Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 
Special Access Data Collection  
WC Docket No. 05-25; RM-50193 
 (Updated as of: 2/13/15) 
 
This document was prepared by the staff at the Wireline Competition Bureau and provides answers 
to non-technical frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the Special Access Data Collection 
and will be updated periodically.  These FAQs are not a substitute for carefully reviewing the data 
collection Questions and Instructions.  Please direct all technical questions concerning the Special 
Access Web Portal to FCC Support at 1-877-480-3201 or 1-717-338-2824 (TTY) or you may submit 
requests via e-support.   
  
As used below, all capitalized and italicized terms (e.g., Purchaser, Provider, etc.) are defined terms 
used for purposes of the data collection.  For definitions of these terms, please refer to the Special 
Access Data Collection – Glossary of Terms.   
  
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Table of Contents 
General 
1. What is special access?  
2. What is the purpose of the special access data collection?  
3. What is the Commission going to do with the data collected?   
4. What is the filing deadline for the collection? 
5. Where do I submit my data? 
6. What are the penalties for not filing in response to this data collection? 
7. Is there a filing fee? 
8. Is there a glossary of terms used in the collection? 
9. Is the FCC planning any webinars or seminars on the collection? 
10. Does the collection capture intrastate and interstate billing information? 
11. Am I required to report the portions of my network that are in rate of return areas 
if the network connects to price cap areas?  
12. What do I need to submit in the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (FCFS)?   
Who must Respond to the Collection? 
1. Who must respond to the collection? 
2. How can I determine if I operate in a study area where the ILEC is subject to price 
cap regulation?  
3. Am I required to respond if I operate in areas where the ILEC is subject to rate of 
return regulation? 
4. Am I required to respond if the ILEC that operated in my service area converted 
from rate-or-return to price cap regulation in 2013?  
5. Am I required to respond to the collection if the ILEC operating in my study area 
was not subject to price cap regulation until 2014?   
6. Who is required to respond to the collection when a change in control occurs 
during the 2013 reporting period?  
7. Who is required to respond to the collection when a change in control occurred 
after the 2013 reporting period? 
8. Do facility based Competitive Access Providers (CAPs) who provide wholesale 
services to other carriers, retail Dedicated Services to End Users and do not file FCC 
Form 477 need to respond to the collection? 
9. Am I required to report the U.S. portion of an international circuit? 
10. A price cap conversion occurred in 2013. Am I required to file?  
Municipalities and Utilities 
1. What is the filing deadline for the collection for municipalities?  
2. Are municipalities required to report dark fiber leased to third parties? 
3. Are municipalities required to report self-provisioned dark fiber?  
4. Are municipalities required to report WiFi networks offered to the general public for 
free? 
5. Do utilities report as Locations all their substations, metering stations, water plants, 
etc. connected to fiber?  
Exemptions from Responding 
1. Is there a de minimis or small business exemption from responding? 
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2. Are small Providers of Dedicated Services exempted from responding to the 
collection? 
3. I am a small business Purchaser.  Am I required to respond? 
4. Am I exempted from the collection if I self-provision special access service to my 
own facilities on a private fiber network?   
5. Are resellers required to respond to the collection? 
6. How is the $5 million threshold calculated for determining whether a filer is a 
Purchaser for purposes of the collection (e.g., when dealing with a holding company 
consisting of various subsidiaries)?   
7. I am a small Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Service provider.  Am I 
required to respond?  
8. I am a business, school, or local government entity that provides an information 
service.  Am I required to respond? 
9. I am an equipment authorization holder regulated under Parts 2 and 15 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
10. I am an accounting authorization holder in the maritime and maritime mobile-
satellite radio services regulated under Part 3 of the Commission’s rules. Am I 
required to respond? 
11. I am an experimental radio authorization holder regulated under Part 5 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
12. I am a commercial radio operator regulated under Part 13 of the Commission’s 
rules. Am I required to respond? 
13. I am an antenna structure registration holder regulated under Part 17 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
14. I am a television and/or radio broadcaster regulated under Part 73 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
15. I hold an authorization issued pursuant to Part 74 of the Commission’s rules such as 
experimental radio, auxiliary, special broadcast and other program distribution 
service authorizations. Am I required to respond? 
16. I hold a maritime service authorization regulated under Part 80 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
17. I am an aviation service authorization holder regulated under Part 87 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
18. I am a private land mobile radio service authorization holder regulated under Part 
90 of the Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
19. I am a personal radio service authorization holder regulated under Part 95 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
20. I am an amateur radio service authorization holder regulated under Part 97 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
21. Am I required to if I filed FCC Form 477 for 2013 but I am not a Provider, Purchaser, 
or Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Services provider in a price cap 
area?   
 
Confidential Treatment of Submissions 
1. Will other filers be able to view the information I submit? 
2. Will other parties be able to view my submissions through the special access web 
portal? 
3. How will the FCC protect customer names and Customer Proprietary Network 
Information (CPNI)?  
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Definitions 
1. Does the definition of Connection include a dedicated communications path 
between two End Users? 
2. Does the definition of Connection include unlit dark fiber? 
3. Does a Dedicated Service include mixed DS1s that include elements with a capacity 
below a DS1? 
4. Are entities that provide dark fiber considered Providers for purposes of the filing 
requirement?   
5. Are Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) 
and frame relay services considered a Circuit Based Dedicated Service (CBDS) or a 
Packet Based Dedicated Service (PBDS) for purposes of the collection?   
6. Does Location include an End User’s premises?  
7. Does Location include central offices? 
8. Are bundled services, including voice, Internet access and data, treated as 
Dedicated Services? 
 
