Federal Communications Commission	DA 19-686


DA 19-686
Released:  July 22, 2019

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES COUNTIES WHERE CONDITIONAL FORBEARANCE FROM THE LIFELINE VOICE OBLIGATION APPLIES
WC Docket No. 11-42

By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces the counties in which conditional forbearance from the obligation to offer Lifeline-supported voice service applies, pursuant to the Commission’s 2016 Lifeline Order. Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization et al., WC Docket Nos. 11-42 et al., Third Report and Order, Further Report and Order, and Order on Reconsideration, 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 4082-4093, paras. 335-60 (2016) (2016 Lifeline Order).
  This forbearance applies only to the Lifeline voice obligation of eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that are designated for purposes of receiving both high-cost and Lifeline support (high-cost/Lifeline ETCs), and not to Lifeline-only ETCs. Id. at 4078-79, para. 325.
  The Appendix lists the counties where the Commission’s conditional forbearance from high-cost/Lifeline ETCs’ Lifeline voice obligation will apply effective on September 21, 2019.
The 2016 Lifeline Order established conditional forbearance from Lifeline voice obligations in targeted areas where certain competitive conditions are met. Id. at 4079, para. 326.
  To accomplish this forbearance, the Commission directed the Bureau to release a yearly public notice announcing the counties in which the competitive conditions are met. Id. at 4093, para. 359.
  In particular, the Commission granted forbearance from high-cost/Lifeline ETCs’ obligation to offer and advertise Lifeline voice service in counties where the following conditions are met: (1) 51% of Lifeline subscribers in the county are obtaining broadband Internet access service; (2) there are at least three other providers of Lifeline broadband Internet access service that each serve at least 5% of the Lifeline broadband subscribers in that county; and (3) the ETC does not actually receive federal high-cost universal service support. Id. at 4082-83, 4090-93, paras. 335, 354-60.
  
The counties listed in the Appendix meet the two competitive conditions; Using National Lifeline Accountability Database data as of March 2019, approximately 77% of the counties identified in the Appendix were also eligible for this conditional forbearance in 2018.  The remaining 23% of the counties newly met both competitive conditions in 2019.  There are also 698 counties that are no longer eligible for conditional forbearance because they do not meet the two competitive conditions in 2018.  See Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Counties Where Conditional Forbearance From the Lifeline Voice Obligation Applies, Public Notice, 33 FCC Rcd 7303 (WCB 2018).
 and for ETCs that are receiving high-cost support in these counties, the forbearance applies only in areas within the county where the ETC does not receive high-cost support. Id. at 4093, para. 359.
  We note that this forbearance does not grant relief from the Lifeline voice obligation as to those Lifeline subscribers that the high-cost/Lifeline ETC serves as of the date of this Public Notice. Id. at 4083, 4085, paras. 335, 340.
  Additionally, this forbearance does not preclude ETCs from electing to provide and receive reimbursement for Lifeline-discounted voice service. Id. at 4085, para. 342.

This forbearance will apply in the counties identified in the Appendix of this Public Notice, to the extent that ETCs are not receiving federal high-cost universal service support in those areas, until 60 days after the Bureau issues a Public Notice in 2020 updating the list of counties in which the Commission’s conditional forbearance applies. Id. at 4093, para. 360.
 
For further information, please contact Nathan Eagan, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-0991, or at nathan.eagan@fcc.gov. 
– FCC –
Appendix
Counties and County Equivalents, by State, Where Conditional Forbearance of Lifeline Voice Obligation Applies

