High Cost

Step 1: Notify USAC of New ETC Designations

States have the primary responsibility for designating carriers as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs).

Notify USAC of New ETC Designations
When a state commission designates a new ETC, it should submit the ETC order, with attachments and supporting documentation necessary to identify the service area(s) of the new ETC within the incumbent service area(s) at the wire center level for both rural and non-rural incumbents, to USAC in a timely manner.

It is imperative that USAC receive the ETC order upon adoption or modification by a state regulatory commission (or the Federal Communications Commission) with all relevant attachments that define the new ETC's service area at the study area and/or wire center level.

ETC orders should also address Section 54.207 of the FCC's rules for redefinition of rural incumbent local exchange carrier study areas when a competitive carrier seeks to be designated in some, but not all, of the wire centers in those areas. When ILEC study areas must be redefined, the state commission or ETC must file a petition with the FCC seeking concurrence with the redefinition. However, in the FCC's ETC Order (FCC 05-46, released March 17, 2005), the FCC stated that rural ILEC wire centers in study areas that have already been redefined do not need to be redefined again. But wire centers that were not redefined must have FCC approval in order to be eligible for High Cost support.

The order should clearly state any area(s) that require redefinition. If no rural incumbent study area requires redefinition, the ETC order should clearly state that the CETC's service area does not require any redefinition by the FCC pursuant to Section 54.207.


Last modified on 1/15/2008