The FCC released a Public Notice seeking to refresh the record on issues raised in various proceedings related to eligible telecommunications carrier (“ETC”) designations and obligations in areas served by price cap carriers. Specifically, the FCC requests comment on issues raised in the CAF rulemaking proceeding and in certain forbearance inquiries. The Commission asks how the actions already taken in the December 2014 Connect America Order might affect the Commission’s analysis with respect to these pending issues.
The Public Notice also highlights that the Wireline Bureau has released a list of the census blockswhere price cap carriers continue to have the ETC obligation to provide voice service pursuant to section 214(e)(1) of the Communications Act. This list includes census blocks that the Connect America Cost Model (CAM v4.3) has deemed high-cost or extremely high-cost and that are not served by an unsubsidized competitor.
Comments are due 30 days after Federal Register publication.
Reply Comments are due 45 days after Federal Register publication.
*UPDATE: The Public Notice has been published in the Federal Register, establishing the pleading cycle. Comments are due by September 2, 2015 and Reply Comments are due by September 17, 2015.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.