7

STATE
COUNTY
AL
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
AZ
MOHAVE COUNTY
AZ
PIMA COUNTY
AZ
PINAL COUNTY
AZ
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
AZ
YUMA COUNTY
AR
BENTON COUNTY
AR
CLARK COUNTY
AR
CLEVELAND COUNTY
AR
COLUMBIA COUNTY
AR
CONWAY COUNTY
AR
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY
AR
CRITTENDEN COUNTY
AR
CROSS COUNTY
AR
FAULKNER COUNTY
AR
GARLAND COUNTY
AR
GREENE COUNTY
AR
HEMPSTEAD COUNTY
AR
HOT SPRING COUNTY
AR
JACKSON COUNTY
AR
JOHNSON COUNTY
AR
LEE COUNTY
AR
LITTLE RIVER COUNTY
AR
LONOKE COUNTY
AR
MILLER COUNTY
AR
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY
AR
MONROE COUNTY
AR
NEVADA COUNTY
AR
OUACHITA COUNTY
AR
PHILLIPS COUNTY
AR
POINSETT COUNTY
AR
POPE COUNTY
AR
PRAIRIE COUNTY
AR
PULASKI COUNTY
AR
ST. FRANCIS COUNTY
AR
SALINE COUNTY
AR
UNION COUNTY
AR
WASHINGTON COUNTY
AR
WHITE COUNTY
CA
ALAMEDA COUNTY
CA
BUTTE COUNTY
CA
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
CA
FRESNO COUNTY
CA
GLENN COUNTY
CA
HUMBOLDT COUNTY
CA
IMPERIAL COUNTY
CA
KERN COUNTY
CA
KINGS COUNTY
CA
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
CA
MADERA COUNTY
CA
MERCED COUNTY
CA
NAPA COUNTY
CA
ORANGE COUNTY
CA
PLACER COUNTY
CA
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
CA
SACRAMENTO COUNTY
CA
SAN BENITO COUNTY
CA
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CA
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
CA
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CA
SOLANO COUNTY
CA
STANISLAUS COUNTY
CA
SUTTER COUNTY
CA
TEHAMA COUNTY
CA
TULARE COUNTY
CA
VENTURA COUNTY
CA
YOLO COUNTY
CA
YUBA COUNTY
CO
BOULDER COUNTY
CO
EAGLE COUNTY
CO
EL PASO COUNTY
CO
WELD COUNTY
GA
BALDWIN COUNTY
GA
BIBB COUNTY
GA
BROOKS COUNTY
GA
BURKE COUNTY
GA
CHARLTON COUNTY
GA
CLARKE COUNTY
GA
CRISP COUNTY
GA
DEKALB COUNTY
GA
DOUGHERTY COUNTY
GA
FLOYD COUNTY
GA
FULTON COUNTY
GA
GLYNN COUNTY
GA
GORDON COUNTY
GA
HART COUNTY
GA
JONES COUNTY
GA
LOWNDES COUNTY
GA
MCINTOSH COUNTY
GA
OCONEE COUNTY
GA
PEACH COUNTY
GA
RICHMOND COUNTY
GA
TIFT COUNTY
GA
TURNER COUNTY
GA
WALKER COUNTY
GA
WORTH COUNTY
ID
FREMONT COUNTY
ID
ONEIDA COUNTY
IL
ALEXANDER COUNTY
IL
FAYETTE COUNTY
IN
FULTON COUNTY
KS
ATCHISON COUNTY
KS
BUTLER COUNTY
KS
CHEROKEE COUNTY
KS
COWLEY COUNTY
KS
DOUGLAS COUNTY
KS
HARVEY COUNTY
KS
JACKSON COUNTY
KS
LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
KS
RENO COUNTY
