windstream Communications, Inc.; and Northern New England Telephone Operation LLC and Telephone Operating Company of Vermont LLC (FairPoint Communications). Comments on the petitions are due September 19, 2008, and reply comments are due October 6, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | PDF

8/12/08
United States Cellular Corporation
The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by United States Cellular Corporation to amend its eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation in Tennessee. Comments are due September 11, 2008 and reply comments are due September 26, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | PDF

8/7/08
Virgin Mobile USA, L.P.
The Wireline Competition Bureau grants the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable's motion for a 21-day extension of the deadlines for filing comments and reply comments in response to Virgin Mobile's petition seeking limited eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation in Massachusetts. Comments are due August 21, 2008 and reply comments are due September 5, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | PDF

8/1/08
Mid-Com Request for Review Public Notice: Mid-Communications, Inc. (Mid-Com) requests review of a decision by USAC to adjust Mid-Com's local switching support retroactively for calendar year 2006. Comments on the request are due September 2, 2008, and reply comments are due September 17, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | PDF | Text

7/31/08
SADDLEBACK et al. ANNUAL ETC REPORT FILING WAIVER ORDER
In this order, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants petitions for waiver filed by Saddleback Communications (Saddleback), Pine Belt Cellular, Inc. (Pine Belt), and IT&E Overseas, Inc, (IT&E) seeking waiver of the annual eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) filing deadlines set forth in section 54.209(b) of the Commission’s rules for 2006 and 2007. The Bureau also grants a petition for waiver filed by Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. (Gila River) seeking waiver of the annual ETC filing deadline for 2006. Finally, the Bureau grants Gila River’s petition for waiver of the 2007 annual ETC filing deadline, but denies Gila River's request for a prospective waiver of section 54.209 for all future annual ETC filings.

Order: Word | PDF

7/28/08
NEP Cellcorp ETC Public Notice: NEP Cellcorp, Inc. (NEP) asks the Commission to amend its decision to deny NEP’s request for eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation in the rural study area of North-Eastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company. Comments are due August 27, 2008 and reply comments are due September 11, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | PDF | Text

7/1/08
Virgin Mobile Massachusetts ETC Petition Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. (Virgin Mobile) for a limited designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in Massachusetts. Virgin Mobile is seeking eligibility for Lifeline universal service support only. Comments on the petition are due July 31, 2008 and reply comments are due August 15, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | PDF | Text

6/17/08
Public Notice: Northwest Iowa Telephone Company: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Northwest Iowa Telephone Company for waiver of a filing deadline required by section 54.301(e)(1) of the Commission's rules for receipt of universal service support. Comments on the petition are due July 17, 2008 and reply comments are due August 1, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | PDF

6/10/08
Order: Competitive ETC Interim Cap Erratum: The Telecommunications Access Policy Division released an erratum correcting a May 1, 2008 order, which capped high-cost universal service support to competitive eligible telecommunications carriers.

Order: Word | PDF

6/6/08
Public Notice: Palmerton/Northeastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company Waiver Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Palmerton Telephone Company and Northeastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company for waiver of a filing deadline required by section 54.301(e)(1) of the Commission’s rules for receipt of universal service funds. Comments are due July 7, 2008, and reply comments are due July 22, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

5/22/08
Public Notice: The Bureau seeks comment on two petitions filed by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P., seeking eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation in North Carolina and Tennessee. Virgin Mobile is seeking limited eligibility for Lifeline universal service support only. Comments are due June 23, 2008, and reply comments are due July 8, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Sacred Wind Communications, Inc. (Sacred Wind) to extend its previously received waiver of sections 36.611 and 36.612 of the Commission's rules. The Commission previously granted Sacred Wind a waiver of these rule sections to allow it to immediately receive universal service high-cost loop support. Comments are due June 16, 2008, and reply comments are due July 1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a joint petition for waiver filed by Dubois Telephone Exchange, Inc. (Dubois) and Qwest Corporation (Qwest). Dubois and Qwest seek a waiver of the study area boundary freeze to transfer an unserved portion of Qwest's Wyoming study area to Dubois's Wyoming study area. Comments are due June 16, 2008, and reply comments are due July 1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by ETS Telephone Company, Inc. (ETS), f/k/a Kingsgate Telephone, Inc., regarding potential retroactive application of the Commission's 2004 Skyline Order to ETS's Texas study area. ETS requests confirmation that the Skyline Order does not have retroactive effect on its study area. Comments are due June 16, 2008, and reply comments are due July 1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on two petitions for waiver of filing deadlines associated with receipt of universal service high-cost support filed by iBroadband Networks, Inc. d/b/a Cedar Valley Communications and HTC Services Inc. Comments are due June 16, 2008, and reply comments are due July 1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

