Federal Communications Commission	DA 20-800


DA 20-800
Released:  July 29, 2019

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES DEADLINE FOR 
PRICE CAP CARRIERS TO ELECT SEVENTH YEAR OF CONNECT 
AMERICA FUND PHASE II MODEL-BASED SUPPORT 

WC Docket No. 10-90

Today, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces the process by which price cap carriers currently receiving Connect America Phase II support based on the Connect America Cost Model (CAM) may elect to receive an additional, seventh year of such support.  Carriers have until September 28, 2020 to indicate, on a state-by-state basis, whether they will continue to receive model-based support for 2021. Carriers that elect not to receive a seventh year are indicating that ongoing model-based support is not necessary to maintain voice and broadband services in these areas and will receive no further model-based support after the conclusion of their six-year term (i.e., December 31, 2020).  See Rural Digital Opportunity Fund; Connect America Fund, WC Docket Nos. 19-126, 10-90, Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd 686, 741, para. 128 (2020) (Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Order).

The Commission has long recognized the importance of providing a gradual transition path between recipients of CAF Phase II model-based support and recipients of funding under a new support mechanism. See Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order, 29 FCC Rcd 15644, 15666-67, para. 32 (2014) (December 2014 Connect America Order).
  As a result, the Commission previously determined that it would offer incumbent price cap carriers the option of electing an additional, seventh year of support if they did not receive support through the subsequent competitive bidding process. Id.
  In the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Order, the Commission clarified that this seventh year of support would cover the full calendar year—from January 2021 through December 2021—and be available to all price cap carriers that originally elected the offer of model-based support. Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Order at 740-2, paras. 127, 129. (directing Bureau to implement mechanism for carriers to elect seventh year of support).
  In exchange for receiving a seventh year of support, carriers would “be required to continue providing broadband with performance characteristics that remain reasonably comparable to the performance characteristics of terrestrial fixed broadband service in urban America.” Id. at 741-42, para. 129 (citing Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 17663, 17726-27, para. 163 (2011), aff’d sub nom. In re FCC 11-161, 753 F.3d 1015 (10th Cir. 2014)).
  
The process we establish today is similar to prior options we have made available to allow certain carriers to elect to receive high-cost support. See e.g., Wireline Competition Bureau Announce Alternative Connect America Cost Model II Support Amounts Offered to Rate-of-Return Carriers to Expand Rural Broadband, WC Docket No. 10-90, Public Notice, 34 FCC Rcd 2868 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2019) (offering rate-of-return carriers the option of electing to receive A-CAM support); Connect America Fund; High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket Nos. 10-90,05-337, Report and Order, 29 FCC Rcd 3964, 4029, para. 153 (offering non-contiguous carriers the option of electing to receive frozen support or model-determined support).
  Specifically, we require price cap carriers currently receiving CAM support to submit their election letters to the Bureau at ConnectAmerica@fcc.gov. Carriers are encouraged to submit their election letter prior to the deadline to the extent feasible.
  To receive an additional, seventh year of model-based support for a state or states, a carrier must submit a letter signed by an officer of the company confirming that the carrier elects the model-based support amounts as specified in Appendices A and B and committing to satisfy the specific service obligations associated with that amount of model support.  Additionally, we require carriers to file this letter in WC Docket No. 10-90 via the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) to ensure that this information is publicly available to all potential Auction 904 bidders.  If a carrier fails to submit an election letter by the September 28, 2020 deadline, it will be deemed to have declined the seventh year of support and will cease receiving model-based support as of December 31, 2020.  Carriers submitting election letters will receive an e-mail confirming that their letters have been received and reviewed for completeness and should contact the Bureau no later than 4 p.m. on September 28, 2020 if they do not receive such confirmation.  Following this deadline, the Bureau will release a public notice confirming which price cap carriers elected to receive a seventh year of support and authorizing the Universal Service Administrative Company to disburse the appropriate amounts.
For additional information on this proceeding, contact Ian Forbes, Ian.Forbes@fcc.gov of the Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, (202) 418-7400.
- FCC -
Appendix A
CACM Authorized Annual Support by Carrier