KS
SEDGWICK COUNTY
KS
SHAWNEE COUNTY
KS
SUMNER COUNTY
KS
WYANDOTTE COUNTY
KY
CALDWELL COUNTY
KY
CAMPBELL COUNTY
KY
CHRISTIAN COUNTY
KY
CLARK COUNTY
KY
DAVIESS COUNTY
KY
HENDERSON COUNTY
KY
HOPKINS COUNTY
KY
JEFFERSON COUNTY
KY
LOGAN COUNTY
KY
MCCRACKEN COUNTY
KY
MADISON COUNTY
KY
OLDHAM COUNTY
KY
SHELBY COUNTY
KY
SIMPSON COUNTY
KY
TODD COUNTY
KY
TRIMBLE COUNTY
KY
WARREN COUNTY
LA
ASCENSION PARISH
ME
ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY
MD
BALTIMORE COUNTY
MD
CHARLES COUNTY
MD
DORCHESTER COUNTY
MD
HARFORD COUNTY
MD
HOWARD COUNTY
MD
BALTIMORE CITY
MI
ANTRIM COUNTY
MI
ARENAC COUNTY
MI
BERRIEN COUNTY
MI
GLADWIN COUNTY
MI
GRATIOT COUNTY
MI
HILLSDALE COUNTY
MI
LAKE COUNTY
MI
OTSEGO COUNTY
MI
SAGINAW COUNTY
MI
WAYNE COUNTY
MN
BECKER COUNTY
MN
CARLTON COUNTY
MN
CHISAGO COUNTY
MN
CLAY COUNTY
MN
DAKOTA COUNTY
MN
FREEBORN COUNTY
MN
HENNEPIN COUNTY
MN
ISANTI COUNTY
MN
ITASCA COUNTY
MN
JACKSON COUNTY
MN
KANABEC COUNTY
MN
LYON COUNTY
MN
MARTIN COUNTY
MN
MILLE LACS COUNTY
MN
NICOLLET COUNTY
MN
POLK COUNTY
MN
RAMSEY COUNTY
MN
ST. LOUIS COUNTY
MN
STEARNS COUNTY
MN
WABASHA COUNTY
MN
WASHINGTON COUNTY
MS
WINSTON COUNTY
MO
BOONE COUNTY
MO
JACKSON COUNTY
MO
JASPER COUNTY
MO
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY
MO
NEW MADRID COUNTY
MO
ST. LOUIS COUNTY
MO
SCOTT COUNTY
MO
ST. LOUIS CITY
NV
NYE COUNTY
NM
CIBOLA COUNTY
NM
LOS ALAMOS COUNTY
ND
BOTTINEAU COUNTY
OH
CUYAHOGA COUNTY
OH
LORAIN COUNTY
OH
TRUMBULL COUNTY
OK
ADAIR COUNTY
OK
ATOKA COUNTY
OK
BECKHAM COUNTY
OK
BRYAN COUNTY
OK
CANADIAN COUNTY
OK
CARTER COUNTY
OK
CHOCTAW COUNTY
OK
CLEVELAND COUNTY
OK
COAL COUNTY
OK
CRAIG COUNTY
OK
CREEK COUNTY
OK
CUSTER COUNTY
OK
DELAWARE COUNTY
OK
GARVIN COUNTY
OK
GRADY COUNTY
OK
HUGHES COUNTY
OK
KAY COUNTY
OK
LATIMER COUNTY
OK
LE FLORE COUNTY
OK
LINCOLN COUNTY
OK
LOVE COUNTY
OK
MCCURTAIN COUNTY
OK
MAYES COUNTY
OK
MUSKOGEE COUNTY
OK
NOBLE COUNTY
OK
OKMULGEE COUNTY
OK
OTTAWA COUNTY
OK
PAYNE COUNTY
OK
PITTSBURG COUNTY
OK
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY
OK
PUSHMATAHA COUNTY
OK
ROGER MILLS COUNTY
OK
SEMINOLE COUNTY
OK
STEPHENS COUNTY
OK
TULSA COUNTY
OK
WAGONER COUNTY
OR
BAKER COUNTY
PA
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
PA
BEAVER COUNTY
PA
BERKS COUNTY
PA
BUCKS COUNTY
PA
CAMBRIA COUNTY
PA
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
PA
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
