Federal Communications Commission DA 21-1642 DA 21-1642 Released: December 23, 2021 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS FOR RATE-OF-RETURN ALASKA PLAN RECIPIENTS AFTER THE MIDTERM REVIEW WC Docket No. 10-90 WC Docket No. 16-271 On August 23, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted the Alaska Plan Order. Connect America Fund, et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 10139 (2016) (Alaska Plan Order). In the Alaska Plan Order, the Commission provided a one-time opportunity for Alaskan rate-of-return carriers to elect to receive support frozen at adjusted 2011 levels for a 10-year term from 2016 until 2026 in exchange for meeting individualized performance obligations—offering voice and broadband services meeting specific service obligations at specified minimum speeds by five-year and 10-year service milestones to a specified number of locations. The Commission also directed the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) “to reassess the deployment obligations in the approved performance plans before the end of the fifth year of support,” that is, 2021, and required that “participating carriers update their end-of-term commitments no later than the end of the fourth year of support.” Id. at 10158, para. 61 The Commission further delegated to “the Bureau the authority to review and approve modifications that serve the public interest.” Id. Carriers with approved plans to maintain existing levels service are subject to biennial review. See Alaska Plan Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 10158, para. 62. This midterm review also encompasses the Bureau’s biennial review. After reviewing the participants’ end-of-term commitments, annual location filings, and middle-mile map submissions, the Bureau approves the performance obligations in Appendix A. Appendix B to this public notice provides the minimum number of locations to be reported in the High-Cost Universal Broadband portal, or HUBB, i.e., newly deployed and upgraded locations over the term of the Alaska Plan, 47 CFR § 54.316(a)(5). by speed and middle-mile at the five-year and 10-year service milestones. For purposes of administrative convenience to allow the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) sufficient time to make modifications to the HUBB to account for revised commitments at speed tiers not yet available to report, See Universal Service Administrative Company, High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) Data Formatting Instructions, https://www.usac.org/wp-content/uploads/high-cost/documents/Tools/HUBBDataFormatting.pdf, at 16-17 (Revised April 2021) (not available to report 2/1 (satellite), 25/5 (microwave/fiber), 25/5 (fiber), or 100/20 (fiber)). on our own motion we waive the March 1, 2022 deadline for annual location reporting for rate-of-return Alaska Plan participants Adak Telephone Utility (Adak) (SAC 610989), Arctic Slope Telephone Cooperative (ASTAC) (SAC 613001), and Matanuska Telephone Association (MTA) (SAC 613015). 47 CFR § 54.316(c). See also 47 CFR § 1.3 and Connect America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and Certifications, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, 35 FCC Rcd 6543 (WCB 2020) (extending a filing deadline to allow USAC time to make updates to an online filing system). For performance measures testing, the Bureau and USAC will develop a timeline for Adak, ASTAC, and MTA to test at these new speeds, 2/1 Mbps, 25/5 Mbps, and 100/20 Mbps, as the speed tiers become available in the Performance Measures Module (PMM). In the meantime, ASTAC and MTA shall continue testing their existing samples at the previously committed speed tiers, 10/1 Mbps and 100/5 Mbps respectively. With Adak now having committed to new deployment, it will start performance measures testing for the first time at the 2/1 Mbps speed tier. See Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Order on Reconsideration, 34 FCC Rcd 10109, 10143-44, paras. 93-94 (2019). Once USAC has made the needed modifications to the HUBB so that it can collect the information, the Bureau will announce a new deadline. These three rate-of-return Alaska Plan participants are still required to certify compliance with their respective five-year milestones by March 1, 2022 See 47 CFR § 54.316(b)(6). and file updated middle-mile maps also by March 1, 2022. See 47 CFR § 54.316(a)(6), (c)(1). For additional information on this proceeding, contact Jesse Jachman, jesse.jachman@fcc.gov of the Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418-2668. - FCC - 2 APPENDIX A RATE-OF-RETURN ALASKA PLAN CARRIERS PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS Adak Telephone Utility See Letter from Andila Weaver, Vice President, Adak Telephone Utility, LLC, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Jan. 8, 2021); Letter from Andila Weaver, Vice President, Adak Telephone Utility, LLC, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Jan. 21, 2021). Arctic Slope Telephone Cooperative See Letter from Jeffry H. Smith VP of Public Policy and Advocacy, Vantage Point, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Dec. 22, 2020) (Arctic Slope Telephone Cooperative); Letter from Jeffry H. Smith VP of Public Policy and Advocacy, Vantage Point, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Sept. 27, 2021) (Arctic Slope Telephone Cooperative). Bristol Bay Telephone Cooperative See Letter from Earl Hubb, Bristol Bay Telephone Cooperative, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Dec. 10, 2021). Bush-Tell Inc. See Letter from Roy Wrazen, General Manager, Bush-Tell, Inc., to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Jan.11, 2021); Letter from Christine O’Connor, Executive Director, Alaska Telephone Association, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271, at 2 (Nov. 22, 2016). Circle Utilities See Letter from Shawn DeVore, Vice President, Circle Telephone & Electric, LLC, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Jan. 5, 2021); Letter from Shawn DeVore, Member Owner, Circle Telephone & Electric, LLC, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Mar. 30, 2021); Letter from Christine O’Connor, Executive Director, Alaska Telephone Association, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271, at 9 (May 9, 2016) (ATA May 9, 2016 Ex Parte). Copper Valley Telephone See Letter from Jeffry H. Smith VP of Public Policy and Advocacy, Vantage Point, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Dec. 21, 2020) (Copper Valley Telephone); Letter from Jeffry H. Smith VP of Public Policy and Advocacy, Vantage Point, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Aug. 5, 2020) (Copper Valley Telephone); Letter from Jeffry H. Smith VP of Public Policy and Advocacy, Vantage Point, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Sept. 27, 2021) (Copper Valley Telephone). Cordova Telephone Cooperative See Letter from Lisa Koker CFO, Cordova Telecom Cooperative, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Dec. 30, 2020). Interior Telephone Company See Letter from Brett Carter, President and General Manager, TelAlaska, Inc. to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Dec. 30, 2020); Letter from Brett Carter, President and General Manager, TelAlaska, Inc. to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (July 7, 2020) Mukluk Telephone Company, Inc. See id. See also Letter from David J. Goggins, President and General Manager, TelAlaska, Inc., to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (May 17, 2019). Ketchikan Public Utilities See Letter from Daniel B. Lindgren, Assistant KPU Telecommunications Division Manager, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Dec. 30, 2020); Letter from Daniel B. Lindgren, Assistant KPU Telecommunications Division Manager, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (July 9, 2021). Mantuska Telephone Association See Letter from Michael C. Burke, Chief Executive Officer, Matanuska Telephone Association, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Dec. 30, 2020); Letter from Ryan Ponder Director Legal, Regulatory, and Government Affairs, Matanuska Telephone Association, Inc. to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (July 27, 2021); Letter from Ryan Ponder Director Legal, Regulatory, and Government Affairs, Matanuska Telephone Association, Inc. to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Sept. 24, 2021). Nushagak Electric and Telephone Cooperative See Letter from Jeffry H. Smith VP of Public Policy and Advocacy, Vantage Point, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Dec. 22, 2020) (Nushagak Electric and Telephone Cooperative), Letter from Jeffry H. Smith VP of Public Policy and Advocacy, Vantage Point, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Nov. 4, 2021). OTZ Telephone Cooperative See Letter from Chris Barron, Regulatory Director, Alexicon Telecommunications Consultants, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Dec. 29, 2020) (OTZ Telephone Cooperative); Letter from Chris Barron, Regulatory Director, Alexicon Telecommunications Consultants, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (July 8, 2021) (OTZ Telephone Cooperative); Letter from Chris Barron, Regulatory Director, Alexicon Telecommunications Consultants, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Oct. 15, 2021); ATA May 9, 2016 Ex Parte at 18. GCI Communication Corp. (United Utilities, Inc. – Yukon Telephone) See Letter from Julie A. Veach Counsel to GCI Communication Corp., to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Dec. 23, 2020); Letter from Julie A. Veach Counsel to GCI Communication Corp., to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 16-271 (Sept. 8, 2021). Federal Communications Commission DA 21-1642 APPENDIX B RATE-OF-RETURN ALASKA PLAN CARRIERS HUBB LOCATIONS Admin SAC Carrier Name Speed (Mbps) Middle Mile 5 Year Obligation Newly Deployed, Upgraded Locations by Dec. 31, 2021 Minimum Total Locations Certified in the HUBB by Mar. 1, 2022 10 Year Obligation Newly Deployed, Upgraded Locations by Dec. 31, 2026 Minimum Total Locations Certified in the HUBB by Mar. 1, 2027 613001 ARTC 25/5 Hybrid 161   161   613001 ARTC 25/5 Fiber 2156   2156       Total 25/5 2317 2317             2317   2317                 613006 CPPR 25/3 Fiber 138   138   613006 CPPR 50/5 Fiber 278 278   613006 CPPR 1000/100 Fiber 2828   3515             3244   3931                 613007 CRDV 25/3 Fiber 17   0   613007 CRDV 50/5 Fiber 255   0   613007 CRDV 100/5 Fiber 425   850             697   850                 613011 AMRC (Interior) 10/1 Fiber 124   124   613011 AMRC (Interior) 25/3 Fiber 2925   2925             3049   3049 613011 AMRC (Mukluk) 1/256k Satellite 0   37   613011 AMRC (Mukluk) 10/1 Fiber 40   30   613011 AMRC (Mukluk) 25/3 Fiber 1753 1771 1793 1838           4842   4887                 613013 CTYF3 25/3 Fiber 430   287   613013 CTYF3 50/5 Fiber 107   107   613013 CTYF3 100/5 Fiber 1722   2439             2260   2833                 613015 MTNS 25/3 Fiber 15027   19540   613015 MTNS 50/5 Fiber 8518   15500   613015 MTNS 100/20 Fiber 1500   4000             25045   39040                 613018 NSHG 6/1 Microwave 146 146 100/20 Fiber 0 1000            146    1146 See supra Appendix A, Performance Obligations of Nushagak Electric and Telephone Cooperative, Note 2 (Nushagak will clarify the status relative to the speed upgrade of the 146 newly deployed locations by December 31, 2023). 613019 OTZT 25/3 Fiber 694 694 1249 1249                 613023 GNRL 1/256k Satellite 1063   1063   613023 GNRL 10/1 Microwave 4311   8621   613023 GNRL 25/3 Fiber 324   324             5698   10008                 610989 ADKG 2/1 Satellite 346 346 346 346 613003 BRST 10/1 Fiber 0 1027 613003 BRST 25/3 Fiber 0 9 0 1036 No Obligation for Newly Deployed/Upgraded Locations 613004 BSHT   613005 CRCL             2