Carrier
State
Authorized Annual Support
AT&T INC.
AL
$ 23,161,780
AT&T INC.
AR
$ 21,350,835
AT&T INC.
CA
$ 60,240,434
AT&T INC.
FL
$ 8,485,813
AT&T INC.
GA
$ 25,345,199
AT&T INC.
IL
$ 8,932,507
AT&T INC.
IN
$ 17,576,788
AT&T INC.
KS
$ 18,942,367
AT&T INC.
KY
$ 30,962,548
AT&T INC.
LA
$ 27,907,591
AT&T INC.
MI
$ 29,750,677
AT&T INC.
MS
$ 49,772,592
AT&T INC.
NC
$ 3,498,889
AT&T INC.
OH
$ 14,802,500
AT&T INC.
SC
$ 9,689,453
AT&T INC.
TN
$ 26,137,862
AT&T INC.
TX
$ 42,078,424
AT&T INC.
WI
$ 9,070,392
CENTURYLINK, INC.
AL
$ 17,290,009
CENTURYLINK, INC.
AR
$ 19,761,508
CENTURYLINK, INC.
AZ
$ 10,089,092
CENTURYLINK, INC.
CO
$ 26,509,143
CENTURYLINK, INC.
FL
$ 10,916,671
CENTURYLINK, INC.
GA
$ 269,719
CENTURYLINK, INC.
IA
$ 17,893,887
CENTURYLINK, INC.
ID
$ 6,279,869
CENTURYLINK, INC.
IL
$ 2,093,982
CENTURYLINK, INC.
IN
$ 10,736,352
CENTURYLINK, INC.
KS
$ 16,501,327
CENTURYLINK, INC.
LA
$ 9,471,015
CENTURYLINK, INC.
MI
$ 9,028,031
CENTURYLINK, INC.
MN
$ 54,035,150
CENTURYLINK, INC.
MO
$ 74,927,427
CENTURYLINK, INC.
MT
$ 15,195,628
CENTURYLINK, INC.
NC
$ 10,008,390
CENTURYLINK, INC.
ND
$ 5,656,741
CENTURYLINK, INC.
NE
$ 6,888,416
CENTURYLINK, INC.
NJ
$ 450,340
CENTURYLINK, INC.
NM
$ 10,942,747
CENTURYLINK, INC.
NV
$ 1,072,346
CENTURYLINK, INC.
OH
$ 15,982,805
CENTURYLINK, INC.
OR
$ 17,759,903
CENTURYLINK, INC.
PA
$ 10,562,353
CENTURYLINK, INC.
SC
$ 2,952,228
CENTURYLINK, INC.
SD
$ 9,117,215
CENTURYLINK, INC.
TN
$ 1,662,828
CENTURYLINK, INC.
TX
$ 11,300,418
CENTURYLINK, INC.
UT
$ 1,894,802
CENTURYLINK, INC.
VA
$ 15,731,765
CENTURYLINK, INC.
WA
$ 24,412,884
CENTURYLINK, INC.
WI
$ 55,384,589
CINCINNATI BELL INC.
HI
$ 4,424,319
CINCINNATI BELL INC.
KY
$ 2,034,186
CINCINNATI BELL INC.
OH
$ 194,944
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CA
$ 14,837
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
FL
$ 2,660,998
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
IL
$ 8,084,857
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
ME
$ 13,289,220
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
MN
 $ 2,516,502
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
MO
$ 1,689,794
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NH
$ 4,376,606
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NY
$ 2,568,269
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
OH
$ 420,997
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
OK
$ 215,303
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
PA
$ 239,836
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
TX
$ 1,915,321
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
VT
$ 8,789,359
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
WA
$ 1,321,014
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
AL
$ 2,998,480
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
AZ
$ 13,281,066
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CA
$ 38,074,824
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CT
$ 435,139
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
FL
$ 342,490
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
GA
$ 375,826
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
IA
$ 4,240,587
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
ID
$ 5,223,121
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
IL
$ 31,017,498
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
IN
$ 22,815,087
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
MI
$ 21,733,859
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
MN
$ 27,551,363
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
MS
$ 816,996
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
MT
$ 1,114,484
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NC
$ 3,596,156
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NE
$ 2,735,761
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NM
$ 4,426,327
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NV
$ 1,379,494
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NY
$ 17,381,485
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
OH
$ 22,927,850
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
OR
$ 3,897,357
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
PA
$ 3,891,253
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
SC
$ 2,709,651
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
TN
$ 2,126,605
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
TX
$ 16,576,929
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
UT
$ 2,547,047
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
WA
$ 8,688,054
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
WI
$ 30,983,715
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
WV
$ 38,068,337
MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY (IA)
IA
$ 2,184,040
PTI PACIFICA INC.
MP
$ 2,627,177
WILKES TELEPHONE MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION 
VA
$ 857,021
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
AL
$ 511,038
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
AR
$ 13,163,783
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
FL
$ 5,236,626
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
GA
$ 24,867,807
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
IA
$ 28,672,554
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
KY
$ 21,576,987
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
MN
$ 1,519,855
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
MO
$ 14,187,910
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
MS
$ 917,403
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
NC
$ 1,952,082
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
NE
$ 13,591,437
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
NY
$ 1,557,976
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
OH
$ 4,154,270
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
OK
$ 7,788,213
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
PA
$ 13,001,364
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
SC
$ 935,383
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
TX
$ 21,260,790
WINNEBAGO COOPERATIVE TELECOM ASSN.
IA
$ 209,176
Sub-Total
 
