Federal Communications Commission	DA  22-126


DA 22-126
Released:  February 8, 2022

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU EXTENDS HUBB FILING DEADLINE TO MARCH 1, 2023 FOR THE BRINGING PUERTO RICO TOGETHER FUND AND THE CONNECT USVI FUND
WC Docket Nos. 18-143, 10-90

With this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) hereby extends, to March 1, 2023, the first filing deadline for the submission of deployment data to the High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal for fixed support recipients of the Bringing Puerto Rico Together Fund Bringing Puerto Rico Together is the English-language translation of Uniendo a Puerto Rico.
 and the Connect USVI Fund.  The Bureau also extends the start of the mandatory one-year location adjustment processes (LAP) and will announce their commencements in a future Public Notice.
In June 2021, the Bureau released public notices authorizing winning applicants of the PR-USVI Stage 2 competitive process to receive fixed high-cost support (Authorization Notices). Connect USVI Fund Stage 2 Support Authorized for Broadband VI, Public Notice, DA 21-666, 36 FCC Rcd 9405 (June 8, 2021) (USVI Authorization Notice); Wireline Competition Bureau Authorizes Stage 2 Support for Puerto Rico Telephone Company and Liberty Communications of Puerto Rico, Public Notice, DA 21-718  (June 21, 2021) (PR Authorization Notice).
  The Authorization Notices reminded winning applicants that they are required to file location information with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) through the HUBB portal for each qualifying location to which they are offering the requisite service and technology, demonstrating that the Stage 2 support recipient is on track to meet its deployment milestones.  Pursuant to section 54.316(a) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 54.316(a).
 the Bureau stated that the first annual HUBB reporting and certification deadline for the Stage 2 applicants is on or before March 1, 2022. USVI Authorization Notice, 36 FCC Rcd at 9407; PR Authorization Notice at 3.
  In addition, the Bureau provided in the Authorization Notices that it anticipated the commencement of the LAP approximately one year following the authorizations for winning applicants to receive support.USVI Authorization Notice, 36 FCC Rcd at 9409; PR Authorization Notice at 5.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress directed the Commission to implement several new, emergency benefit programs, recognizing the critical nature a broadband connection plays in facilitating telework, remote learning, telehealth, and staying in touch with family and friends. See Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Pub. L. No 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (2020); Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. 116-124, 133 Stat. 158 (2020).
   The Commission and USAC have dedicated significant resources to the implementation of these new programs, as well as to other high-cost programs.  As a result of these efforts, USAC requires additional time to establish the technical capability in the HUBB for carriers to submit location data for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Therefore, on our own motion, we extend the deadline for annual location reporting for the fixed support recipients of the Bringing Puerto Rico Together Fund and the Connect USVI Fund to March 1, 2023. See 47 CFR § 54.316(a).
  In addition, we necessarily delay the beginning of the mandatory one-year location adjustment processes to account for more accurate location data from support recipients.
We remind support recipients that this limited extension of the HUBB filing deadline does not otherwise impact their duties to deploy their proposed networks to all locations where they receive support, nor does it affect the deployment milestones under section 54.1506. 47 CFR § 54.1506.

For additional information, please contact Dangkhoa Nguyen, Telecommunications Access and Policy Division, at Dangkhoa.nguyen@fcc.gov.



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