PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: https://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 15-1234 Released: October 30, 2015 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION OF 2016 URBAN RATE SURVEY WC Docket No. 10-90 The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) will shortly be initiating the urban rate survey for 2016. 1 The information collected in this survey will be used, among other things, to develop voice and broadband reasonable comparability benchmarks that will be in place in 2016. To obtain statistically valid samples, the Bureau will be collecting the rates offered by providers of fixed services identified using FCC Form 477 data (as of December 31, 2014). There will be separate samples for fixed voice and fixed broadband services with up to 500 urban Census tracts in each. Because some providers serve many urban Census tracts, these providers may receive surveys for multiple Census tracts. Notifications that a provider is required to complete a survey will be sent via email to each selected provider’s FCC Form 477 contact person and certifying official on or around November 3, 2015. The survey consists of an online reporting form which will be accessible only to the selected providers. The email notification will provide detailed information on how to access and complete the survey online report form and how to obtain technical assistance. Completed surveys will be due on December 8, 2015. Additional information on the urban rate survey, including the orders referenced in this Public Notice, can be found on the Commission’s urban rate survey webpage at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/urban-rate-survey-data. Specific questions regarding the urban rate survey should be sent to UrbanRateSurvey@fcc.gov. You can also contact the Industry Analysis and Technology Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, by calling (202) 418-0940, (202) 418-0484 (tty). For additional information about this Public Notice, please contact Suzanne Yelen at (202) 418- 0626 or Suzanne.Yelen@fcc.gov. - FCC - 1 In April 2013, the Bureau adopted an Order setting the form and content for the annual survey of urban rates for fixed voice and fixed broadband residential services. Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Order, 28 FCC Rcd 4242 (Wireline Comp. Bur. and Wireless Telecom. Bur. 2013). This year, the Bureau will not be collecting data regarding non-recurring charges, taxes, surcharges, and TRS charges in the voice survey, but we reserve the right to collect this information at a future date. The Bureau will resume asking the question regarding non-recurring charges for broadband services.