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; increase access to advanced telecommunications services throughout the Nation; 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. In addition, the 1996 Act states that all providers of telecommunications services should contribute to Federal universal service in some equitable and nondiscriminatory manner; there should be specific, predictable, and sufficient Federal and State mechanisms to preserve and advance universal service; all schools, classrooms, health care providers, and libraries should, generally, have access to advanced telecommunications services; and finally, that the Federal-State Joint Board and the Commission should determine those other principles that, consistent with the 1996 Act, are necessary to protect the public interest.

7/17/08
Audio Bridging FCC Form 499-Q Filing Date Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau provides notice of the August 1st FCC Form 499-Q filing date for audio bridging service providers, pursuant to the InterCall Order.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text

7/17/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Achieve Telecom Networks seeking review and reversal of a decision by USAC in which USAC denied Achieve's request to accept its amended FCC Form 499-Q. Comments on the petition are due August 11, 2008 and reply comments are due August 25, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text

7/8/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Sage Telecom, Inc. and Sage Telecom of Texas, L.P., seeking waiver of the requirement that USAC calculate the universal service annual contribution true-up for under-projections based on the average of the two highest contribution factors, and that USAC calculate the true-up for over-projections based on the average of the two lowest contribution factors. Comments on the petition are due August 7, 2008 and reply comments are due August 21, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text

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

Virgin Mobile Massachusetts ETC Petition Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text

June 2008

6/30/08
InterCall, Inc.: In this order, the FCC denies in part and grants in part a request for review filed by InterCall, Inc. of a Universal Service Administrative Company decision finding that the audio bridging services offered by InterCall are “toll teleconferencing” services and that InterCall must contribute directly to the universal service fund based on revenues from these services.
Intercall, Inc.: Word | Acrobat

6/26/08
Aventure Communication Technology, LLC: The Wireline Competition Bureau, based on the unique circumstances presented, grants an appeal filed by Aventure Communication Technology, LLC requesting reversal of a decision by USAC to reject a late-filed revision to its FCC Form 499-Q.
Aventure Communication Technology, LLC: Word | Acrobat

6/23/08
E-rate Rollover Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau announces that $600 million in unused funds will be carried forward from Funding Years 2002, 2003, and 2004 to increase the disbursements to schools and libraries in Funding Year 2008 in excess of the annual cap.
E-rate Rollover Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

6/19/08
InterCall USAC Abeyance Letter: The Wireline Competition Bureau directed USAC to hold in abeyance until July 1, 2008 its universal service contribution decision regarding InterCall, Inc.
Intercall USAC Abeyance Letter: Word | Acrobat

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

6/13/08
Order: Arkansas Department of Information Systems E-Rate Order (Arkansas DIS): The Telecommunications Access Policy Division grants two requests for review filed by the Arkansas DIS, seeking review of decisions by USAC denying E-rate funding for Funding Years 2004 and 2005 for failure to timely submit FCC Forms 471, 486 or 472.
Order: Word | Acrobat

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

6/10/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on two Requests for Review filed by Lake Delton Urgent Care and Franciscan Skemp Prairie du Chien Clinic that seek review of decisions of USAC. USAC’s decisions reduced the applicants' Rural Health Care funding requests for Funding Year 2006. Comments on the requests are due July 10, 2008, and reply comments are due July 25, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

6/4/08
Order: Cox Communications, Inc.: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants an appeal filed by Cox Communications, Inc., requesting reversal of a decision by USAC to disallow Cox’s use of VoIP revenue allocation methodology to determine interstate revenues for universal service contribution purposes.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

5/30/08
Public Notice: In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Fort HealthCare—Fort Memorial Hospital, Fort HealthCare—Lake Mills Clinic, and Fort HealthCare—Whitewater Clinic, and Franciscan Skemp Waukon Clinic’s requests for review of decisions by the Universal Service Administrative Company. Comments on the requests are due June 30, 2008, and reply comments are due July 14, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

5/20/08
Order: In this order, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) waives on its own motion sections 54.702(b)(1) and 54.703(c) of the Commission’s rules that specify that one member of the Universal Service Administrative Company(USAC) Board of Director’s shall be nominated by and shall represent “interexchange carriers with more than $3 billion in annual operating revenues.” WCB finds good cause exists to waive these rules to enable the Commission to designate a member USAC Board of Directors for the seat from an interexchange carrier, regardless of its annual operating revenues.
Order: Word | Acrobat

