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 providing service 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) 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. In order for a carrier to be eligible
for high-cost universal service support for all of calendar year 2027, the Commission
must submit the certification by October 1, 2026.[4]
The Commission
has jurisdiction pursuant to 47 C.F.R. §54.313 and §54.314, as well as Chapter
364, Florida Statutes.
Discussion
of Issues
Issue 1:
Should
the Commission certify to USAC that Bright House Networks Information Services
(Florida), LLC; CenturyLink of Florida, Inc.; Consolidated Communications of
Florida Company, LLC; 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 that Bright House Networks Information Services
(Florida), LLC; CenturyLink of Florida, Inc.; Consolidated Communications of
Florida Company, LLC; 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, Long, Wooten)
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. Based on previous
years’ data, staff estimates that approximately $16.6 million in high-cost
support may be received by these Florida ETCs in 2027.[5]
Staff reviewed the affidavits made by each carrier to the
Commission. 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 that Bright House Networks Information
Services (Florida), LLC; CenturyLink of Florida, Inc.; Consolidated
Communications of Florida Company, LLC; 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. (Imig)
Staff
Analysis:
This docket should be closed upon issuance of a
Final Order.