5/16/08
Order: In this Order, WCB extends the deadline for filing reply comments in response to the three High-Cost NPRMs from May 19, 2008, to June 2, 2008.
Order: Word | Acrobat

5/2/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the Kansas Corporation Commission for a declaratory ruling affirming the lawfulness of its procedure for certifying carriers’ receipt of federal universal service support. The Kansas Corporation Commission filed its petition in response to a primary jurisdiction referral by the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. Comments on the petition are due by June 2, 2008 and reply comments are due by June 17, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

5/1/08
Order: FCC Takes Action to Cap High Cost Support Under the Universal Service Fund.

News Release: Word | Acrobat
Order: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat

4/21/08
Order: The Wire Competition Bureau granted three separate requests for waiver filed by the Illinois Commerce Commission, Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, and the Wyoming Public Service Commission, of the high-cost universal service support filing deadlines set forth in sections 54.313(d) and 54.314(d) of the Commission's rules.
Order: Word | Acrobat

3/24/08
Order: Comment Deadlines for Three Universal Service High-Cost Support Notices of Proposed Rulemaking Extended by Two Weeks. Revised Filing Dates: Comments Due: April 17, 2008; Reply Comments Due: May 19, 2008
Order: Word | Acrobat

3/4/08
Public Notice: Comment cycles were established for the Identical Support Rule NPRM, the Reverse Auctions NPRM, and the Joint Board Comprehensive Reform NPRM. Comments are due April 3, 2008, and reply comments are due May 5, 2008. Parties may consolidate their comments and reply comments for the three NPRMs.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

2/8/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on petitions filed by Saddleback Communications and Gila River Telecommunications, Inc., seeking waivers of the October 1, 2006, filing deadline associated with the receipt of universal service funds pursuant to section 54.209 of the Commission’s rules. Comments on the petitions are due February 25, 2008, and reply comments are due March 3, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

2/8/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Thumb Cellular, LLC (Thumb Cellular) seeking review and reversal of a decision of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) regarding the results of a 2007 Improper Payment Improvement Act (IPIA) audit of the high-cost support received by Thumb Cellular during the period October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005. Comments are due March 10, 2008 and reply comments on or before March 24, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

01/29/08
Commission issues NPRM seeking comment on rules governing the amount of high-cost universal service support provided to competitive eligible telecommunications carriers.
NPRM (Identical Support): Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat

01/29/08
Commission issues NPRM seeking comment on the merits of using reverse auctions to determine the amount of high-cost universal service support provided to eligible telecommunications carriers serving rural, insular, and high-cost areas.
NPRM (Reverse Auctions): Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat

01/29/08 Commission issues NPRM seeking comment on the recommendation of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service regarding comprehensive reform of high-cost universal service support.
NPRM (Joint Board): Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat

1/29/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by USCOC of Greater Missouri, LLC d/b/a U.S. Cellular, pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules, requesting the Commission’s agreement with the decision of the Missouri Public Service Commission to redefine the service areas of certain rural telephone companies.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

1/28/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by TracFone Wireless, Inc. seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC), only for purposes of participating in the Lifeline program, in the District of Columbia. Comments are due February 27, 2008 and reply comments on or before March 13, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

1/18/08
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau extends the deadline for filing reply comments in response to Osirus Communications, Inc.'s petition seeking to become a member of the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA), to participate in NECA tariffs and pools, and to begin immediately to receive universal service high-cost support. Reply comments are due February 1, 2008.

Order: Word | Acrobat

1/18/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Hawaiian Telcom, Inc. (Hawaiian Telcom) on December 31, 2007, seeking waiver of the Commission’s rules regarding high-cost universal service support.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

1/18/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) provides notice that it is initiating a proceeding to consider a petition filed by United States Cellular Corporation (U.S. Cellular), pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

1/18/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on petitions filed by Texas RSA 1 Limited Partnership, d/b/a XIT Wireless, Hardy Telecommunications Inc. and Thumb Cellular, LLC, seeking waiver of filing deadlines associated with the receipt of universal service funds.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

1/8/08
Order: In this order, the Wireline Competition Bureau denies Cedar Valley Communications, Inc.'s request for a waiver of a line count filing deadline to allow Cedar Valley to receive universal service high-cost loop support after missing the filing deadline by more than five months.

Order: Word | Acrobat