Competitive Provider Questions (Section II.A) 
1. Which Locations with capable Connections do cable system operators need to 
report? 
2. Are companies that access dark fiber pursuant to a non-IRU agreement but 
provide Dedicated Services to End Users and do not own or use UNEs have to 
respond to Section II.A?  
3. How do I know where the Commission has granted Phase I or Phase II Pricing 
Flexibility?  (Question II.A.2(a)) 
4. If I answer “no” to Questions II.A.2 or II.A.2.a, and therefore am not required to 
answer the remaining II.A and II.D questions, what should I upload to the 
remaining II.A. and II.D questions which populate the Essay Upload section of the 
web portal? (Question II.A.2) 
5. Which questions do I need to respond to if I own unlit dark fiber that terminates 
to a Location? (Questions II.A.3-4)   
6. Do I need to report “intermediate transport,” i.e.  “middle mile” interoffice 
transport?  (Questions II.A.3-5, II.A.12)   
7. How do we report Locations that do not have U.S. Postal Service addresses or 
where we do not know the geocode (i.e., latitude and longitude) to the requisite 
degree of accuracy? (Questions II.A.4(b)-(c), II.A.7) 
8. Latitude and longitude request asks for four digits after the period, but it should 
end in either a 0 or 5 versus using a more accurate ending digit? (Table II.A.4)  
9. What should I enter in the bandwidth fields if the Location type is unknown? 
(Table II.A.4) 
10. Should fiber route mapping data be current as of December 31, 2013 or as of the 
filing date? (Question II.A.5)  
11. Can I use google maps or some other file format other than ESRI Shapefiles to file 
my response to the fiber mapping questions?  (Questions II.A.5)  
12. How should I format the shapefile map for Question II.A.5? 
13. Should we include Nodes data in the zipped file containing the shapefile mapping 
data? (Question II.A.5) 
14. Am I required to provide a map showing middle-mile and/or last-mile fiber 
routes? (Question II.A.5) 
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15. Where do I upload information on interconnecting Nodes in the Special Access 
Web Portal? (Question II.A.5) 
16. Are municipalities required to provide a map showing fiber routes that 
municipalities never intended to provide as a commercial service offering? 
(Question II.A.5).   
17. Am I required to report the interconnecting Nodes on a third party Provider’s 
network that is not within my control? (Question II.A.5) 
18. How do I submit a “Confidential” version of the fiber route mapping data? 
(Question II.A.5) 
19. Are monthly term discounts for a circuit separate line items in the tables for 
monthly billing data for circuits by circuit element? (Question II.A.12)  
20. What do I need to report in the database container if I have submitted only 
loosing or unsuccessful bids for Requests for Proposals (RFPs)? (Question II.A.11) 
21. How should we enter monthly term discounts for a circuit in the billing file?  
(Table II.A.12 Part 1)  
22. For the Circuit_ID, who is the entity that purchased the elements in common for a 
particular circuit?  (Question II.A.12(d)) 
23. How do we report bundled billing components? (Question II.A.14) 
24. Does a company that sells unlit dark fiber have to report the associated Revenue? 
(Questions II.A.15-17) 
25. In responding to Question II.A.17, may I use a sampling methodology to account 
for the percentage of my Revenues from the sale of DS1, DS3, and PBDS services in 
2013 that were generated from an agreement or Tariff that contains a Prior 
Purchase-Based Commitment? (Question II.A.17) 
ILEC Questions (Section II.B) 
1. How do we report Locations that do not have U.S. Postal Service addresses or 
where we do not know the geocode (i.e., latitude and longitude) to the requisite 
degree of accuracy? (Questions II.B.4(b)-(c)) 
2. Am I required to report “past due” billing balances and, if so, how? (Question 
II.B.4) 
3. How am I required to report “monthly prorated” billing information? (Question 
II.B.4) 
4. How am I required to report billing information for customers in arrears?  
(Question II.B.4) 
5. How do I report “in-cycle adjustments” as line items on customer’s bill? (Table 
II.B.4) 
6. In creating a separate observation for the same circuit identifier common to all 
circuit elements purchased in common for a particular circuit (“Circuit_ID” field), 
what field do we place the in-cycle adjustment for a monthly recurring charge?  
(Table II.B.4)  
7. How do I know where the Commission has granted Phase I or Phase II Pricing 
Flexibility? (Questions II.B.7, II.B.12(k)-(n)) 
 
Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Service provider 
Questions (Section II.C) 
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1. In the Instructions – Pages 53-54, the suggested record format template for 
responding to Question II.C.1 includes subparts “c-d Part 1” and “c-d Part 2” but 
there is no subpart “c-d” in the Data Collection Question II.C.1? (Question II.C.1) 
 
“Purchasers – mobile wireless service provider” Questions (Section II.E) 
1. How do we report Locations that do not have U.S. Postal Service addresses or 
where we do not know the geocode (i.e., latitude and longitude) to the requisite 
degree of accuracy? (Questions II.E.2(b)-(c)) 
2. Do the Purchaser questions capture Dedicated Services provided as Unbundled 
Network Elements (UNEs)? (Section II.E) 
“Purchasers – Other” Questions (Section II.F) 
1. Are expenditures on Dedicated Service reported to include just the monthly 
recurring charges (MRCs) or the MRCs and the non-recurring charges (NRCs) 
associated with the service, e.g., ETFs, construction charges, etc.?  (Question II.F.2) 
2. How do I know where the Commission has granted Phase I or Phase II Pricing 
Flexibility? (Questions II.F.13(m)-(n))   
3. Do the Purchaser questions capture Dedicated Services provided as Unbundled 
Network Elements (UNEs)? (Section II.F) 
Form 477 Filer Certification (Section II.G) 
1. Does the data collection affect my Form 477 filing? 
2. Do I need to amend my Form 477 filing because of the special access data 
collection? 
3. Can I certify at the holding company level or do I need to break it out by 
subsidiaries? 
4. When do I need to submit my corporate letter identifying FRNs in ECFS if I am 
filing both a Streamlined Certification for certain FRNs and a Full Website 
submission for other FRNs? 
5. How do I file at the parent/holding company-level if some of my Affiliates are 
filing Streamlined Certifications and others are filing Full Website submissions? 
Special Access Web Portal 
 “Log In” Page 
1. How do I submit responses to the collection?   
2. What is an FRN? 
3. What is the format for entering the FRN? 
4. I don't know my FRN password. 
5. I have multiple FRNs. Which FRN should I log in with? 
6. Does the parent company of a subsidiary or affiliate that is otherwise required to 
respond to the collection need to apply for an FRN is they do not have one?  
7. How come I can’t log in with my FRN password? 
“Getting Started” Page 
8. What is the Database Container Download?  
9. When will the Database Container be available for Download?  
10. Can I submit data without using the Database Container?   
11. Can I submit my Essay Uploads without submitting my Database Container and 
Log File? 
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12. Do I qualify for the Streamlined Certification Process? 
13. Why can’t I access the Full Website with my Internet Explorer browser?  
“Filer Identification” Page 
14. Who do I address my letter identifying the parent/holding company or controlling 
entity FRN and subsidiary FRNs and names that are separately filing responses? 
(Instructions – Page 8)   
15. Who is a “Purchaser – Other”? 
“Essay Uploads” Page 
16. What collection Questions should appear in the Essay Uploads section for my filer 
type?  
17. Is there a file size limit for Essay Uploads? 
18. How can I submit files that exceed 2 GB?  
19. My essay responses do not contain Highly Confidential Information so what am I 
supposed to upload in the "Highly Confidential" field? 
20. What should I file in the “Confidential” section for the fiber route maps? (Question 
II.A.5) 
21. What types of files will the essay upload accept? 
“Database Upload” Page 
22. What types of files will the database upload accept?  
23. Is there a file size limit for Essay Uploads? 
24. How can I submit files that exceed 2 GB?  
25. What is a Log File? 
26. Why can’t I upload my Log File and Database Container? 
“Certification” Page 
27. May a single Certification Statement cover multiple entities? 
Submission 
28. Can I print my complete submission package? 
29. Can I print the certification page as proof of filing? 
30. When will I be able to submit responses to the Full Website. 
31. How can I amend, correct or delete my submission once I submit through the web 
portal? (Instructions – Page 8) 
 
General 
 
1. What is special access?  
Special access services, or Dedicated Services, transport voice and data over a dedicated 
transmission line between two or more designated points at a rate of at least 1.5 
megabytes per second (Mbps) upstream and downstream.  Special access service 
encompasses Circuit-Based Dedicated Services (CBDS) such as DS1s and DS3s and Packet-
Based Dedicated Services (PBDS) such as Ethernet.  For example, wireless providers use 
high capacity special access lines to send voice and data from cell towers to their mobile 
switching center where the call is then switched to the sender’s intended recipient.  
Individual consumers, small businesses, government offices, hospitals, medical offices, 
schools, libraries, ATMs and credit card readers use special access to either connect to a 
dedicated network or to an Internet service provider for the completion of the 
transmission via the Internet. 
 
