PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0513 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 12-1313 Released: August 20, 2012 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES CONNECT AMERICA PHASE II COST MODEL WORKSHOP WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 05-337 On November 18, 2011, the Commission released the USF/ICC Transformation Order, which comprehensively reforms and modernizes the universal service and intercarrier compensation systems.1 In the Order, the Commission adopted a framework for providing ongoing support to areas served by price cap carriers, including areas where broadband service is not currently provided, known as Connect America Phase II. Specifically, the Commission will provide ongoing support to these areas through “a combination of a forward-looking cost model and competitive bidding.”2 Today, the Wireline Competition Bureau announces that it will hold a Connect America Phase II cost model workshop to discuss the design and mechanics of one model that estimates the cost of providing service to the entire nation, submitted into the record by the ABC Coalition.3 The event will be held September 13, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and September 14, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.4 The workshop will be free and open to the public. Additional details concerning the workshop agenda will be forthcoming. The Wireline Competition Bureau is also concurrently releasing two maps that illustrate the cost of providing service, as estimated by the ABC Coalition cost model, to served and unserved areas in the country utilizing either Fiber-to-the-Premises or 1 See Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 17663 (2011) (USF/ICC Transformation Order or Order), pets. for review pending sub nom. In re: FCC, No. 11-9900 (10th Cir. filed Dec. 18, 2011). 2 Id., 26 FCC Rcd at 17673, para. 23. The Wireline Competition Bureau recently sought comment on a number of cost model threshold issues. See Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Model Design and Data Inputs for Phase II of the Connect America Fund, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 05-337, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 6147 (Wireline Comp. Bur. rel. June 8, 2012). 3 Letter from Jonathan Banks, USTelecom, to Marlene H. Dortch, Federal Communications Commission, filed Feb. 13, 2012 (attaching updated documentation of CQBAT model) (CQBAT letter). This submission updated the ABC Coalition’s prior proposal for a forward-looking model, which had been submitted prior to the release of the USF/ICC Transformation Order. Letter from Robert W. Quinn, Jr., AT&T, Steve Davis, CenturyLink, Michael T. Skrivan, FairPoint, Kathleen Q. Abernathy, Frontier, Kathleen Grillo, Verizon, and Michael D. Rhoda, Windstream, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Attach. 1 at 13 (filed July 29, 2011) (ABC Plan). The ABC Coalition model was submitted pursuant to a protective order adopted by the Bureau. See Connect America Fund, High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket Nos. 10-90 and 05-337, Second Supplemental Protective Order, 27 FCC Rcd 1503 (2012). Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. has also submitted a model that estimates the cost of serving Alaska only. See Comments of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., WC Docket Nos. 10-90 and 05-337 (filed Feb. 1, 2012). This model was submitted pursuant to a protective order adopted by the Bureau. Connect America Fund, High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket Nos. 10-90 and 05-337, Second Protective Order, 27 FCC Rcd 1494, 1494 n.2 (2012). 4 Times are subject to change pending release of the full workshop agenda. 2Fiber-to-the-DLC technology. These maps are available at: http://www.fcc.gov/maps/abc-coalition- fttp-cost-model and http://www.fcc.gov/maps/abc-coalition-fttd-cost-model. On September 13th, the workshop will take place in the Commission Meeting Room (TW- C305), 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. and will be streamed live at http://www.fcc.gov/live. On September 14th, the workshop will take place in the Commission’s fourth floor South Conference Room (4B-516) and will also be accessible via WebEx and audio conference: To Join the Online Meeting on September 14th: 1. Go to https://fccevents.webex.com/fccevents/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=996621188 2. Enter your name and email address. 3. Enter the meeting password: fcc123 4. Click "Join Now". To Join the Audio Conference on September 14th: Call in number: 1-888-858-2144 Access Code: 9639001 Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. The request should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed and contact information. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible in order to allow the agency to satisfy such requests whenever possible. Send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). For additional information about the workshop, please contact David Zesiger in the Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-2081, or via e-mail at David.Zesiger@fcc.gov. - FCC -