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

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

5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by ETS Telephone Company, Inc. (ETS), f/k/a> Kingsgate Telephone, Inc., regarding potential retroactive application of the Commission's 2004 Skyline Order to ETS' Texas study area. ETS requests confirmation that the Commission's 2004 Skyline Order cannot have retroactive effect on its study area. ETS' Texas study area was created in 1996 when Kingsgate began serving a previously unserved area. Comments are due on June 16, 2008 and reply comments are due on July 1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

5/16/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a Qwest request for review of three USAC low-income audit findings. Comments are due on June 16, 2008 and reply comments are due on July 1, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

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

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

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

April 2008

4/30/08
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants a petition filed by Micronesian Telecommunications Corporation and PTI Pacifica, Inc. to waive the DTV notification requirements in section 54.418 of the Commission's rules.
Order: Word | Acrobat

4/29/08
Public Notice: This Public Notice seeks comment on Ascent Media Group's (Ascent) request for review and reversal of a decision by USAC, in which USAC denied Ascent’s request to accept its amended August 2007 FCC Form 499-Q after the 45-day FCC Form 499-Q revision window. Ascent asserts that it inadvertently included its total projected revenue in place of its projected billed universal service fund revenues on the FCC Form 499-Q. Comments on the petition are due by May 13, 2008, and reply comments are due by May 20, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

4/28/08
Order on Reconsideration: In this Order, the Commission denies the Petition filed by the CTIA – The Wireless Association seeking extension to all similarly-situated Universal Service Fund (USF) contributors of the relief granted to three USF contributors in the Commission’s 2004 True-Up Waiver Order, which addressed the true-up process for 2003 USF contributions.
Order on Reconsideration: Word | Acrobat

4/23/08
Order: Wireline Competition Bureau dismisses appeal of 360networks (USA), Inc. seeking refund of late payment fees related to universal service fund contributions.
Order: Word | Acrobat

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

4/18/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau provides notice, pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules, that it is initiating a proceeding to consider a petition filed by Sagebrush Cellular, Inc for agreement with a decision by the North Dakota Public Service Commission to redefine the service area of Northwest Communications Cooperative Comments on the petition are due by May 19, 2008, and reply comments are due by June 3, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

4/17/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on three separate petitions filed by IT&E Overseas, Inc. for waiver of various filing deadlines required by sections 54.209, 54.314, 54.809, and 54.904 of the Commission’s rules for receipt of universal service funds. Comments on the petition are due by May 19, 2008, and reply comments are due by June 3, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

4/14/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on the Central Atlantic Pennsylvania Payphone Association's (CAPA) petition for clarification, or, in the alternative, reconsideration of the Commission's APCC Reconsideration Order. CAPA is seeking refunds from local exchange carriers for universal service fees paid by independent payphone providers. Comments on the petition are due by May 14, 2008, and reply comments are due by May 29, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

4/14/08
Mineola Union Free School District, Mineola, New York: In the letter, Wireline Competition Bureau directs USAC to allow Mineola to submit two funding requests and consider them with its FY 2008 application. In FY 2008, Mineola timely submitted a paper copy of its FCC Form 471 to USAC. Upon realizing that it had inadvertently failed to include two of its three funding requests as part of its FY 2008 application, Mineola asked USAC if it could submit the missing two pages, including the two funding requests, to be included with its application as submitted to USAC. Based on the information provided to us by USAC staff, we find that this was a clerical error that can be corrected, pursuant to Commission precedent.
Mineola Union Free School District: Word | Acrobat

4/14/08
Public Notice: Bureau seeks comment on SEND’s petition for partial reconsideration of the Bureau’s Caldwell Parish Order, which, among other things, denied SEND’s Request for Review of a decision by USAC related to one applicant, Jackson Parish School District, denying it discounted services for Funding Years 2003 and 2004 under the E-rate program.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