 $ 1,497,972,328 




Appendix B
CACM Authorized Annual Support by State

State
Carrier
Authorized Annual Support
AL
AT&T INC.
$ 23,161,780
AL
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 17,290,009
AL
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 2,998,480
AL
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 511,038
AR
AT&T INC.
$ 21,350,835
AR
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 19,761,508
AR
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 13,163,783
AZ
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 10,089,092
AZ
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 13,281,066
CA
AT&T INC.
$ 60,240,434
CA
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 14,837
CA
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 38,074,824
CO
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 26,509,143
CT
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 435,139
FL
AT&T INC.
$ 8,485,813
FL
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 10,916,671
FL
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 2,660,998
FL
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 342,490
FL
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 5,236,626
GA
AT&T INC.
$ 25,345,199
GA
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 269,719
GA
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 375,826
GA
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 24,867,807
HI
CINCINNATI BELL INC.
$ 4,424,319
IA
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 17,893,887
IA
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 4,240,587
IA
MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY (IA)
$ 2,184,040
IA
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 28,672,554
IA
WINNEBAGO COOPERATIVE TELECOM ASSN.
$ 209,176
ID
CENTURYLINK, INC.
6,279,869
ID
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 5,223,121
IL
AT&T INC.
$ 8,932,507
IL
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 2,093,982
IL
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 8,084,857
IL
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 31,017,498
IN
AT&T INC.
$ 17,576,788
IN
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 10,736,352
IN
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 22,815,087
KS
AT&T INC.
$ 18,942,367
KS
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 16,501,327
KY
AT&T INC.
$ 30,962,548
KY
CINCINNATI BELL INC.
$ 2,034,186
KY
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 21,576,987
LA
AT&T INC.
$ 27,907,591
LA
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 9,471,015
ME
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 13,289,220
MI
AT&T INC.
$ 29,750,677
MI
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 9,028,031
MI
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 21,733,859
MN
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 54,035,150
MN
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 2,516,502
MN
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 27,551,363
MN
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 1,519,855
MO
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 74,927,427
MO
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 1,689,794
MO
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 14,187,910
MP
PTI PACIFICA INC.
$ 2,627,177
MS
AT&T INC.
$ 49,772,592
MS
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 816,996
MS
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 917,403
MT
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 15,195,628
MT
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 1,114,484
NC
AT&T INC.
$ 3,498,889
NC
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 10,008,390
NC
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 3,596,156
NC
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 1,952,082
ND
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 5,656,741
NE
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 6,888,416
NE
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 2,735,761
NE
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 13,591,437
NH
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 4,376,606
NJ
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 450,340
NM
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 10,942,747
NM
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 4,426,327
NV
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 1,072,346
NV
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 1,379,494
NY
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 2,568,269
NY
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 17,381,485
NY
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 1,557,976
OH
AT&T INC.
$ 14,802,500
OH
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 15,982,805
OH
CINCINNATI BELL INC.
$ 194,944
OH
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 420,997
OH
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 22,927,850
OH
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 4,154,270
OK
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 215,303
OK
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 7,788,213
OR
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 17,759,903
OR
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 3,897,357
PA
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 10,562,353
PA
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 239,836
PA
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 3,891,253
PA
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 13,001,364
SC
AT&T INC.
$ 9,689,453
SC
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 2,952,228
SC
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 2,709,651
SC
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 935,383
SD
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 9,117,215
TN
AT&T INC.
$ 26,137,862
TN
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 1,662,828
TN
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 2,126,605
TX
AT&T INC.
$ 42,078,424
TX
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 11,300,418
TX
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 1,915,321
TX
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 16,576,929
TX
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
$ 21,260,790
UT
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 1,894,802
UT
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 2,547,047
VA
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 15,731,765
VA
WILKES TELEPHONE MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
$ 857,021
VT
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 8,789,359
WA
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 24,412,884
WA
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
$ 1,321,014
WA
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 8,688,054
WI
AT&T INC.
$ 9,070,392
WI
CENTURYLINK, INC.
$ 55,384,589
WI
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 30,983,715
WV
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
$ 38,068,337
Sub-Total
 
$ 1,497,972,328

2