2. What is the purpose of the special access data collection?  
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The FCC is collecting data for an analysis of the broader special access market.  The 
analysis will help the FCC revise its regulations of the special access services provided 
by larger traditional phone companies—the “price cap” Incumbent Local Exchange 
Carriers (ILECs) such as AT&T, Verizon, Qwest, etc.—to target regulatory relief where 
there is sufficient competition to ensure just and reasonable rates, terms, and 
conditions.  For more information, see the FCC’s Special Access Data Collection 
Overview webpage. 
3. What is the Commission going to do with the data collected?   
The Commission is collecting the data for a comprehensive market analysis that will 
look at the number special access providers, facilities, service offerings, revenues, and 
expenditures nationwide in all price cap areas.  The Commission’s review is not limited 
to the legacy TDM-based services such as DS1s and DS3s provided by larger traditional 
phone companies (ILECs) but also includes the packet-based service offerings of both 
phone companies and their competitors such as Ethernet.  For more information about 
the proposed analysis, see the Commission’s December 2012 Data Collection Order. 
 
4. What is the filing deadline for the collection? 
For larger businesses with more than 1,500 employees, as measured at the parent 
company level, that are required provide data and information in response to the data 
collection questions, the deadline is January 29, 2015.  The deadline for other 
respondents that are required to provide data and information in response to the 
collection is February 27, 2015.   The February 27, 2015 collection filing deadline 
applies to municipalities, including cities, counties, municipal utilities, etc.  Lastly, for 
those required only to certify that they are not required to provide data and information 
because they are not a covered Provider, Purchaser, or entities providing Best Efforts 
Business Broadband Internet Access Service, the deadline is December 15, 2014.  See 
Order Extending Deadlines for Special Access Data Collection.    
5. Where do I submit my data and information in response to the collection? 
The FCC launched a secure web filing interface, i.e. the special access data collection web 
portal, through which respondents will file data and information in response to the data 
collection and certifications for those Form 477 filers needing to just certify that they 
are not covered by the scope of the collection.  The special access data collection web 
portal is available by clicking here. 
 
6. What are the penalties for not filing in response to this data collection? 
Failure to comply with these data reporting requirements may subject parties to 
monetary forfeitures of up to $160,000 for each violation or each day of a continuing 
violation, up to a maximum of $1,575,000 for any single act or failure to act that is a 
continuing violation. 
 
7. Is there a filing fee? 
No. 
 
8. Is there a glossary of terms used in the collection?   
Definitions are available in the Definitions section of the Data Collection Questions or 
the Commission maintains a Glossary page for the data collection. 
 
9. Is the FCC planning any webinars or seminars on the collection? 
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Please check the Special Access Data Collection Overview page for announcements 
regarding webinars, brown bags and other programs as well as recordings of those 
webinars and the webinar slide decks.  
? October 30, 2014 – The FCC hosted a webinar providing a high-level overview of 
the collection and opportunity to ask general questions.  A live recording of the 
webinar is available on the Special Access Data Collection Overview page as well 
as the presentation slides and transcript.    
? December 18, 2014 – The FCC hosted a webinar discussing the technical aspects 
of the database container, including a walk-through of the technical manual and 
uploading data into the database container. A live recording and transcript of the 
webinar will be available on the Special Access Data Collection Overview page.    
 
10. Does the collection capture intrastate and interstate billing information? 
Yes. The Commission has stated its intent to collect data on interstate and intrastate 
special access services and special access services offered via a state-level tariff or state-
approved contract. Data Collection Order, 27 FCC Rcd 16318, 16327, para. 19 (2012).  
For purposes of the collection, Revenues are defined as intrastate and interstate billed 
amounts and Tariff means intrastate or interstate rates filed by common carriers.  See 
Data Collection Definitions. 
11. Am I required to report the portions of my network that are in rate of return 
areas if the network connect to price cap areas?  
The FCC intended to capture only those end user locations to which you had a 
connection that are located in an area where the ILEC is subject to price cap regulation. 
To the extent the end user locations are located in a rate of return area, you do not need 
to report those locations. 
 
12. What do I need to submit in the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (FCFS)?   
Filers must submit redacted versions of Confidential and Highly Confidential 
submissions through the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).  In other 
words, you must submit on ECFS redacted versions of your narrative responses to 
collection questions uploaded to the “Essay Questions Upload Files” section of the web 
portal.   However, filers do not need to submit on ECFS redacted versions of documents 
or database containers containing Highly Confidential Data submitted to web portal.  
For additional information, see paragraph 22 of the Order adopting the Protective Order 
and paragraph 3 of the Protective Order itself.  For more information, see the Data 
Collection Protective Order. 
 
Who must respond to the collection? 
 
1. Who must respond to the collection? 
Providers and Purchasers of Dedicated Services and certain entities providing Best Efforts 
Business Broadband Internet Access Service in study areas where the Incumbent Local 
Exchange Carrier (ILEC) is subject to price cap regulation must respond to the collection 
unless specifically excluded.  The collection captures data from ILECs, competitive local 
exchange carriers (CLECs), interexchange carriers (IXCs), cable system operators, 
wireless providers, or any other entity subject to the FCC’s jurisdiction that is not 
otherwise exempted that either provides a dedicated service or a connection over which a 
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Dedicated Service could be provided as well as End User, i.e. business, institutional or 
government entities, that purchase Dedicated Services including wireless service 
providers.    
 
2. How can I determine if I operate in a study area where the ILEC is subject to price 
cap regulation?  
The FCC developed a mapping tool to assist entities in determining whether they provide 
or purchase services covered by the scope of the collection in price cap areas.  
Additionally, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) maintains a chart on 
its website which lists price cap and rate of return ILECs, their study area codes, and study 
area names.   You are only required to report information and data pertaining to those 
study areas where the ILEC is subject to price cap regulation, not rate-of-return areas.  
That said, entities can report information across their territories, including the rate-of-
return areas, if they find it easier to do so. 
3. Am I required to respond if I only operate in areas where the Incumbent Local 
Exchange Carrier (ILEC) is subject to rate of return regulation? 
No.  You are only required to respond to the data collection in study areas where the ILEC 
is subject to price cap regulation, not rate-of-return regulation.  The FCC developed a 
mapping tool to assist entities in determining whether they provide or purchase services 
covered by the scope of the collection in price cap areas. Additionally, the Universal 
Service Administrative Company (USAC) maintains a chart on its website which lists price 
cap and rate of return ILECs, their study area codes, and study area names.    
4. Am I required to respond if the ILEC that operated in my service area converted 
from rate-or-return to price cap regulation in 2013?  
Yes. The collection covers Dedicated Service provided or purchased and Best Efforts 
Business Broadband Internet Access Service provided if the ILEC was subject to price cap 
regulation in the area at any point during the relevant reporting period, 2013.   
 