4/14/08
Public Notice: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on an AT&T petition, filed Jan. 7, 2008, seeking review of a USAC audit decision. ATT seeks review of USAC’s finding that an ETC must use Line 9 of FCC Form 497 if the ETC gains or loses Lifeline customers mid-month. In its petition, AT&T asks the Commission to find that USAC erred when it concluded that AT&T is required to populate Line 9 of the FCC Form 497 with partial or pro-rata dollars attributable to Lifeline subscribers who entered or left the Lifeline program during any given month, regardless of whether the company sought partial or pro-rata dollars from USAC.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

4/11/08
Order on Reconsideration: The Commission denies petitions for reconsideration of universal service fund (USF) contribution obligations adopted in the Fifth Circuit Remand Order. Reconfirms Commercial Mobile Radio Services providers may recover USF contributions through rates charged for all services; declines to reconsider the Limited International Revenues Exception; and denies requests for refunds of universal service contributions.
Order on Reconsideration: Word | Acrobat

4/11/08
Order: The Commission conditionally designates Tracfone as an eligible telecommunications carrier for Lifeline service in several states.
Order: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat

4/3/08
Public Notice: In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a joint petition filed by Qwest Corporation and Pine Telephone System, Inc. and a petition filed by Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (Mid-Rivers) seeking a waiver of the study area boundary freeze. Mid-Rivers also requests, if necessary, waiver of section 69.3(e)(11) of the Commission’s rules. Comment Date: May 5, 2008; Reply Comment: May 20, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

4/3/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed LBH, LLC seeking waiver of the December 31, 2007, filing deadline required by section 54.802(a) of the Commission’s rules for receipt of universal service funds. Comment Date: May 5, 2008; Reply Comment: May 20, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

March 2008

3/31/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by USCOC of Illinois RSA #1, LLC, USCOC of Illinois RSA #4, LLC, USCOC of Rockford, LLC and USCOC of Central Illinois, LLC, pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules, requesting the Commission’s agreement with the decision of the Illinois Commerce Commission to redefine the service area of certain rural telephone carriers at the wire center level. Comment Date: April 30, 2008; Reply Comment: May 15, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

3/27/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Centennial U.S.V.I. Operations Corp. (Centennial) seeking waiver of section 54.314(d)(1) of the Commission’s rules. Centennial seeks a waiver to enable it to receive universal service support starting on December 2, 2006. Comment Date: April 28, 2008; Reply Comment: May 13, 2008
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

3/19/08
InterCall, Inc. Letter: On February 1, 2008, InterCall filed a Request for Review of USAC’s decision, and on February 5, 2008, InterCall requested that the Commission stay the same decision. InterCall’s Request for Review raises questions regarding USF contribution obligation policies for stand-alone audio bridging service providers, as well as unique questions concerning the scope of USAC’s authority in making its decision. In light of the questions raised in this proceeding, the Wireline Competition Bureau instructs USAC to hold in abeyance for 90 days its decision against InterCall, pending further Commission action.
InterCall, Inc. Letter: Word | Acrobat

3/19/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Pine Belt Cellular, Inc. seeking waiver of the October 1, 2006, filing deadline required by section 54.209 of the Commission’s rules for receipt of universal service funds. Comments due April 18, 2008. Reply Comments due May 5, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

3/11/08
Berrien County Intermediate School District, Berrien Springs, Michigan: Berrien County Independent School District Request for Review: In this letter, the Bureau directs USAC to review Berrien’s appeal in light of information provided to the Commission on appeal indicating that there was an inadvertent miscommunication regarding the amount of funding requested by Berrien.
Letter: Word | Acrobat

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

February 2008

2/28/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on five petitions for waiver of various filing deadlines associated with the receipt of universal service funds. Comments due March 31, 2008; Reply Comments Due April 15, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

2/22/08
Order: SEND Technologies, L.L.C./Nexus Systems, Inc. Request for Review of a Decision of USAC: The Bureau grants in part and denies in part two Requests for Review filed by SEND seeking review of decisions by USAC denying E-rate funding for Funding Years 2002-2004 for improper service provider involvement in the applicants’ competitive bidding processes.
Order: Word | Acrobat

2/21/08
Public Notice: In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by ASTAC Wireless LLC (ASTAC) seeking waiver of the requirement in section 54.307(b) of the Commission’s rules that subscriber line count data submitted for purposes of obtaining high-cost universal service support be based on subscribers’ billing addresses. Comments are due March 24, 2008 and reply comments are due April 8, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

