DA 18-735
Released:  July 17, 2018

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION OF 2019 URBAN RATE SURVEY

WC Docket No. 10-90

The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) hereby initiates the urban rate survey for 2019. 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 (WCB and WTB 2013).  Although the Bureau will not be collecting data regarding non-recurring charges, taxes, surcharges, and TRS charges in the voice survey, we reserve the right to collect this information at a future date.  The Bureau will be asking the question regarding non-recurring charges for broadband services.    
  The information collected in this survey will be used to develop voice and broadband reasonable comparability benchmarks that will be in place in 2019.  
To obtain statistically valid samples, the Bureau will be collecting the rates offered by a sample of providers of fixed services identified using December 2017 FCC Form 477 data. We note that although the December 2017 data are not yet publicly available because of ongoing validation efforts, based on past experience, we expect the validation process will have a de minimis effect on the information used to generate the survey samples.
  The Bureau will collect 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 Wednesday, July 18, 2018.  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 Friday, August 24, 2018.    
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 https://www.fcc.gov/general/urban-rate-survey-data-resources.  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.
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