Federal Communications Commission DA 20-742 DA 20-742 Released: July 15, 2020 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES RATE-OF-RETURN CARRIERS ELECTING INCENTIVE REGULATION FOR THEIR BUSINESS DATA SERVICES WC Docket No. 17-144 By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that the 99 rate-of-return carriers serving 139 study areas in 32 states and one territory identified in the accompanying Appendix elected to move their lower speed business data services (BDS) Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) transport and end user channel termination services to incentive regulation effective July 1, 2020, as permitted by the Rate-of-Return BDS Order. Regulation of Business Data Services for Rate-of- Return Local Exchange Carriers et al., WC Docket Nos. 17-144 et al., Report and Order, Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 33 FCC Rcd 10403 (2018) (Rate-of-Return BDS Order). In the Rate-of-Return BDS Order, the Commission adopted a path for rate-of-return carriers that receive model-based or other forms of fixed high cost universal service support to voluntarily elect to transition their lower speed BDS offerings to incentive regulation effective either July 1, 2019 or July 1, 2020. See id. at 10445, para. 119. As a result of both years’ elections, a total of 136 rate-of-return carriers serving 227 study areas in 40 states and one territory have now moved their lower speed BDS offerings to incentive regulation. The Bureau previously identified the rate-of-return carriers that elected incentive regulation for their BDS effective July 1, 2019. See Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Rate-of-Return Carriers Electing Incentive Regulation for Their Business Data Services, WC Docket No. 17-144, Public Notice, 34 FCC Rcd 4846 (2019). The Commission found that allowing and encouraging carriers “to move from inefficient, burdensome cost-based regulation to incentive regulation . . . promotes efficiency, reduces regulatory burdens, and encourages competition.” Rate-of-Return BDS Order, 33 FCC Rcd at 10404, para. 1. For further information, please contact Christopher Koves, Wireline Competition Bureau, Pricing Policy Division, at 202-418-8209, or at Christopher.Koves@fcc.gov. -FCC- APPENDIX Rate-of-Return Carriers Electing Incentive Regulation for Lower Speed BDS TDM Transport and End User Channel Termination Services Rate of Return Carrier Study Area Name State Study Area Code No. Ace Telephone Association Ace Telephone Association IA 351346 Agate Mutual Telephone Cooperative Association Agate Mutual Telephone Cooperative Association CO 462178 Alhambra-Grantfork Communications, Inc. Alhambra-Grantfork Telephone Company IL 340978 All West Communications, Inc. All West Communications, Inc. UT 502288 All West Communications, Inc. All West Communications, Inc. WY 512290 Allband Communications Cooperative Allband Communications Cooperative MI 310542 Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. - IA IA 351405 Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. - MN MN 361405 Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. - SD SD 391405 Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. - Baltic SD 391642 Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. - Splitrock SD 391657 American Samoa Telecommunications Authority American Samoa Telecommunications Authority AS 673900 BEK Communications Cooperative Absaraka Coop. Tel. Co. ND 381601 BEK Communications Cooperative BEK Communications Cooperative ND 381604 Bernard Telephone Company, Inc. Bernard Telephone Company, Inc. IA 351110 Bloomer Telephone Company Bloomer Telephone Company WI 330850 Blue Earth Valley Communications, Inc. Hager TeleCom, Inc. WI 330889 Blue Earth Valley Communications, Inc. Indianhead Telephone Company WI 330936 Brazos Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Brazos Tel Coop Inc TX 442041 Brooklyn Mutual Telecommunications Cooperative Brooklyn Mutual Telephone Company IA 351113 Bruce Telephone Company, Inc. Bruce Telephone Company, Inc. WI 330855 Butler-Bremer Mutual Telephone Company Butler-Bremer Mutual Telephone Company, Inc. IA 351115 Cambridge Telephone Company, Inc. Cambridge Tel Co ID 472215 Chariton Valley Telephone Corporation Chariton Valley Telephone