PA
PIKE COUNTY
PA
VENANGO COUNTY
PA
WARREN COUNTY
PA
WASHINGTON COUNTY
PA
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
RI
BRISTOL COUNTY
RI
KENT COUNTY
RI
NEWPORT COUNTY
RI
PROVIDENCE COUNTY
RI
WASHINGTON COUNTY
SC
CHARLESTON COUNTY
SC
CLARENDON COUNTY
SC
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
SC
FLORENCE COUNTY
SC
MARION COUNTY
SC
NEWBERRY COUNTY
SC
ORANGEBURG COUNTY
SC
RICHLAND COUNTY
SD
LYMAN COUNTY
SD
MCCOOK COUNTY
TX
ANDERSON COUNTY
TX
ANGELINA COUNTY
TX
ARANSAS COUNTY
TX
ATASCOSA COUNTY
TX
AUSTIN COUNTY
TX
BANDERA COUNTY
TX
BASTROP COUNTY
TX
BEE COUNTY
TX
BELL COUNTY
TX
BEXAR COUNTY
TX
BLANCO COUNTY
TX
BOSQUE COUNTY
TX
BRAZORIA COUNTY
TX
BRAZOS COUNTY
TX
BROOKS COUNTY
TX
BROWN COUNTY
TX
BURLESON COUNTY
TX
BURNET COUNTY
TX
CALDWELL COUNTY
TX
CALHOUN COUNTY
TX
CAMERON COUNTY
TX
CAMP COUNTY
TX
CASS COUNTY
TX
CHAMBERS COUNTY
TX
CHEROKEE COUNTY
TX
CHILDRESS COUNTY
TX
CLAY COUNTY
TX
COLEMAN COUNTY
TX
COLLIN COUNTY
TX
COLORADO COUNTY
TX
COMAL COUNTY
TX
COMANCHE COUNTY
TX
COOKE COUNTY
TX
CORYELL COUNTY
TX
DALLAS COUNTY
TX
DEAF SMITH COUNTY
TX
DENTON COUNTY
TX
DEWITT COUNTY
TX
DIMMIT COUNTY
TX
DUVAL COUNTY
TX
EASTLAND COUNTY
TX
ECTOR COUNTY
TX
ELLIS COUNTY
TX
EL PASO COUNTY
TX
ERATH COUNTY
TX
FALLS COUNTY
TX
FANNIN COUNTY
TX
FAYETTE COUNTY
TX
FLOYD COUNTY
TX
FORT BEND COUNTY
TX
FRANKLIN COUNTY
TX
FREESTONE COUNTY
TX
FRIO COUNTY
TX
GALVESTON COUNTY
TX
GILLESPIE COUNTY
TX
GOLIAD COUNTY
TX
GONZALES COUNTY
TX
GRAY COUNTY
TX
GRAYSON COUNTY
TX
GREGG COUNTY
TX
GRIMES COUNTY
TX
GUADALUPE COUNTY
TX
HALE COUNTY
TX
HARDEMAN COUNTY
TX
HARDIN COUNTY
TX
HARRIS COUNTY
TX
HARRISON COUNTY
TX
HAYS COUNTY
TX
HIDALGO COUNTY
TX
HILL COUNTY
TX
HOOD COUNTY
TX
HOPKINS COUNTY
TX
HOWARD COUNTY
TX
HUNT COUNTY
TX
HUTCHINSON COUNTY
TX
JACKSON COUNTY
TX
JASPER COUNTY
TX
JEFFERSON COUNTY
TX
JIM WELLS COUNTY
TX
JOHNSON COUNTY
TX
JONES COUNTY
TX
KARNES COUNTY
TX
KAUFMAN COUNTY
TX
KENDALL COUNTY
TX
KLEBERG COUNTY
TX
LAMAR COUNTY
TX
LAMPASAS COUNTY
TX
LA SALLE COUNTY
TX
LAVACA COUNTY
TX
LEE COUNTY
TX
LIBERTY COUNTY
TX
LIVE OAK COUNTY
TX
LLANO COUNTY
TX
LUBBOCK COUNTY
TX
MCLENNAN COUNTY
TX
MADISON COUNTY
TX
MARION COUNTY
TX
MATAGORDA COUNTY
TX
MAVERICK COUNTY
TX
MEDINA COUNTY
TX
MIDLAND COUNTY
TX
MILAM COUNTY
TX
MITCHELL COUNTY
TX
MONTAGUE COUNTY
TX
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
TX
NACOGDOCHES COUNTY