5. Am I required to respond to the collection if the ILEC operating in my study area 
was not subject to price cap regulation until 2014?   
No.  The scope of the data collection covers price cap areas.  Most of the questions in the 
data collection ask for data, e.g., Locations with Connections and billing information, for 
calendar 2013, giving the FCC a snapshot in time.  Since 2013, the FCC has granted one 
petition to convert three ILECs to price cap regulation. See CenturyLink Petition for 
Conversion of Average Schedule Affiliates to Price Cap Regulation and for Limited Waiver 
Relief, WC Docket No. 14-23, Order, 29 FCC Rcd 5140 (WCB 2014).  The three ILECs are 
affiliates of CenturyLink – i.e., CenturyTel of Chester, Inc., CenturyTel of Potsville, Inc., and 
CenturyTel of the Midwest-Wisconsin (Wayside), and collectively have less than 6,000 
access lines.  With respect to these converted price cap areas, Providers and Purchasers 
are not required to respond to the collection. 
6. Who is required to respond to the collection when a change of control occurs during 
the 2013 reporting period?  
If at any point during the 2013 reporting period, the entity in question provided services 
covered by the scope of this collection or purchased Best Efforts Business Broadband 
Internet Access Service, then the current owner of that entity is required to respond.   
 
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7. Who is required to respond to the collection when a change of control occurs after 
the 2013 reporting period?  
In a situation where a system used to provide service in 2013 is later sold in an 
assignment of assets in 2014, then the successor-in-interest at the time of the December 
15, 2014 filing deadline is required to comply.  Of course, the parties could contract to 
have the seller prepare the filing but the reporting entity is the successor-in-interest.  In a 
transfer of control scenario, the entity that owns the system still exists and would still 
have to comply even if control of that entity was transferred in 2014.  
 
8. Do facility based Competitive Access Providers (CAPs) who provide wholesale 
services to other carriers, retail Dedicated Services to End Users and do not file FCC 
Form 477 need to respond to the collection? 
Yes. 
 
9. Am I required to report the U.S. portion of an international circuit? 
Yes, filers are only asked to report the U.S. portion of a circuit, not the non-U.S. portion of 
the circuit.  
 
10. A price cap conversion occurred in 2013. Am I required to file?  
Most of the questions in the data collection ask for data, e.g., Locations with Connections 
and billing information, for calendar 2013, giving the FCC a snapshot in time.  Since 2013, 
the FCC has granted one petition to convert three ILECs to price cap regulation. See 2014 
CenturyLink Price Cap Conversion Order.  The three ILECs are affiliates of CenturyLink – i.e., 
CenturyTel of Chester, Inc., CenturyTel of Potsville, Inc., and CenturyTel of the Midwest-
Wisconsin (Wayside), and collectively have less than 6,000 access lines.  With respect to 
these converted price cap areas, Providers and Purchasers are not required to respond to 
the collection. 
Municipalities and Utilities 
1. What is the filing deadline for the collection for municipalities?  
The collection filing deadline for municipalities, including cities, counties, municipal 
utilities, etc., that are required to respond to the data collection is on or before February 
27, 2015.   
 
2. Are municipalities required to report Locations with a dark fiber Connection leased 
to third parties? 
Municipalities as lessor that lease dark fiber to a third party lessees pursuant to an 
Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) should not report Locations connected by the dark fiber 
unless the municipality is separately providing service to the Location over another 
Connection of its own (for example, a separate strand of fiber), or owns unsold dark fiber 
connecting the Location.  A municipality that leases dark fiber it owns to a third party 
pursuant to a non-IRU lease is required to report Locations connected by such dark fiber 
Connections.  However, if the municipality determines that a served Location does not and 
is not expected to require a Connection, e.g., a utility substation used for metering and 
monitoring purposes, then that is not a reportable Location.  If the municipality is 
required to report their dark fiber Connections, they should answer the Location questions 
(Questions II.A.1-4, 6-11).  A municipality is only required to report dark fiber Connections 
to end user Locations on the fiber route map (Question II.A.5) if it sells or plans to sell or 
provide Dedicated Service to unserved Locations over these dark fiber Connections.      
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3. Are municipalities and utilities required to report self-provisioned dark fiber?  
If a municipality provides a Connection to a Location that is a municipal subunit, whether 
internally or by way of sale, the municipality must report those Locations (Questions 
II.A.1-4, 6-11).  However, if the municipality determines that a served Location does not 
and is not expected to require a Connection, e.g., a utility substation used for metering and 
monitoring purposes, then that is not a reportable Location.  A municipality is only 
required to answer the fiber mapping question (Questions II.A.5) if it plans to sell or 
provide Dedicated Service to presently unserved municipal Locations Dedicated Service 
over those dark fiber Connections.  However, a municipality that does not sell Dedicated 
Service is not required to answer remaining billing and revenue questions (Questions 
II.A.12-19).     
 
4. Are municipalities required to answer mapping question? (Question II.A.5) 
A municipality is only required to answer mapping question (Questions II.A.5) if it is 
selling or plans to sell a Dedicated Service or if it is providing or plans to provide Dedicated 
Service to unserved municipal Locations over their Connections; if not, the municipality is 
not required to respond to the mapping question.  For example, if a municipality provides 
fiber to police station as a Dedicated Service but does not sell that fiber, and there are no 
Locations along the fiber route that the municipality expects to connect that fiber to, then 
the municipality would not need to report the fiber route to the police station on its map.  
If the municipality sells or expects to sell or otherwise provide Connections along a fiber 
route then the municipality must report that fiber route on their fiber map.    
 
5. Are municipalities required to report WiFi networks offered to the general public 
for free? 
No.  
 
6. Do utilities report as Locations all their substations, metering stations, water plants, 
etc. connected to fiber?  
If the municipality determines that a served location does not and is not expected to 
require a Connection (including the requirement of a minimum guaranteed bandwidth of 
at least 1.5 Mbps in both directions), then it does not constitute a reportable Location.     
 
Exemptions from Responding 
 
1. Is there a de minimis or small business exemption from responding?  
Purchasers that purchased less than $5 million in Dedicated Services in 2013 in areas 
where the ILEC is subject to price cap regulation in 2013 are excluded from the questions 
directed at Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to 
questions if you are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet 
Access Service to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband 
customers in price cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may 
have an obligation to simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were 
required to file the FCC Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations 
for 2013.  For additional information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection 
Implementation Order and the data collection Instructions – Pages 1-4. Additionally, the 
FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are 
required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
13 
 
 
2. Are small Providers of Dedicated Services exempted from responding to the 
collection? 
No. 
 
3. I am a small business Purchaser.  Am I required to respond? 
Purchasers that purchased less than $5 million in Dedicated Services in 2013 in areas 
where the ILEC is subject to price cap regulation are specifically excluded from the 
collection.  However, if you were required to file FCC Form 477 to report the provision of 
broadband connections to end user locations for year 2013 then you must file a 
certification using the Streamlined Certification Process using the FCC’s secure website 
portal, Special Access Web Portal.  For more information, see Data Collection Questions – 
Pages 4, 28 and the System Guide.  Additionally, the FCC has prepared a decisional tree 
diagram to help you determine whether you are required to respond to the collection 
which is available by clicking here. 
 
4. Am I exempted from the collection if I self-provision special access service to my 
own facilities on a private fiber network?   
No. Even if you self-provision special access services to your own facilities on a private 
network, you may still be required to file a response to the collection.   
 
5. Are resellers required to respond to the collection? 
Resellers are not necessarily exempted from the collection.  Pure resellers may have 
reporting obligations to respond to the Purchaser questions in section II.E and Competitive 
Provider Questions II.A.1-2.   However, pure resellers that answer “no” to Questions II.A.2 
and II.A.2a are not required to respond to the remaining section II.A questions or the 
section II.D questions. 
 
