*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 13591.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S. W. washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp fcc gov DA 01- 2927 December 18, 2001 COMMON CARRIER BUREAU RELEASES ESTIMATED STATE- BY- STATE HIGH- COST UNIVERSAL SERVICE SUPPORT AMOUNTS FOR NON- RURAL CARRIERS FOR 2002 CC Docket No. 96- 45 Today the Bureau released an order adopting updated line count input values for the new high-cost universal service support mechanism for non- rural carriers for purposes of calculating and targeting support amounts for the year 2002. 1 Specifically, the Bureau adopted updated line count data for use in the universal service cost model to estimate non- rural carriers’ forward- looking economic costs of providing the services supported by the federal high- cost mechanism, consistent with the framework established in the Twentieth Reconsideration Order and the 2001 Line Counts Update Order. 2 Support amounts will continue to be adjusted each quarter to account for line growth based on the wire center line count data reported quarterly by non- rural carriers. 3 In addition, we update the company- specific data used in the model to calculate investment in general support facilities and switching costs. The spreadsheet attached to this Public Notice shows estimated state- by- state support amounts based on the revised cost estimates generated by the model using as input values year- end 2000 line count data filed by non- rural carriers on July 31, 2001. The Turbo- Pascal version of the cost model used to generate these estimates is posted on the Commission’s web site at (www. fcc. gov. gov/ ccb/ apd/ hcpm). The non- rural support estimates were adjusted to reflect the quarterly line counts filed by non- rural carriers on September 30, 2001. The attached spreadsheet also shows annualized interim hold- harmless, long term support, and interstate access support for non- rural carriers, as well as support amounts for rural carriers, based on projections for the first quarter of the year 2002 filed by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) on November 2, 2001. 4 For further information regarding this Public Notice, please contact Katie King or Tom Buckley at (202) 418- 7400. 1 Federal- State Joint Board on Universal Service, Order, CC Docket No. 96- 45, DA 01- 2928 (Com. Car. Bur. rel. December 18, 2001) (2002 Line Counts Update Order). 2 See Federal- State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96- 45, Twentieth Order on Reconsideration, FCC 00- 126 (rel. April 7, 2000) (Twentieth Reconsideration Order); Federal- State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96- 45, Order, 15 FCC Rcd 23960 (Com. Car. Bur. 2000) (2001 Line Counts Update Order). 3 2001Line Counts Update Order, 15 FCC Rcd at 23964, para. 10. 4 USAC files quarterly projections with the Commission for the high- cost and other universal service programs, which the Bureau then makes available on the Commission’s Web site at http:// www. fcc. gov/ ccb/ universal_ service/ quarter. html. The interim hold- harmless amounts on the attached spreadsheet have been adjusted to reflect the phase- down adopted by the Commission. See Federal- State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96- 45, Thirteenth Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 00- 428 (rel. December 8, 2000). 1