Case Background
One of the primary principles of
universal service support as described in the Telecommunications Act of 1996
(Telecom Act) is for consumers in all regions to have reasonably comparable
access to telecommunications and information services at reasonably comparable
rates.[1] The federal universal service high-cost
program is designed to help ensure that consumers in rural, insular, and
high-cost areas have access to modern communications networks capable of
providing voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, at rates that are
reasonably comparable to those in urban areas.[2] The program supports the goal of universal
service by allowing eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to recover some
of the costs of service provision in high-cost areas from the federal Universal
Service Fund. Carriers can be designated as ETCs in Florida by the Florida
Public Service Commission (Commission) or the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC).
In order for requesting
carriers to receive federal universal service high-cost support, state
commissions must annually certify to the Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) and to the FCC that each carrier complies with the requirements
of Section 254(e) of the Telecom Act by using high-cost support “only for the
provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and services for which the
support is intended.”[3] Certification will be filed online by the
Commission through USAC’s online portal. Immediately following online
certification, the USAC website will automatically generate a letter that may
be submitted electronically to the FCC to satisfy the submission requirements
of 47 C.F.R. §54.314(c). In order for a carrier to be eligible for high-cost
universal service support for all of calendar year 2025, the Commission must
submit the certification by October 1, 2024.[4]
The Commission
has jurisdiction pursuant to 47 C.F.R. §54.313 and §54.314, as well as Chapter
364, F.S.
Discussion
of Issues
Issue 1:
Should the
Commission certify to USAC and the FCC that Bright House Networks Information
Services (Florida), LLC; CenturyLink of Florida, Inc.; Consolidated
Communications of Florida Company; Frontier Florida LLC; ITS Telecommunications
Systems, LLC d/b/a Blue Stream Fiber; Northeast Florida Telephone Company d/b/a
NEFCOM; Quincy Telephone Company d/b/a TDS Telecom; Smart City
Telecommunications LLC d/b/a Smart City Telecom; Windstream Communications,
LLC; and Windstream Florida, LLC are eligible to receive federal high-cost
support?
Recommendation:
Yes. The Commission
should certify to USAC and the FCC that Bright House Networks Information
Services (Florida), LLC; CenturyLink of Florida, Inc.; Consolidated
Communications of Florida Company; Frontier Florida LLC; ITS Telecommunications
Systems, LLC d/b/a Blue Stream Fiber; Northeast Florida Telephone Company d/b/a
NEFCOM; Quincy Telephone Company d/b/a TDS Telecom; Smart City Telecommunications
LLC d/b/a Smart City Telecom; Windstream Communications, LLC; and Windstream Florida,
LLC are eligible to receive federal high-cost support. (Nave, Wooten, Long)
Staff Analysis:
All
Florida ETCs that are seeking high-cost support have filed affidavits with the
Commission attesting that the high-cost funds received for the preceding
calendar year were used, and funds for the upcoming calendar year will be used
only for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and services
for which the support is intended. Additionally, each company has filed FCC
Form 481 with USAC. Form 481 includes information such as emergency operation
capability, FCC pricing standards comparability for voice and broadband
service, holding company and affiliate brand details, and tribal lands service
and outreach. Based on previous years’ data and projected changes in support,
staff estimates that approximately $18 million in high-cost support may be received
by these Florida ETCs in 2025.[5]
Staff reviewed the affidavits and submissions made by each
carrier to the Commission and to USAC. Each of the Florida ETCs receiving
high-cost support has attested that all federal high-cost support provided to
them within Florida was used in the preceding calendar year and will be used in
the coming calendar year only for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of
facilities and services for which the support is intended.
Having reviewed the carriers’ filings, staff recommends
that the Commission certify to USAC and the FCC that Bright House Networks
Information Services (Florida), LLC; CenturyLink of Florida, Inc.; Consolidated
Communications of Florida Company; Frontier Florida LLC; ITS Telecommunications
Systems, LLC d/b/a Blue Stream Fiber; Northeast Florida Telephone Company d/b/a
NEFCOM; Quincy Telephone Company d/b/a TDS Telecom; Smart City
Telecommunications LLC d/b/a Smart City Telecom; Windstream Communications,
LLC; and Windstream Florida, LLC are eligible to receive federal high-cost
support, that they have used the federal high-cost support received in the
preceding calendar year, and that they will use the federal high-cost support
they receive in the coming calendar year only for the provision, maintenance,
and upgrading of facilities and services for which the support is intended.
Issue 2:
Should this docket be closed?
Recommendation:
Yes. This docket should be closed upon
issuance of a Final Order. (Farooqi, Marquez)
Staff Analysis:
This docket should be closed upon
issuance of a Final Order.