6. How is the $5 million threshold calculated for determining whether a filer is a 
Purchaser for purposes of the collection (e.g., when dealing with a holding company 
consisting of various subsidiaries)?   
Parties can either submit a single response reporting aggregate information at the 
ultimate parent/holding company level for all subsidiaries and intermediate holding 
companies or submit separate responses for individual subsidiaries, and intermediate 
holding companies.  When dealing with a holding company consisting of subsidiaries, the 
$5 million threshold is calculated at the holding company level even if the parent decides 
to file separate responses for each subsidiary or operating unit.  For example, ultimate 
Parent Company A directly owns Subsidiary A and Subsidiary B, each subsidiary 
purchased $2.6 million in Dedicated Services in price cap areas for 2013.  The company as 
a whole is considered a Purchaser for purposes of the collection because its expenditures 
in the aggregate exceed $5 million.  The company can either submit one response at the 
parent company level or file two separate responses, one for Subsidiary A and one for 
Subsidiary B. For additional information, see the data collection Instructions – Pages 7-8.  
Additionally, the FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine 
whether you are required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
7. I am a small Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Service provider. Am I 
required to respond?  
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
14 
 
Entities providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Service to fewer than 
15,000 customers and fewer than 1,500 business broadband customers as of December 
18, 2012 are not required to respond to the questions directed at such entities.  However, 
you may be required to provide data in response to questions if you are a Provider or 
Purchaser of Dedicated Services.  For more information, see Data Collection Questions – 
Page 1.  Additionally, the FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you 
determine whether you are required to respond to the collection which is available by 
clicking here.  
 
8. I am a business, school, or local government entity that provides an information 
service. Am I required to respond? 
End Users (businesses, schools, local government entities) that provide an information 
service (such as Internet access service) are excluded from the questions directed at 
Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to questions if you 
are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Service 
to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband customers in price 
cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may have an obligation to 
simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were required to file the FCC 
Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations for 2013.  For additional 
information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection Implementation Order and 
the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the FCC has prepared a 
decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are required to respond to the 
collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
9. I am an equipment authorization holder regulated under Parts 2 and 15 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
Parts 2 and 15 equipment authorization holders are excluded from the questions directed 
at Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to questions if 
you are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access 
Service to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband customers in 
price cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may have an 
obligation to simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were required 
to file the FCC Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations for 2013.  
For additional information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection 
Implementation Order and the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the 
FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are 
required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
10. I am an accounting authorization holder in the maritime and maritime mobile-
satellite radio services regulated under Part 3 of the Commission’s rules. Am I 
required to respond? 
Part 3 accounting authorization holders in the maritime and maritime mobile-satellite 
radios services are excluded from the questions directed at Purchasers.  However, you 
may be required to provide data in response to questions if you are a Provider or entity 
providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Service to 15,000 or more 
customers or 1,500 or more business broadband customers in price cap areas.  Even if 
you do not fall in any of these categories, you may have an obligation to simply file a 
certification with the FCC saying as much if you were required to file the FCC Form 477 to 
report broadband connections to end user locations for 2013.  For additional information, 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
15 
 
see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection Implementation Order and the data 
collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the FCC has prepared a decisional tree 
diagram to help you determine whether you are required to respond to the collection 
which is available by clicking here. 
 
11. I am an experimental radio authorization holder regulated under Part 5 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
Part 5 experimental radio authorization holders are excluded from the questions directed 
at Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to questions if 
you are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access 
Service to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband customers in 
price cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may have an 
obligation to simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were required 
to file the FCC Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations for 2013.  
For additional information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection 
Implementation Order and the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the 
FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are 
required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
12. I am a commercial radio operator regulated under Part 13 of the Commission’s 
rules. Am I required to respond? 
Part 13 commercial radio operators are excluded from the questions directed at 
Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to questions if you 
are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Service 
to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband customers in price 
cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may have an obligation to 
simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were required to file the FCC 
Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations for 2013.  For additional 
information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection Implementation Order and 
the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the FCC has prepared a 
decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are required to respond to the 
collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
13. I am an antenna structure registration holder regulated under Part 17 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
Part 17 antenna structure registration holders are excluded from the questions directed 
at Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to questions if 
you are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access 
Service to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband customers in 
price cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may have an 
obligation to simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were required 
to file the FCC Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations for 2013.  
For additional information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection 
Implementation Order and the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the 
FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are 
required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
14. I am a television and/or radio broadcaster regulated under Part 73 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
16 
 
Part 73 television and/or radio broadcasters are excluded from the questions directed at 
Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to questions if you 
are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Service 
to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband customers in price 
cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may have an obligation to 
simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were required to file the FCC 
Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations for 2013.  For additional 
information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection Implementation Order and 
the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the FCC has prepared a 
decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are required to respond to the 
collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
15. I hold an authorization issued pursuant to Part 74 of the Commission’s rules such as 
experimental radio, auxiliary, special broadcast and other program distribution 
service authorizations. Am I required to respond? 
Part 74 authorization holders, such as experimental radio, auxiliary, special broadcast and 
other program distribution service authorization holders, are excluded from the 
questions directed at Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in 
response to questions if you are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business 
Broadband Internet Access Service to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business 
broadband customers in price cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, 
you may have an obligation to simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if 
you were required to file the FCC Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user 
locations for 2013.  For additional information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data 
Collection Implementation Order and the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. 
Additionally, the FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine 
whether you are required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
16. I hold a maritime service authorization regulated under Part 80 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
Part 80 maritime service authorization holders are excluded from the questions directed 
at Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to questions if 
you are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access 
Service to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband customers in 
price cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may have an 
obligation to simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were required 
to file the FCC Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations for 2013.  
For additional information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection 
Implementation Order and the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the 
FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are 
required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
17. I am an aviation service authorization holder regulated under Part 87 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
Part 87 aviation service authorization holders are excluded from the questions directed at 
Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to questions if you 
are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Service 
to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband customers in price 
cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may have an obligation to 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
17 
 
simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were required to file the FCC 
Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations for 2013.  For additional 
information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection Implementation Order and 
the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the FCC has prepared a 
decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are required to respond to the 
collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
18. I am a private land mobile radio service authorization holder regulated under Part 
90 of the Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
Part 90 private land mobile radio service authorization holders are excluded from the 
questions directed at Purchasers except for authorization holders providing point-to-point 
fixed microwave services and authorization holders in the Wireless Broadband Services 
frequency band (3650-3700 MHz).  Further, you may be required to provide data in 
response to questions if you are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business 
Broadband Internet Access Service to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business 
broadband customers in price cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, 
you may have an obligation to simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if 
you were required to file the FCC Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user 
locations for 2013.  For additional information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data 
Collection Implementation Order and the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. 
Additionally, the FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine 
whether you are required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here 
 
