Federal Communications Commission	DA 19-1308


Before the
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of

Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support
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WC Docket No. 09-197

ORDER

Adopted:  December 20, 2019	Released:  December 20, 2019

By the Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau:

1. In this Order, we approve the request of SI Wireless, LLC (SI Wireless) to relinquish its eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation in Tennessee, effective January 6, 2020. See SI Wireless, LLC Notice of Relinquishment of Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation, WC Docket No. 09-197, at 1 (filed Nov. 5, 2019), https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/110575970764/Si%20Wireless%20Tennessee%20ETC%20Relinquishment%20Notice.pdf (SI Wireless Filing).
  
2. Section 214(e)(6) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act), authorizes the FCC to designate a carrier as an ETC when a state commission lacks jurisdiction. 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(6).
  Section 214(e)(4) of the Act provides that the Commission shall permit an ETC to relinquish its designation “in any area served by more than one” ETC so long as “the remaining [ETCs] ensure that all customers served by the relinquishing carrier will continue to be served.” 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(4)
  Consistent with this statutory requirement, once the requesting ETC makes the required showing under section 214(e)(4), a state commission or the FCC grants the request for relinquishment. 
3. On July 3, 2012, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) designated SI Wireless an ETC, contingent on SI Wireless receiving support in Mobility Phase I. Petitions for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier for Purposes of Participation in Mobility Fund Phase I, WC Docket No. 09-197, Order, 27 FCC Rcd 7218 (WCB 2012).
  On November 26, 2014, WCB designated SI Wireless as a Lifeline-only ETC across the state of Tennessee. Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support, WC Docket No. 09-197, 29 FCC Rcd 14393 (WCB 2014). 
  SI Wireless has received funding from the Universal Service Fund for Lifeline support, however, it is has never received high-cost funding. See SI Wireless Filing at 1-2.
 
4. SI Wireless contends that other ETCs provide Lifeline service throughout the service area in which it seeks to relinquish its ETC status. See id. at 2.
  The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) has confirmed the presence of several ETCs in the impacted service area.  SI Wireless also asserts that it has provided written notice to each of its current Lifeline subscribers of alternative ETCs in their service area. See id. at 3.
  SI Wireless asserts that these notifications were sent no later than November 7, 2019, offering approximately 60 days for SI Wireless’s customer base to transfer their Lifeline benefit.  Based on these facts, we conclude that it is appropriate to grant SI Wireless’s request to relinquish its ETC designations. See 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(4).
 
5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to the authority contained in section 214(e)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 214(e)(4), and the authority delegated in sections 0.91 and 0.291 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, the ETC designations of SI Wireless, LLC ARE RELINQUISHED, effective January 6, 2020 in Tennessee (SAC 299025). USAC shall discontinue the eligibility of the SACs assigned to SI Wireless in Tennessee according to the effective dates established in this Order. 

6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that SI Wireless SHALL TRANSMIT a copy of this Order to the relevant state commission in Tennessee and the Universal Service Administrative Company. 
7. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to section 1.102(b)(1) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.102(b)(1), this order SHALL BE EFFECTIVE upon release

						FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




Ryan B. Palmer
Chief
Telecommunications Access Policy Division
Wireline Competition Bureau




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