Corporation MO 421864 Citizens Mutual Telephone Cooperative Citizens Mutual Telephone Cooperative IA 351129 Citizens Telephone Company of Higginsville, Missouri Citizens Telephone Company MO 421865 Citizens Telephone Cooperative (VA) Citizens Telephone Cooperative VA 190225 Clarence Telephone Company, Inc. Clarence Telephone Company, Inc. IA 351130 Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc. TX 442057 Communications 1 Network, Inc. Communications 1 Network, Inc. IA 351262 Cooperative Telephone Company Cooperative Telephone Company IA 351139 Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative Inc. Craw-Kan Telephone Coop., Inc. MO 421759 Delhi Telephone Company Delhi Telephone Company NY 150088 Direct Communications Rockland, Inc. Rico Telephone Company CO 462201 Dobson Technologies, Inc. Dobson Tel Co. OK 431988 Dobson Technologies, Inc. McCloud Tel Co. OK 432006 Ellington Telephone Company Ellington Telephone Company MO 421874 F&B Communications, Inc. F&B Communications, Inc. IA 351160 Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company-Moulton Farmers Mutual Coop. Telephone Company IA 351169 Farmers Telephone Company, Inc. Farmers Telephone Company, Inc. CO 462188 Fidelity Communications Company Fidelity Telephone LLC MO 421882 Garden Valley Telephone Company Garden Valley Telephone Company d/b/a Garden Valley Technologies MN 361395 Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association MN 361396 GCI Communication Corp. United Utilities Inc AK 613023 GCI Communication Corp. Yukon Telephone Company, Inc. AK 613025 Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. - Armour SD 391640 Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. SD 391659 Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. - Kadoka SD 391667 Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. - Sioux Valley SD 391677 Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. - Union SD 391684 Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. - Vivian SD 391686 Grafton Communications, Inc. Grafton Telephone Company IL 341020 Green Hills Telephone Corporation Green Hills Telephone Corporation MO 421890 Hardy Telecommunications, Inc. Hardy Telecommunications, Inc. WV 200259 Heart of Iowa Communications Cooperative Heart of Iowa Communications Cooperative IA 351297 Hiawatha Communications, Inc. Midway Telephone Company MI 310711 Hiawatha Communications, Inc. Hiawatha Telephone Company MI 310713 Hiawatha Communications, Inc. Ontonagon County Telephone Company MI 310717 Highland Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (KY & TN) Highland Telephone Cooperative, Inc. TN 290565 Hillsboro Telephone Company, Inc. Hillsboro Telephone Company, Inc. WI 330892 Home Telephone Company, Inc. Home Telecom SC 240527 Hot Springs Telephone Company Hot Springs Telephone Company MT 482241 Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. MN 361654 Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. SD 391654 LaHarpe Telephone Company, Inc. (KS) La Harpe Tel Co Inc. KS 411791 Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company MN 361419 Lonsdale Telephone Company Lonsdale Telephone Company MN 361422 Lumos Networks Corp. Lumos Tel. VA 190226 Lumos Networks Corp. Lumos Tel. Botetourt VA 190249 Marne & Elk Horn Telephone Company Marne & Elk Horn Telephone Company IA 351237 Marne & Elk Horn Telephone Company Walnut Telephone Company IA 351326 Matanuska Telephone Association, Inc. Matanuska Tel Assoc. AK 613015 McNabb Communications, Inc. McNabb Telephone Company IL 341048 Midstate Communications, Inc. (SD) Midstate Communications, Inc. SD 391670 Miles Cooperative Telephone Association Miles Coop. Tel. Assoc. IA 351242 Monroe Telephone Company Monroe Telephone Company OR 532385 Mountain West Technologies Corporation Chugwater Tel. Co. WY 512289 Mutual Telephone Company Heartland-Premier IA 351096 Mutual Telephone Company Hospers Telephone Exchange, Inc. d/b/a Premier Communications IA 351202 Mutual Telephone Company Mutual Telephone Company IA 351252 Mutual Telephone Company Northern Iowa Telephone Company IA 351259 Mutual Telephone Company Webb-Dickens Telephone Corporation IA 351327 Nedelco, Incorporated Hamilton Telephone Company NE 371555 Nemont Tel. Coop. Nemont Tel. Coop - ND ND 382247 