2/14/08
Order on Reconsideration: In this Order, the Commission grants the petition for reconsideration filed by APCC, finding that application of the Centrex-adjusted portion of the universal service line item to payphone service providers would be inconsistent with Congress’ direction in section 276(b) of the Act.
Order on Reconsideration: Word | Acrobat

2/14/08
Order on Reconsideration: In this Order on Reconsideration, the Commission grants in part a Petition for Reconsideration by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), seeking limited reconsideration of the Commissions’ Rural Health Care Support Mechanism Second Report and Order. Specifically, the Commission grants ATA’s Petition for Reconsideration in part and extends for three years the Commission’s prior determination to grandfather those health care providers who were eligible under the Commission’s definition of “rural” prior to the Second Report and Order.
Order on Reconsideration: Word | Acrobat

2/14/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on petitions filed by Saddleback Communications and Gila River Telecommunications, Inc., seeking waivers of the October 1, 2006, filing deadline associated with the receipt of universal service funds pursuant to section 54.209 of the Commission’s rules. Comments on the petitions are due February 25, 2008, and reply comments are due March 3, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

2/14/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Intercall, Inc.’s (Intercall's) request for review of a decision by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and petition for stay. On February 1, 2008, Intercall filed a request seeking review and reversal of a USAC decision, in which USAC ruled that Intercall’s audio bridging services are toll teleconferencing services, requiring Intercall to submit FCC Form 499 filings to USAC. On February 5, 2008, Intercall filed a petition requesting that the Commission stay USAC’s decision pending the Commission’s review. Comments are due February 25, 2008 and reply comments are due March 3, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

2/8/08
Order: In this Order, the Wireline Competition Bureau grants an appeal filed by Franklin-McKinley School District (Franklin-McKinley) for review of a decision by USAC that rescinded funding already committed for Funding Year 2005. The Bureau grants Franklin-McKinley a limited waiver of section 54.504(c) of our rules, which requires that the FCC Form 471 requesting support for the services ordered by the applicant shall be submitted "upon signing a contract for eligible services." Consistent with the Adams County Order, the Bureau finds that Franklin-McKinley had a legally binding agreement with its service provider and, although it missed the deadline, it eventually had a signed contract. The Bureau remands the appeal to USAC, and directs USAC to reinstate the funding commitment no later than 60 days from release of the Order.
Order: Word | Acrobat

January 2008

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

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

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

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

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

1/24/08
Declaratory Order: In this Order, the Commission addresses petitions filed by CTIA-The Wireless Association (CTIA) and Cingular Wireless, LLC, seeking clarification of the definition of “toll services” for purposes of determining contribution obligations to the federal universal service fund (USF or Fund). The Commission grants both petitions to the extent that they ask the Commission to declare that the definition of “toll services” discussed in the 2006 Contribution Methodology Order is the definition to be used on the FCC Form 499 for reporting the revenues derived from toll service charges. The Commission also addresses CTIA’s request to clarify how wireless carriers should allocate toll service revenues to the interstate and international jurisdiction. In particular, the Commission clarifies that, to the extent a Fund contributor (including wireless and interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers) uses a traffic study or studies to determine its contribution obligations, such traffic study or studies must specifically account for the interstate or international nature of toll service revenues.

Declaratory Order: Word | Acrobat

1/22/08
Public Notice: In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau announces the Office of Management and Budget Approval of the Universal Service Rural Health Care Pilot Program Information Collection Requirements.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

1/22/08
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Sagebrush Cellular, Inc., pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules, requesting the Commission’s agreement with the decision of the North Dakota Public Service Commission to redefine the service area of Northwest Communications Cooperative at the wire center level.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

01/22/08
Public Notice: Office of Management and Budget Approves Rural Health Care Pilot Program Information Collection Requirements.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

Order: Word | Acrobat

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

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

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

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

01/17/08
WCB Letter to USAC on Rural Health Care Pilot Program Carry-Over of Funds.
Letter: Acrobat

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

Order: Word | Acrobat

December 2007

12/26/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Allo Communications, seeking waiver of the September 28, 2007, filing deadline associated with the receipt of universal service support pursuant to section 54.802 of the Commission’s rules. Comments on the petition are due by January 25, 2008, and reply comments are due by February 11, 2008.

Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

12/26/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau released a Public Notice initiating a proceeding to consider USCOC of Greater Missouri, LLC d/b/a U.S. Cellular's petition for redefinition of certain rural telephone company study areas in the state of Missouri. Comments in the proceeding are due by January 25, 2008, and reply comments are due by February 11, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

12/20/07
WCB sends letter congratulating RHC Pilot Program selected participants and reminding them of the program’s competitive bid requirements.
Letter: Acrobat | Text

12/20/07
Order: In this order, the Wireline Competition Bureau approves NECA's and USAC's proposed 2008 high-cost loop and local switching support formulas for providing universal service support to average schedule companies.

Order: Word | Acrobat

12/17/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline Competition Bureau has under consideration a Request for Review filed by Troup County school System, LaGrange, Georgia (Troup County), seeking review of a Funding Year 2006 Universal Service Administrative Company, Inc. (USAC) decision in which USAC denied schools and libraries universal service funding because the applicant's contracts were not signed by both parties prior to the filing of the FCC Form 471. We grant Troup County’s Motion to Dismiss Appeal and, accordingly, dismisses Troup County’s Request for Review.
Order: Word | Acrobat

12/13/07
Public Notice: Virgin Mobile: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on four petitions filed by Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. (Virgin Mobile). One petition requests that the Commission forbear from applying the requirement in section 214(e)(1)(A) of the Act that an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) offer services supported by the universal service fund using either its own facilities or a combination of its own facilities and resale of another carrier’s services. In the remaining three petitions, Virgin Mobile seeks designation as an ETC, only for purposes of participation in the Lifeline/Link Up program, in the state of New York and the commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Comments are due January 14, 2008 and reply comments are due January 29, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

12/13/07
Public Notice: TracFone: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on two petitions filed by TracFone Wireless, Inc. seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC), only for purposes of participating in the Lifeline program, in the states of Delaware and New Hampshire. Comments are due January 14, 2008 and reply comments are due January 29, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

12/12/07
Order: In this Order, we grant 13 appeals of 12 petitioners that were denied funding because USAC determined that the consortia leaders did not provide evidence of their authority to represent their respective consortium members. We find that the petitioners have provided evidence to the Commission on appeal demonstrating that each consortia member knew it was represented, and consented to its representation, on the applications. For five petitioners, consistent with our reasoning in the South Carolina CIO Order, we find that USAC should not have denied the requests for failure to comply with a new USAC procedure for FY2005 because USAC did not provide sufficient notice for consortia applicants to comply with the new policy. For four petitioners, we find that evidence submitted on appeal either remedies any deficiencies in their LOAs or is consistent with USAC's guidance that documentation other than LOAs may be accepted as proof of authorization. Finally, for three petitioners, we find that the failure to specify the timeframe covered by the LOA is not sufficient to deny the entire application.
Order: Word | Acrobat

12/12/07
Order: In this Order, we grant 10 requests for reversal of late fees associated with the filing of the FCC Form 499-A for 2007. We find that good cause exists to grant the requests, as more fully discussed below. We further direct the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and the other plan administrators to reverse any late payment fees that have been assessed on the applicants listed in the attached Appendix.
Order: Word | Acrobat

12/12/07
Order: The Wireline Competition Bureau released an order granting a request from Bristol Bay Cellular Partnership (Bristol Bay), a competitive eligible telecommunications carrier in Alaska, for a waiver of section 54.307(b) of the Commission’s rules. Specifically, due to the unique circumstances presented by Bristol Bay, the order waives the requirement that subscriber line count data submitted for purposes of obtaining universal service support be based on the subscriber’s billing address.
Order: Word | Acrobat

12/4/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Osirus Communications, Inc., seeking waiver of Commission rules to allow it to join the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) and to receive immediate universal service support. Comments are due January 3, 2008 and reply comments are due January 18, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

November 2007

11/29/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by CC Cellular, seeking waiver of the March 30, 2007, filing deadline associated with the receipt of universal service funds pursuant to sections 54.307(c)(4) of the Commission's rules. Interested parties may file comments on or before December 29, 2007 and reply comments on or before January 13, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