19. I am a personal radio service authorization holder regulated under Part 95 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
Part 95 personal radio service authorization holders are excluded from the questions 
directed at Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to 
questions if you are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet 
Access Service to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband 
customers in price cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may 
have an obligation to simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were 
required to file the FCC Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations 
for 2013.  For additional information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection 
Implementation Order and the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the 
FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are 
required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
20. I am an amateur radio service authorization holder regulated under Part 97 of the 
Commission’s rules. Am I required to respond? 
Part 97 amateur radio service authorization holders are excluded from the questions 
directed at Purchasers.  However, you may be required to provide data in response to 
questions if you are a Provider or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet 
Access Service to 15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband 
customers in price cap areas.  Even if you do not fall in any of these categories, you may 
have an obligation to simply file a certification with the FCC saying as much if you were 
required to file the FCC Form 477 to report broadband connections to end user locations 
for 2013.  For additional information, see the Bureau's September 2013 Data Collection 
Implementation Order and the data collection Instructions – Pages 3-4. Additionally, the 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
18 
 
FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine whether you are 
required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
21. Am I required to if I filed FCC Form 477 for 2013 but I am not a Provider, Purchaser, 
or Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Services provider in a price cap 
area?   
If you were required to report broadband connections to end user locations on the FCC 
Form 477 (“Local Telephone Competition and Broadband Reporting”) for 2013 you are 
required to respond to the collection only to certify that you are not a Provider, Purchaser, 
or Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Services provider in a price cap area.  
Additionally, the FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine 
whether you are required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
 
Confidential Treatment of Submissions 
 
1. Will other filers be able to view the information I submit? 
Information and data submitted in response to the data collection are subject to protections 
afforded in the Data Collection Protective Order.  Only those authorized persons who are 
Outside Counsel or Outside Consultants and not involved in Competitive Decision-Making 
and have executed an Acknowledgement of Confidentiality, as those terms are defined in 
the Protective Order, will be able to access Confidential and Highly Confidential Information 
and Data submitted in response to the collection.  For more information, see the Data 
Collection Protective Order. 
 
2. Will other parties be able to view my submissions through the special access web 
portal? 
No.  Only the filer will be able to view their essay uploads and database container uploads 
submitted in response to the collection through the web portal.   
 
3. How will the FCC protect customer names and Customer Proprietary Network 
Information (CPNI)?  
The FCC will mask the names of customers, i.e. Customer Proprietary Network Information 
(CPNI), reported by Providers in their reported billing data with some other unique 
identifier which will protect the customer’s privacy interest while not adversely affecting 
analysis results. For more information, see the Data Collection Protective Order. 
 
Definitions 
 
1. Does the definition of Connection include a dedicated communications path between 
two End Users? 
Yes.  
 
2. Does the definition of Connection include unlit dark fiber? 
A Connection merely has to have the capability of being used to provide a Dedicated Service 
for purposes of the data collection, which captures Connections using unlit dark fiber.   
 
3. Does a Dedicated Service include mixed DS1s that include elements with a capacity 
below a DS1? 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
19 
 
Filers are only asked to report the Dedicated Services component so you would not need to 
report information on elements with capacity below a DS1, i.e. that does not meet the 
capacity for Dedicated Services as defined in the collection.  To the extent you can separately 
identify as part of a bundled service the Revenues or expenditures associated with the sale 
or purchase of a Dedicated Service, report those Revenues or expenditures.   
 
4. Are entities that provide dark fiber considered Providers for purposes of the filing 
requirement?   
Yes. Entities that provide unlit dark fiber are captured by the collection as Providers.  The 
definition of Competitive Provider includes entities that either provide a Dedicated Service or 
a Connection over which a Dedicated Service could be provided. A Connection merely has to 
have the capability of being used to provide a Dedicated Service for purposes of the data 
collection, which captures Connections using unlit dark fiber.  However, entities that provide 
dark fiber should not report Connections which they have leased pursuant to an IRU (unless 
there are separate fiber strands to the Location that the entity owns and has not leased as 
an IRU). 
 
5. Are Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and 
frame relay services considered a Circuit Based Dedicated Service (CBDS) or a Packet 
Based Dedicated Service (PBDS) for purposes of the collection?   
For purposes of the data collection, SONET, ATM and frame relay services are treated as 
PBDS.  
 
6. Does Location include an End User’s premises?  
Yes. 
 
7. Does Location include central offices? 
No. 
 
8. Are bundled services, including voice, Internet access and data, treated as Dedicated 
Services? 
Yes. The Dedicated Services components of a bundled service offering are captured by the 
collection as Dedicated Services.   To the extent you can separately identify as part of a 
bundled service the Revenues or expenditures associated with the sale or purchase of a 
Dedicated Service, report those Revenues or expenditures.   
Competitive Provider Questions (Section II.A) 
 
1. Which Locations with capable Connections do cable system operators need to report? 
Cable system operators that are Competitive Providers operating in their traditional 
franchise areas, report all Locations with Connections linked to a Metro Ethernet (MetroE)-
capable (or its equivalent) headend, whether in-service or idle and whether or not used to 
provide a special access service.  Metro Ethernet is an Ethernet metropolitan area network 
service offering that involves centrally positioning one or more gigabit Ethernet (GbE) or 10 
gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) switches in a metro area. For Locations with facilities that are not 
linked to a MetroE-capable (or its equivalent) headend, cable system operators must only 
report in-service Connections that were used during the relevant reporting period to 
provide a Dedicated Service or a service that incorporates a Dedicated Service within the 
offering as part of a managed solution or bundle of services sold to the customer.  Cable 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
20 
 
system operators do not report facilities not linked to a MetroE-capable (or its equivalent) 
headend that are not used to provide a special access service.  See Data Collection 
Implementation Order. 
 
2. Are companies that access dark fiber pursuant to a non-IRU agreement but provide 
Dedicated Services to End Users and do not own or use UNEs have to respond to 
Section II.A?  
The respondent is only required to respond to Questions II.A.1-2.  
 
3. How do I know where the Commission has granted Phase I or Phase II Pricing 
Flexibility?  (Question II.A.2(a)) 
A complete list of where the Commission has granted either Phase I and/or Phase II Pricing 
Flexibility for Channel Terminations can be found in Appendix D to the Commission's Pricing 
Flexibility Suspension Order. 
 
4. If I answer “no” to Questions II.A.2 or II.A.2.a, and therefore am not required to 
answer the remaining II.A and II.D questions, what should I upload to the remaining 
II.A. and II.D questions which populate the Essay Upload section of the web portal? 
(Question II.A.2) 
If you answered “no” to question II.A.2 or II.A.2.a, then you are not required to respond to 
the remaining questions in II.A or the questions in II.D.  See Question II.A.2.  However, the 
Special Access Web Portal was designed to automatically populate the Essay Uploads with 
Questions II.A.5, 8, 10-11, 18-19, II.D.1-2.  Filers will receive an error message if they do not 
upload a document to the Confidential and Highly Confidential areas of the “Essay Questions 
Upload Files” area.  In this case, the filer must upload a document to the Confidential and 
Highly Confidential areas but these documents can simply state that the question is non-
applicable (N/A).   In the web portal “Database Upload” area, the filer will upload their 
database container but only need to load data for Table II.A.1 and Table II.A.2 but not need 
for any other fields or tables.   
 
5. Which questions do I need to respond to if I own unlit dark fiber that terminates to a 
Location? (Questions II.A.3-4)   
Unlit dark fiber would be reported as a Location with Connection in response to Questions 
II.A.3-4.  However, you would not need to report billing information related to that facility 
because it is not being used to provide a Dedicated Service.  You must report the Location 
but in the various bandwidth fields you may enter a null value of “0.”  
 