TX
NAVARRO COUNTY
TX
NOLAN COUNTY
TX
NUECES COUNTY
TX
ORANGE COUNTY
TX
PALO PINTO COUNTY
TX
PANOLA COUNTY
TX
PARKER COUNTY
TX
PECOS COUNTY
TX
POLK COUNTY
TX
POTTER COUNTY
TX
RAINS COUNTY
TX
RANDALL COUNTY
TX
REAGAN COUNTY
TX
REFUGIO COUNTY
TX
ROBERTSON COUNTY
TX
ROCKWALL COUNTY
TX
RUNNELS COUNTY
TX
RUSK COUNTY
TX
SAN JACINTO COUNTY
TX
SAN PATRICIO COUNTY
TX
SCURRY COUNTY
TX
SMITH COUNTY
TX
STARR COUNTY
TX
TARRANT COUNTY
TX
TAYLOR COUNTY
TX
TITUS COUNTY
TX
TOM GREEN COUNTY
TX
TRAVIS COUNTY
TX
TYLER COUNTY
TX
UVALDE COUNTY
TX
VAL VERDE COUNTY
TX
VAN ZANDT COUNTY
TX
VICTORIA COUNTY
TX
WALKER COUNTY
TX
WALLER COUNTY
TX
WARD COUNTY
TX
WASHINGTON COUNTY
TX
WEBB COUNTY
TX
WHARTON COUNTY
TX
WICHITA COUNTY
TX
WILBARGER COUNTY
TX
WILLACY COUNTY
TX
WILLIAMSON COUNTY
TX
WILSON COUNTY
TX
WISE COUNTY
TX
WOOD COUNTY
TX
ZAPATA COUNTY
TX
ZAVALA COUNTY
WA
SAN JUAN COUNTY
WA
YAKIMA COUNTY
WV
BOONE COUNTY
WV
FAYETTE COUNTY
WV
JACKSON COUNTY
WV
MASON COUNTY
WV
MERCER COUNTY
WV
RALEIGH COUNTY
WV
ROANE COUNTY
WV
SUMMERS COUNTY
WI
MENOMINEE COUNTY
PR
AGUADA MUNICIPIO
PR
AGUAS BUENAS MUNICIPIO
PR
ANASCO MUNICIPIO
PR
ARECIBO MUNICIPIO
PR
BARCELONETA MUNICIPIO
PR
BARRANQUITAS MUNICIPIO
PR
BAYAMON MUNICIPIO
PR
CATANO MUNICIPIO
PR
CIALES MUNICIPIO
PR
COMERIO MUNICIPIO
PR
COROZAL MUNICIPIO
PR
CULEBRA MUNICIPIO
PR
DORADO MUNICIPIO
PR
FLORIDA MUNICIPIO
PR
GUAYANILLA MUNICIPIO
PR
GUAYNABO MUNICIPIO
PR
HATILLO MUNICIPIO
PR
HORMIGUEROS MUNICIPIO
PR
HUMACAO MUNICIPIO
PR
ISABELA MUNICIPIO
PR
JAYUYA MUNICIPIO
PR
JUANA DIAZ MUNICIPIO
PR
JUNCOS MUNICIPIO
PR
LARES MUNICIPIO
PR
LAS MARIAS MUNICIPIO
PR
LAS PIEDRAS MUNICIPIO
PR
MARICAO MUNICIPIO
PR
MOCA MUNICIPIO
PR
MOROVIS MUNICIPIO
PR
NAGUABO MUNICIPIO
PR
NARANJITO MUNICIPIO
PR
PONCE MUNICIPIO
PR
RINCON MUNICIPIO
PR
SABANA GRANDE MUNICIPIO
PR
SALINAS MUNICIPIO
PR
SAN GERMAN MUNICIPIO
PR
SAN JUAN MUNICIPIO
PR
SAN SEBASTIAN MUNICIPIO
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SANTA ISABEL MUNICIPIO
PR
TOA ALTA MUNICIPIO
PR
TOA BAJA MUNICIPIO
PR
VEGA ALTA MUNICIPIO
PR
VEGA BAJA MUNICIPIO
PR
YAUCO MUNICIPIO