11/29/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Hargray Wireless, LLC, pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission's rules, requesting the Commission's agreement with the decision of the South Carolina Public Service Commission to redefine the service area of United Telephone Company of the Carolinas d/b/a Embarq at the wire center level. Interested parties may file comments on or before December 29, 2007 and reply comments on or before January 13, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

11/26/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau released a Public Notice initiating a proceeding to consider Triangle Communication System, Inc.'s petition for redefinition of certain rural telephone company study areas in the state of Montana. Comments in the proceeding are due by December 26, 2007, and reply comments are due by January 10, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

11/20/07
Recommended Decision: Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service Issues Recommended Decision on High-Cost Reform.
Recommended Decision: Word | Acrobat
FCC Chairman Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
FCC Commissioner Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
FCC Commissioner Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
Commissioner Ray Baum Statement: Word | Acrobat
Chairman Lisa Polak Edgar Statement: Word | Acrobat
Commissioner Larry S. Landis Statement: Word | Acrobat
Commissioner John D. Burke Statement: Word | Acrobat
Assistant Attorney General Public Counsel Simon ffitch Statement: Word | Acrobat

11/19/07
FCC Launches Initiative to Increase Access to Health Care in Rural America Through Broadband Telehealth. WCB Docket No. 02-60.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
Selected Participants: Word | Acrobat
Corrected Order: Acrobat
Erratum (12/17/07): 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

11/9/07
Public Notice: Comment is sought on petitions filed by Saddleback Communications, Gila River Telecommunications, Inc., and Pine Belt Cellular, Inc. seeking waivers of the October 1, 2007, deadline for Commission-designated eligible telecommunications carriers to file annual reports pursuant to section 54.209 of the Commission’s rules. Comments are due by November 23, 2007 and reply comments are due by November 30, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

11/6/07
Public Notice: Comment is sought on a petition filed by Texas RSA 8 South Limited Partnership d/b/a Westex Wireless seeking waiver of filing deadlines associated with the receipt of universal service funds, pursuant to sections 54.307(c)(2), 54.802(a), and 54.903(a) of the Commission’s rules. Comments are due by December 6, 2007 and reply comments are due by December 21, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

11/6/07
Order: Oblio Telecom, Inc. In this Order, at the request of Oblio Telecom, Inc. (Oblio), Telecommunications Access Policy Division dismisses with prejudice Oblio’s petition for declaratory ruling regarding the universal service certification process between resellers and their underlying carriers. Word | Acrobat| Text

October 2007

10/30/07
Order: Joseph Jingoli & Son, Inc., et al. In this Order, the Telecommunications Access Policy Division granted 13 appeals of decisions by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) denying funding from the E-rate program, on the grounds that Petitioners sought cancellation of their funding requests. Word | Acrobat| Text

10/22/07
Public Notice: TCA High-Cost Waiver Petition: Comment is sought on a petition by The Community Cable Television Agency of O'Brien County d/b/a The Community Agency and TCA (TCA) seeking wavier of the December 31, 2006, filing deadlines associated with the receipt of universal service funds pursuant to sections 54.307 and 54.802 of the Commission's rules. Comments are due by November 21, 2007 and reply comments are due by December 6, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

10/22/07
Public Notice: United States Cellular Redefinition: Comment is sought on a petition filed by United States Cellular requesting the Commission’s agreement with the decision of the Nebraska Public Service Commission to redefine the service areas of certain rural telephone companies in Nebraska at the wire center level. Comments are due by November 21, 2007 and reply comments are due by December 6, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

10/19/07
Public Notice: Funding Year 2008 Eligible Services List: On October 19, 2007, the Commission released the Funding Year 2008 Eligible Services List (ESL) for the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism pursuant to section 54.522 of the Commission’s rules.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat | Text
Eligible Services List: Word | Acrobat | Text
Erratum: Word | Acrobat | Text

10/5/07
Public Notice: Comment is sought on the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc.'s 2008 modification of average schedule universal service high-cost loop support formula, and on the Universal Service Administrative Company's 2008 average schedule company local switching support formula. Comments are due November 5, 2007 and reply comments are due November 20, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

