Federal Communications Commission	"FCC/DA  XX-XXX"


DA 20-788
Released:  July 27, 2020

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES NEW DEADLINE FOR CERTAIN PRICE CAP AND COMPETITIVE ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS TO FILE FCC FORM 481
WC Docket No. 10-90
WC Docket No. 14-58

By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces a new deadline for certain price cap and competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) who receive legacy high-cost support to file FCC Form 481 with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).  The new deadline for these carriers to file and certify FCC Form 481 is August 7, 2020. 

On June 26, 2020, the Bureau released an Order waiving, on its own motion, the July 1, 2020 annual certification requirement under section 54.313(j)(1) of the Commission’s rules for certain price cap and competitive ETCs who receive legacy support. Connect America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and Certifications, WC Docket Nos. 10-90 and 14-58, Order, DA 20-674 (WCD June 26, 2020) (Form 481 Waiver Order). 
  At the time, USAC’s FCC Form 481 filing system did not fully incorporate the rule, adopted in the 2019 Phase-Down Order, eliminating several annual reporting requirements for these carriers. Form 481 Waiver Order at 1, para. 3; see also Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd 807, 916-17, para. 25 (2019) (2019 Phase-Down Order).  
  The Bureau found it was not in the public interest to require these carriers to complete the certification in FCC Form 481 until USAC amended its filing portal to eliminate “extraneous and unnecessary reporting requirements for these carriers. . . .” Form 481 Waiver Order at 1, para. 3.  
  

USAC has now completed the changes to FCC Form 481 to incorporate the rule from the 2019 Phase-Down Order.  Price cap and competitive ETCs who receive legacy high-cost support must now file FCC Form 481 by August 7, 2020.  Filers who submitted their FCC Form 481 filings prior to the July 1, 2020 deadline do not need to take any further action.  For additional information on this proceeding, contact Brian Cruikshank, Telecommunication Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-3623.  

-FCC-
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