6. Do I need to report “intermediate transport,” i.e.  “middle mile” interoffice transport?  
(Questions II.A.3-5, II.A.12)   
Questions II.A.3-4 capture “last mile” facilities so in response to these questions you would 
not need to report intermediate, i.e. “middle mile” transport.  In Question II.A.5, non-cable 
Competitive Providers must show the fiber routes that constitute their network, including 
the “last-mile” and “middle-mile” transport fiber network, whereas Competitive Providers 
that are cable companies operating within their local franchise areas, must report their 
“middle mile” interoffice transport network but not “last mile” fiber routes.  Question II.A.12 
requests billing information for transmission paths that are sold for the provision of a 
standalone Dedicated Service.  By using the term “transmission paths,” Question II.A.12 is 
not limited to Locations with Connections, i.e., “last-mile” facilities, reported in response to 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
21 
 
Question II.A.4 but also includes dedicated interoffice transport facilities, i.e. intermediate 
transport. 
7. How do we report Locations that do not have U.S. Postal Service addresses or where 
we do not know the geocode (i.e., latitude and longitude) to the requisite degree of 
accuracy? (Questions II.A.4(b)-(c), II.A.7) 
If you have entered the geocode for the Location (i.e., latitude and longitude), then you do 
not need to provide the situs address for the Location.  If you do not know the actual 
address for the Location or the geocode with the requisite degree of accuracy, then you may 
either enter the closest nearby address to the Location and/or estimate the geocode for the 
Location.      
 
8. Latitude and longitude request asks for four digits after the period, but it should end 
in either a 0 or 5 versus using a more accurate ending digit? (Table II.A.4)  
Enter values in decimal degrees to the nearest ±0.0005, i.e., each coordinate must end in 
#.###0 or #.###5.  So if the latitude is 37.74195 you would enter this as 37.7420; if the 
latitude is 37.74112 you would enter this as 37.7410. See Instructions - Pages 12-13. 
 
9. What should I enter in the bandwidth fields if the Location type is unknown? (Table 
II.A.4) 
If the type of Location, i.e. “Loc_type field,”  is “unknown” you will enter information for total 
bandwidth in the “Sold_bandwidth_total” field but you may enter “0” for the following fields:  
? “Sold_bandwidth_enduser” 
? “Sold_bandwidth_tfw” 
? “Sold_bandwidth_Mobile” 
 
10. Should fiber route mapping data be current as of December 31, 2013 or as of the 
filing date? (Question II.A.5)  
For purposes of answering Question II.A.5, mapping data submitted should be accurate as of 
the filing date.   
 
11. Can I use google maps or some other file format other than ESRI Shapefiles to file my 
response to the fiber mapping questions?  (Question II.A.5) 
There are free mapping software programs available, such as QGIS, with which you can use 
to generate a Shapefile format fiber map for uploading to the web portal and submit in 
response to Question II.A.5. 
 
12. How should I format the shapefile map for Question II.A.5? 
Maps should be uploaded to the Special Access Web Portal as a zipped shapefile.  In other 
words, maps should be saved in shapefile format from your GIS.  Since shapefiles typically 
consist of 3 to 9 individual files, the shapefile for the map should be submitted as a single, 
zipped file containing all the component files as well as the .prj file and plain-text “readme” 
file explaining your methodology.  To the extent any component file is required to view your 
shapefile, e.g. .shx, .dbf files, you should include those files in your zipped file.  For additional 
information on formatting your shapefiles, please refer to page 14 of the Instructions.  
  
13. Should we include Nodes data in the zipped file containing the shapefile mapping 
data? (Question II.A.5) 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
22 
 
No.  Nodes data should be uploaded to the Special Access Web Portal in the “Essay Questions 
Upload Files” section as a delimited, plain text file, e.g. .csv, NOT as a shapefile.  Nodes data 
must be filed separately from mapping data and should NOT be included in the zip file 
containing the component files for the fiber map shapefile.  For additional information on 
formatting your Node data, please refer to pages 14-15 of the Instructions. 
 
14. Do I have to provide a map showing all fiber routes or just fiber routes in price cap 
areas? (Question II.A.5) 
You only need to provide a map showing fiber routes in the price cap areas of your service 
area.   
 
15. Am I required to provide a map showing middle-mile and/or last-mile fiber routes? 
(Question II.A.5) 
Competitive Providers that are not cable system operators are required to report last-mile 
and middle-mile fiber routes.  Competitive Providers that are cable system operators on the 
other hand do not have to report last-mile fiber routes, only middle-mile fiber routes. 
 
16. Where do I upload information on interconnecting Nodes in the Special Access Web 
Portal? (Question II.A.5) 
You will provide locations of all Nodes used to interconnect with third party networks and 
the year each Node went live in the “Essay Upload” portion of the Special Access Web Portal, 
not in the Database Container. 
 
17. Are municipalities required to provide a map showing fiber routes that 
municipalities never intended to provide as a commercial service offering? (Question 
II.A.5).   
In answering Question II.A.5, municipalities, including public utilities, must map fiber routes 
that they expect to be used to serve additional Locations within the next 5 years.  
Conversely, municipalities, including public utilities, do not have to map fiber routes if they 
expect that no additional Locations will be served over those specific fiber routes within the 
next 5 years.  Municipalities are required to provide information on Locations connected to 
their network, even if those Connections are not currently capable of providing service, for 
example, even if the Connection only consists of unlit dark fiber.   
 
18. Am I required to report the interconnecting Nodes on a third party Provider’s 
network that is not within my control? (Question II.A.5) 
Providers should only report interconnection Nodes that are on their own facilities (that is, 
within their control).  For example, an ILEC would report any wire center or cabinet, etc. 
that it owns, but not where it interconnects a switch, carrier hotel or cabinet, etc. that is 
owned and managed by a third party Provider. 
 
19. How do I submit a “Confidential” version of the fiber route mapping data? (Question 
II.A.5) 
Question II.A.5 is broken into two parts, the fiber route shapefile and the Node plain text file, 
each which will be separately uploaded to the “Essay Questions Upload Files” section.  The 
Essay upload section contains two areas for uploading files, a “Confidential” and “Highly 
Confidential” area.  The location of companies’ fiber network routes, including the locations 
of all Nodes used to interconnect with third party networks and the year that each Node 
went live, i.e. responses to Question II.A.5, may be designated “Highly Confidential Data” 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
23 
 
pursuant to Appendix B of the Data Collection Protective Order.  In the “Confidential” essay 
upload area of the web portal, you must upload a file but it may be a blank file of any format 
accepted by the web portal Essay Questions upload section.  You do not need to redact or 
“black-out” a shapefile or .csv file.  For this file, you may include a REDACTED – FOR PUBLIC 
INSPECTION heading consistent with the Protective Order.  For more information, see the 
Data Collection Protective Order. 
 
20. Are monthly term discounts for a circuit separate line items in the tables for monthly 
billing data for circuits by circuit element? (Question II.A.12)  
If you have a separate line item for the monthly discount, you should report it as a separate 
line item.  In that case, the Term_Discount_IC field would be “0” because you explicitly 
included a separate line for the discount.  For example, assume the circuit base charge is 
$1000 and customer received a 40% term discount:  Case 1: The provider could bill as two 
line items, with line 1 being the $1000, and line 2 being the -$400 (for a total of $600).  In 
this case, the Provider should  report both line items and leave the “Term_Discount_IC” 
variable as a “0”, because the discount was explicitly reported (rather than “rolled in” to the 
reported amount); Case 2: The Provider could simply bill the circuit as a single line item, 
with that line being $600 for the circuit.  However, implicit in this charge is a term discount.  
In this case, the provider should report the $600 charge, but also report the 
“Term_Discount_IC” variable as a “1”, since the discount has been applied to the circuit. See 
Instructions – Page 21-27. 
 