10/5/07
Public Notice: Comment is sought on the petition for study area waiver filed jointly by Beaver Creek Cooperative Telephone Company and Qwest Corporation. Comments on the petition are due November 5, 2007 and reply comments are due November 20, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

9/28/07
Order: Pursuant to sections 254(a)(1) and 410 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) appoints Simon ffitch, Assistant Attorney General, Chief, Public Counsel Section, Attorney General of Washington, to serve on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, effective October 1, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

9/27/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a high-cost filing deadline waiver petition filed by Dixie-Net Communications, Inc. Dixie-Net is seeking a waiver of the June 30, 2007 filing deadline required by section 54.802 of the Commission's rules. Comments on the petition are due October 29, 2007 and reply comments are due November 13, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

9/27/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by USCOC of Greater Missouri, Inc. d/b/a U.S. Cellular requesting the Commission’s agreement with the decision of the Missouri Public Service Commission to redefine the service areas of certain rural telephone companies in Missouri at the wire center level. Comments on the petition are due October 29, 2007 and reply comments are due November 13, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

9/21/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau announces Office of Management and Budget approval of the revised 2007 Federal Communications Commission Forms 499-A, 499-Q, and accompanying instructions. Word | Acrobat| Text

9/20/07
Order: The Telecommunications Access Policy Division adopted a protective order to provide limited access to confidential information in Centennial USVI Operations Corp.'s petition for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Word | Acrobat| Text

9/20/07
Order: The Telecommunications Access Policy Division adopted a protective order to provide limited access to confidential information in Choice Communications LLC's petition for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Word | Acrobat| Text

9/6/07
Public Notice: The Universal Service Joint Board continues to work on the issue of fundamental reform. This document reflects a tentative agreement among the board members on the principles that may guide their deliberations. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/31/07
Public Notice: On November 21, 2006, Gila River Telecommunications Inc. (GRTI) filed a petition seeking a waiver of sections 36.3; 36.123-126, 36.152-157, and 36.372-382 of the Commission’s rules to unfreeze GRTI’s category relationships. In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on GRTI’s petition. Comments due October 1, 2007 and reply comments due October 15, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/30/07
Public Notice: The Wireline competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by Decatur Telephone Company seeking waiver of the June 30, 2007, filing deadline associated with the receipt of universal service funds pursuant to section 54.904 of the Commission's rules. Comments due October 1, 2007 and reply comments due October 15, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/29/07
Public Notice: American Telecommunications Systems, Inc.: In the Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) seeks comment on two applications for review of WCB orders denying universal service fund contributor appeals by American Cyber corp. et al. American Telecommunications Systems, Inc. Comments are due September 13, 2007 and reply comments are due September 28, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/29/07
Public Notice: Triangle Communication Redefinition: In the Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) seeks comment on two applications for review of WCB orders denying universal service fund contributor appeals by American Cyber corp. et al. American Telecommunications Systems, Inc. Comments are due September 28, 2007 and reply comments are due October 15, 2007. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/29/07
News Release: FCC Takes Further Action to Safeguard Universal Service Fund From Risk of Waste, Fraud and Abuse.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
R&O: Word | Acrobat

