Federal Communications Commission	DA 18-540


DA 18-540
Released:  May 22, 2018

 UPDATED VERSION OF MAP OF AREAS PRESUMPTIVELY ELIGIBLE FOR 
MOBILITY FUND PHASE II NOW AVAILABLE 

WC Docket No. 10-90
WT Docket No. 10-208
The Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force (Task Force), in conjunction with the Wireline Competition Bureau and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (the Bureaus), today releases an updated version of the map of areas presumptively eligible for Mobility Fund Phase II (MF-II) support. See Mobility Fund Phase II Initial Eligible Areas Map Available; Challenge Window Will Open March 29, 2018, Public Notice, DA 18-187 (WCB/WTB Feb. 27, 2018).
  The updated map is available on the Commission’s website at www.fcc.gov/maps/mobility-fund-ii-initial-eligible-areas-map/. The updated map is labeled with today’s date to distinguish it from the first version.  In addition, USAC will update – by 6:00 a.m. EDT on May 23, 2018 – the presumptively eligible areas map and provider-specific confidential coverage data available through the challenge process portal, so that challengers can access the most accurate data possible to conduct speed tests.  See Procedures for the Mobility Fund Phase II Challenge Process, Public Notice, DA 18-186 at 9, para. 16 (WCB/WTB Feb. 27, 2018) (MF-II Challenge Process Procedures Public Notice); id., Appx. D at 44-48 (describing the geographic data that are accessible to a challenger on the USAC portal).  USAC also will notify parties with a login to the challenge process portal by email that the updated map and data have been made available for download through the portal. 
  This version of the map also shows an update to the areas presumptively ineligible for MF-II support due to qualifying, unsubsidized coverage reported by a single mobile provider. See Additional Mobility Fund Phase II Map Available for the Challenge Process, Public Notice, DA 18-353 (WCB/WTB Apr. 10, 2018).  
  The updated map reflects adjustments to underlying coverage and subsidy data, resulting in an increase in area presumptively eligible for support in the MF-II auction.  The updates do not alter the eligibility status of 99.87 percent of the total area (both eligible and ineligible areas) shown on the first version of the map.

Specifically, the updated version of the map reflects three changes to coverage and subsidy data.  First, in order to adjust for inconsistencies between U.S. Census data and wire center boundary data, the updated version of the map now incorporates subsidies for small portions of certain wire centers that cross into an adjacent state, thereby increasing presumptively eligible area in additional states. In generating the first version of the presumptively eligible areas map, the Bureaus processed subsidy data for each provider’s wire centers on a state-by-state basis.  In doing so, they inadvertently left off the portions of subsidized wire centers that crossed into an adjacent state and thereby failed to remove those areas from the relevant provider’s coverage map areas.  See MF-II Challenge Process Procedures Public Notice, Appx. A at 35; id., Appx. C at 43.  This issue has now been corrected.  Consistent with the policies and rationales set forth in paragraph 45 of the MF-II Challenge Process Order, the Bureaus have made no changes to areas already deemed presumptively eligible.  See Connect America Fund; Universal Service Reform – Mobility Fund, Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order, 32 FCC Rcd 6282, 6305, para. 45 (2017) (permitting challenges only to areas deemed presumptively ineligible).  This avoids affording participants in those areas less than 150 days to conduct speed tests.
  Second, staff reprocessed the map data for Kentucky and a portion of Tennessee to account for corrected subsidy assignments in those areas. Legacy competitive eligible telecommunications carrier (CETC) support for one Kentucky study area, which crosses into Tennessee, was incorrectly assigned when the first version of the presumptively eligible areas map was generated.  
  Third, staff incorporated revised 4G LTE coverage data submitted by one mobile provider for South Carolina and Oklahoma. A challenger alerted staff to an inadvertent misattribution of a roaming partner’s coverage by one provider.  The provider submitted corrected data.
  

For further information concerning the MF-II challenge process, please email mf2challengeprocess@fcc.gov or contact Jonathan McCormack, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-0660. 

– FCC –



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