Nemont Tel. Coop. Nemont Tel. Coop-MT MT 482247 Nemont Tel. Coop. Project Tel. Co. MT 482250 North-State Telephone Co. (NC) North State Telephone Company d/b/a North State Communications NC 230491 Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company NE 371576 Nucla-Naturita Telephone Company Nucla-Naturita Telephone Company CO 462193 Otelco Inc. Shoreham Tel. VT 140064 Partner Communications Cooperative Partner Communications Cooperative IA 351187 Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative MN 361451 Phillips County Telephone Company Phillips County Telephone Company CO 462197 Pioneer Telephone Cooperative (OR) Pioneer Telephone Cooperative d/b/a Pioneer Connect OR 532393 Poka Lambro Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Poka-Lambro Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc. TX 442131 Red River Rural Telephone Association Red River Rural Telephone Association d/b/a Red River Communications ND 381631 Remote Control, Inc. Summit Telephone and Telegraph Company of Alaska AK 613028 Roggen Telephone Cooperative Company Roggen Telephone Cooperative Company CO 462202 Rural Telephone Service/Golden Belt Rural Tel- Nex – Tech KS 411826 Saddleback Communications Inc. Saddleback Communications AZ 457991 Salina Spavinaw Telephone Co., Inc. Salina-Spavinaw Tel. Co. OK 432022 Santa Rosa Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Santa Rosa Telephone Cooperative, Inc. OK 432141 Santa Rosa Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Santa Rosa Telephone Cooperative, Inc. TX 442141 Silver Star Tel. Co. Columbine Telephone Company, Inc. d/b/a Silver Star Communications ID 472295 Silver Star Tel. Co. Silver Star Telephone Company, Inc. WY 512295 Sodtown Telephone Company Sodtown Telephone Company NE 371590 Southwest Oklahoma Telephone Company Southwest Oklahoma Telephone Company OK 432025 Steelville Telephone Exchange, Inc. Steelville Telephone Exchange, Inc. MO 421949 STEL-CO Le-Ru Telephone Company MO 421908 Taylor Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Taylor Tel Co-op Inc. TX 442151 TELAPEX, Inc. Franklin Telephone Company, Inc. MS 280454 The Moundridge Telephone Company Moundridge Tel Co. KS 411808 The North-Eastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company The North-Eastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company PA 170191 The Peetz Cooperative Telephone Company Peetz Cooperative Telephone Company CO 462196 Totelcom Communications, LLC Oklatel Communications, Inc. OK 432013 Totelcom Communications, LLC North Texas Telephone Company TX 442043 Totelcom Communications, LLC Totelcom Communications, LLC TX 442060 Townes Telecommunications Pymatuning Independent Tel. Co. PA 170200 Townes Telecommunications Northeast Florida Telephone Company, Inc. FL 210335 Townes Telecommunications Walnut Hill Telephone Company AR 401729 Townes Telecommunications MoKan Dial, Inc. KS 411807 Townes Telecommunications MoKan Dial, Inc. MO 421807 Townes Telecommunications Choctaw Telephone Company MO 421893 Townes Telecommunications Oregon Farmers Mutual Telephone Company MO 421935 Townes Telecommunications Haxtun Telephone Company CO 462190 Tri-County Communications Cooperative, Inc. Tri-County Communications Cooperative, Inc. WI 330960 TrioTel Communications, Inc. Triotel Communications, Inc. - McCook SD 391669 TrioTel Communications, Inc. Triotel Communications, Inc. - Tri-County SD 391682 Twin Valley Management, Inc. Twin Valley Telephone Co. KS 411840 UBTA-UBET Communications UBTA-UBET/STRATA UT 502287 Vernon Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Vernon Communications Cooperative WI 330966 VNC Enterprises, LLC Nova Telephone Company OH 300644 Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association Webster-Calhoun Coop. Tel. Assn. IA 351328 West Iowa Telephone Company West Iowa Telephone Company d/b/a WesTel Systems IA 351331 West Iowa Telephone Company Hooper Tel. Co. NE 371563 Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association Winnebago Coop-IA IA 351337 Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association Winnebago Coop -IA2 IA 351338 Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association Winnebago Coop -MN MN 361337 Wittenberg Telephone Company Wittenberg Telephone Company WI 330973 2