8/16/07
Public Notice: Extension of Katrina Relief Order: In the Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request for a further waiver to extend relief provided in the Katrina Relief Order under the E-rate program for schools and libraries in Louisiana and Mississippi for Funding Year 2007. 8/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/16/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by ICORE, Inc. on behalf of Pattersonville Telephone Company, seeking waiver of the June 30, 2007 filing deadline associated with the receipt of interstate common line support universal service funds pursuant to section 54.903 of the Commission's rules. Comments on the petition are due September 17, 2007 and reply comments are due October 2, 2007. 8/16/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/15/07
Order: The Telecommunications Access Policy Division adopted a protective order to provide limited access to confidential information in Corr Wireless Communications LLC's petition for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in Alabama. 8/15/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/15/07
Order: The Telecommunications Access Policy Division adopted a protective order to provide limited access to confidential information in NEP Cellcorp, Inc.'s petition for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in Pennsylvania. 8/15/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/15/07
Order: The Telecommunications Access Policy Division adopted a protective order to provide limited access to confidential information in Cingular Wireless LLC's petition for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in Georgia. 8/15/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/15/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on two petitions seeking eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designations. One petition was filed by NEP Cellcorp, Inc., which is seeking ETC designation in Pennsylvania, and the other was filed by Corr Wireless Communications LLC, which is seeking ETC designation in Alabama. Comments on the petitions are due August 29, 2007 and reply comments are due September 5, 2007. 8/15/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/13/07
Order: In this order, Telecommunications Access Policy Division grants Sagebrush Cellular, Inc. (Sagebrush) a waiver of the certification filing deadline in section 54.904(d) of the Commission's rules to allow Sagebrush to receive Interstate Common Line Support from the date of its ETC designation. 8/13/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/8/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a study area waiver petition filed by Qwest. Qwest seeks a waiver of the study area boundary freeze to allow it to transfer a territory in Wyoming to RT Communications. Comments on the petition are due September 7, 2007, and reply comments are due September 24, 2007. 8/8/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/6/07
Order: The Commission denied a petition filed by Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. requesting that the Commission forbear from enforcing certain sections of the Commission’s rules to permit Iowa Telecom to be eligible for high-cost universal service support under the non-rural mechanism, rather than under the high-cost loop support mechanism for rural carriers. 8/6/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/1/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice, comment is sought on two petitions for waiver of universal service line count filing rules, filed by Vantage Point and WeavTel Communications LLC. Comments on the petitions are due August 31, 2007, and reply comments are due September 17, 2007. 8/1/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

8/1/07
Order: This order grants Centennial Communications Corp.'s request to extend the reply comment deadline on its request for review and reversal of a decision by USAC regarding the “true-up” of interstate common line support (ICLS) universal service payments disbursed to Centennial Puerto Rico in 2004. The deadline for filing reply comments is extended from August 13, 2007 to August 31, 2007. 8/1/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

7/27/07
Public Notice: The Commission today sought comment on USAC’s proposed schools and libraries program eligible services list (ESL) for Funding Year 2008. The changes that are being proposed for the Funding Year 2008 ESL include (1) treating Centrex service as basic telephone service for purposes of the schools and libraries program with the intention of eliminating the requirement that applicants file a technology plan for Centrex service; (2) clarifying that the basic conduit access to the Internet for the purpose of accessing distance learning and video conferencing is eligible for funding in the Internet access category but distance learning and video conferencing tools are not eligible for funding; and (3) clarifying that program participants are not required to provide cost allocation for calendaring functions ancillary to E-mail service. Comments are due Aug. 10, 2007 and reply comments are due Aug. 17, 2007. 7/27/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

7/11/07
Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau announces the availability of revised FCC Forms 472, 473, 474, 479, 486 and 500. The revised forms are posted on the web site of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) at www.usac.org. 7/11/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

7/10/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau announces that an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) in a state with its own state-based Low-Income program must submit a certification, signed by an officer of the company to USAC by August 31, 2007, and on August 31 of each subsequent year thereafter, attesting that the ETC has complied with state lifeline verification procedures. ETCs in federal default states must also submit their annual Lifeline verification survey results to USAC by August 31, 2007. 7/10/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

7/10/07
Public Notice: In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on Sprint's Petition requesting a declaratory ruling concerning a Kansas Corporation Commission ruling that requires an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) to apply federal Lifeline support to reduce the cost of any rate plan offered by an ETC, as opposed to only the carrier’s lowest-cost generally available rate plan. Sprint requests that the Commission find that the Kansas ruling violates section 47 U.S.C. § 254(f) of the Act. Sprint also asks the Commission to declare that the Kansas ruling violates 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(3)(A). Comment Date: August 9,2007. Reply Comment Date: August 24, 2007. 7/10/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

7/9/07
Public Notice: Comment is sought on a petition filed by TDS, FairPoint, and Burke's Garden Telephone Company, seeking revocation of Sprint/Nextel's ETC designation in Virginia. Comments on the petition are due August 8, 2007, and reply comments are due August 23, 2007. 7/9/07. Word | Acrobat| Text

7/2/07
Order: In this Order, the Wireline Competition denied the appeal filed by Radiant Telecom, Inc. seeking review of the Universal Service Administrative Company's Decision on Contributor Appeal. 7/2/07. Word | Acrobat|