Federal Communications Commission DA 20-625 DA 20-625 Released: June 15, 2020 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU AUTHORIZES STAGE 2 MOBILE SUPPORT FOR CERTAIN PROVIDERS PARTICIPATING IN THE UNIENDO A PUERTO RICO FUND AND THE CONNECT USVI FUND WC Docket Nos. 18-143, 10-90 In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) authorizes high-cost mobile support funding for certain eligible facilities-based mobile providers that elected to participate in Stage 2 of the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund. The Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund, Order, 34 FCC Rcd 9109, 9164, para. 105 (Sept. 30, 2019) (PR-USVI Stage 2 Order). In the PR-USVI Stage 2 Order, the Commission made available $258.8 million in Stage 2 high-cost support over a three-year period to mobile providers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to restore, harden, and expand 4G LTE and 5G technology for voice and broadband service in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. Id. at 9163, para. 102. For the three-year term, the Commission allocated budgets of $254.4 million to Puerto Rico and $4.4 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands Id. and provided eligible facilities-based mobile providers with a one-time opportunity to elect to receive a pro-rata share of Stage 2 mobile support allocated to the Territories based on the number of subscribers served as of June 30, 2017. Id. at 9163-64, para. 104. Each eligible mobile provider could elect to receive up to 75% of its pro-rata share of high-cost mobile support for use towards the restoration, hardening, upgrading, and expansion of networks capable of providing 4G LTE or better services, as set forth in the Order, and up to 25% of its available pro-rata share of mobile support for use towards the deployment of 5G mobile network technology based services as set forth in the Order. Id. On October 18, 2019, the Bureau released a Public Notice announcing November 18, 2019, as the deadline for mobile providers to submit their elections to receive Stage 2 support for the Territories. Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Deadline for Election to Participate in Stage 2 Mobile Support for the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund, Public Notice, 34 FCC Rcd 10360 (WCB 2019). Pursuant to the direction in the PR-USVI Stage 2 Order, a total of six mobile providers Only AT&T elected to receive Stage 2 mobile support in both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. elected to receive Stage 2 funding in the Territories by renewing their prior certifications evidencing the number of subscribers served as of June 30, 2017. Of the elections received for the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund, four mobile providers certified subscriber counts, and all four providers elected to receive high-cost support for both the restoration, hardening, upgrading, and expansion of 4G LTE or better network technology, and the specific deployment of 5G technology. Of the elections received for the Connect USVI Fund, three mobile providers certified subscriber counts, and all three providers elected to receive high-cost support for both the restoration, hardening, upgrading, and expansion of 4G LTE or better network technology, and the specific deployment of 5G technology. In addition to their elections, pursuant to the PR-USVI Stage 2 Order, mobile providers were required to submit their Disaster Preparation and Response Plans along with their elections for Stage 2 mobile support for the Bureau’s approval prior to receiving authorization for Stage 2 support. PR-USVI Stage 2 Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 9175, para. 135; Appendix B (Disaster Preparation and Response Plan). The Commission specifically required applicants to describe in detail in their Disaster Preparation and Response Plans how they will meet five criteria: (1) Strengthening Infrastructure; (2) Ensuring Network Diversity; (3) Ensuring Backup Power; (4) Network Monitoring; and (5) Emergency Preparedness. PR-USVI Stage 2 Order at 9174-75, para. 134; Appendix B (Disaster Preparation and Response Plan). The Commission further required support recipients to document in detail their methods and processes for achieving each of these goals, identify personnel responsible for compliance, and conform their actions to their written documentation. PR-USVI Stage 2 Order at 9174-75, para. 134; Appendix B (Disaster Preparation and Response Plan). At this time, following our review and evaluation of the Disaster Preparation and Response Plan provided by each mobile provider that elected to receive Stage 2 mobile support, the Bureau approves the disaster plans for mobile providers identified in Attachment A to this Public Notice based on the criteria set forth by the PR-USVI Stage 2 Order. Therefore, the Stage 2 mobile support allocations announced in Attachment A are based on the subscriber counts certified by those elections for Stage 2 mobile support and our approval of their respective Disaster Preparation and Response Plan. The Bureau continues to review the Disaster Preparation and Response Plans received from the remaining eligible mobile providers that are not listed in Attachment A. The Stage 2 mobile support allocations are also based on each Territory’s allocated Stage 2 budget. See Attachment A (Uniendo a Puerto Rico and Connect USVI Fund - Stage 2 Mobile Allocations); see also PR-USVI Stage 2 Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 9119, para. 18. We direct the Universal Service Administrative Company to disburse the allocated funding to the authorized eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) identified in Attachment A consistent with the PR-USVI Stage 2 Order. Lastly, we remind all ETCs that carriers receiving federal universal service support “shall use that support only for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and services for which the support is intended.” 47 U.S.C. § 254(e); 47 CFR § 54.7(a). As such, carriers must use this funding to help restore and improve coverage and service quality to pre-hurricane levels and to help safeguard their equipment against future natural disasters, as described in the PR-USVI Fund Order. PR-USVI Stage 2 Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 9120, para. 20. As provided in the PR-USVI Stage 2 Order, all ETCs receiving Stage 2 mobile support are subject to ongoing oversight and must comply with annual reporting and certification requirements. Id. at 9172-75, paras. 126-32. For additional information on this proceeding, contact Dangkhoa Nguyen (Dangkhoa.Nguyen@fcc.gov) or Rebekah Douglas (Rebekah.Douglas@fcc.gov) of the Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division. - FCC - ATTACHMENT A Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund Stage 2 Mobile Support Allocations Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund: Provider Funding Allocation (4G LTE or Better) Funding Allocation (5G) Total 3 Year Mobile Support Total Support per Year Total Monthly Support AT&T $ 73,357,417 $ 24,452,472 $ 97,809,889 $ 32,603,296 $ 2,716,941.37 PRTC $ 57,426,870 $ 19,142,290 $ 76,569,159 $ 25,523,053 $ 2,126,921.09 T-Mobile $ 44,676,595 $ 14,892,198 $ 59,568,794 $ 19,856,265 $ 1,654,688.71 Connect USVI Fund: Provider Funding Allocation (4G LTE or Better) Funding Allocation (5G) Total Mobile Support Support per Year Total Monthly Support AT&T $ 2,995,337 $ 998,446 $ 3,993,783 $ 1,331,261 $ 110,938.43 4