21. What do I need to report in the database container if I have submitted only loosing or 
unsuccessful bids for Requests for Proposals (RFPs)? (Question II.A.11) 
In Question II.A.11, if you have only submitted loosing or unsuccessful bids for RFPs, in 
order to complete II.A.11 for the data container to avoid an error message, type “Not 
Applicable” in each field following “RFP_Number,” and provide an explanation in the 
Explanatory Attachment. 
  
22. How should we enter monthly term discounts for a circuit in the billing file?  (Table 
II.A.12 Part 1)  
If you have a separate line item for the monthly discount, you should report it as a separate 
line item.  In that case, the Term_Discount_IC field would be “0” because they explicitly 
included a separate line for the discount.  For example, assume the circuit base charge is 
$1000 and customer received a 40% term discount:  Case 1: The provider could bill as two 
line items, with line 1 being the $1000, and line 2 being the -$400 (for a total of $600).  In 
this case, the provider should  report both line items and leave the “Term_Discount_IC” 
variable as a “0”, because the discount was explicitly reported (rather than “rolled in” to the 
reported amount); Case 2: The provider could simply bill the circuit as a single line item, 
with that line being $600 for the circuit.  However, implicit in this charge is a term discount.  
In this case, the provider should report the $600 charge, but also report the 
“Term_Discount_IC” variable as a “1”, since the discount has been applied to the circuit.  See 
Instructions – Pages 21-27. 
 
23. For the Circuit_ID, who is the entity that purchased the elements in common for a 
particular circuit?  (Question II.A.12(d)) 
The circuit ID common to all elements purchased in common for a particular circuit refers 
to what was purchased by the Competitive Provider’s customer.  
 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
24 
 
24. How do we report bundled billing components? (Question II.A.14) 
To the extent you can separately identify as part of a bundled service the Revenues 
associated with the sale of a Dedicated Service, report those Revenues.    Question II.A.14 
does not require you to use the ILEC-centric diagram and descriptions to assign billing 
codes.  As set forth in Question II.A.14(c), “[i]f none of the possible entries describes the 
circuit element, enter a short description.”  This allows you to create your own unique 
billing codes and provide your own description as to what a particular code relates to.  
 
25. Does a company that sells unlit dark fiber have to report the associated Revenue? 
(Questions II.A.15-17) 
No, only Revenues from the provision of Dedicated Services.  
 
26. In responding to Question II.A.17, may I use a sampling methodology to account for 
the percentage of my Revenues from the sale of DS1, DS3, and PBDS services in 2013 
that were generated from an agreement or Tariff that contains a Prior Purchase-
Based Commitment? (Question II.A.17) 
In responding to Question II.A.17, the FCC will accept percentages based on a sampling of 
existing and new agreements or Tariffs provided that the respondent demonstrates in the 
Explanatory Attachment that the sampling methodology meets the following criteria:   
? The sample is randomly selected; 
? The sample design (including the sample size) is developed so that estimates 
meet a reasonable precision objective (e.g., estimates will be +/-5% with 95% 
confidence); 
? The sample design gives consideration to the use of stratification and/or 
probability-proportional-to-size techniques to establish appropriate 
representation of sampling units to achieve the precision objectives; 
? The sample data used in the calculation of the estimates will be available to the 
FCC upon request along with documentation as to how sample was selected. 
Taking advantage of this option does raise the possibility that the FCC may contact the 
respondent post-submission inquiring about the sufficiency of the sampling methodology. 
ILEC Questions (Section II.B) 
 
1. How do we report Locations that do not have U.S. Postal Service addresses or where 
we do not know the geocode (i.e., latitude and longitude) to the requisite degree of 
accuracy? (Questions II.B.4(b)-(c)) 
If you have entered the geocode for the Location (i.e., latitude and longitude), then you do 
not need to provide the situs address for the Location.  If you do not know the actual 
address for the Location or the geocode with the requisite degree of accuracy, then you may 
either enter the closest nearby address to the Location and/or estimate the geocode for the 
Location.      
 
2. How do I report “past due” billing balances on invoices? (Table II.B.4) 
To the extent “past due” balances can be separated from the bills, they can be excluded from 
Table II.B.4.  If the amounts cannot be excluded from the bill, but can be identified, they 
should be identified as such using a “Billing_Code” field that links to Table II.B.6.   
 
3. How do I report “monthly prorated” billing information? (Table II.B.4) 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
25 
 
To the extent that the billed amount can be separated and identified (using Billing Codes 
that link to Table II.B.6) as “prior-month prorated” charges, you may do so using separate 
line items under the unique Circuit ID.  If these charges cannot be separately broken out 
from the billed amount, they may all be included as a single amount under the “Billed” 
amount. 
 
4. How do I report billing information for customers in arrears?  (Table II.B.4) 
To the extent that the billed amount can be separated and identified (using Billing Codes 
that link to Table II.B.6) as “arrears” charges, you may do so using separate line items under 
the unique Circuit ID.  If these charges cannot be separately broken out from the billed 
amount, they may all be included as a single amount under the “Billed” amount. 
 
5. How do I report in-cycle adjustments as line items on customer’s bill? (Table II.B.4) 
Companies are only required to report in-cycle adjustments as line items on the bill if they 
were originally billed as such.  The adjustments should appear in Table II.B.4 as a separate 
observation with the corresponding Circuit ID for which the adjustment applies.  The 
observation in the table containing the information on the adjustment should also include a 
Billing Code describing it as such and linking it to Table II.B.6.  If the adjustments were not 
billed as separate line items, or if the adjustments apply to multiple Circuit IDs, the 
adjustments should be reported in Table II.B.5. 
 
6. In creating a separate observation for the same circuit identifier common to all 
circuit elements purchased in common for a particular circuit (“Circuit_ID” field), 
what field do we place the in-cycle adjustment for a monthly recurring charge?  
(Table II.B.4) 
You may enter the in-cycle adjustments for monthly recurring charges in the “Initial_NRC” 
and “Initial_MRC” fields and the “Total_Billed” fields for that same, newly-created 
observation, such that once all the “Total_Billed” amounts are summed over all observations 
(i.e., circuit elements) with the same “Circuit_ID,” the summed amount should equal the 
total end charge for the circuit in that month, including all in-cycle adjustments.  If you 
prefer, you can simply put the charges in the “Billed” and “Total_Billed” fields and place 
zeros in the “Initial_NRC” and “Initial_MRC” for those observations. 
 
7. How do I know where the Commission has granted Phase I or Phase II Pricing 
Flexibility? (Questions II.B.7, II.B.12(k)-(n)) 
A complete list of where the Commission has granted either Phase I and/or Phase II Pricing 
Flexibility for Channel Terminations can be found in Appendix D to the Commission's Pricing 
Flexibility Suspension Order. 
 
Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Service provider 
Questions (Section II.C) 
 
1. In the Instructions – Pages 53-54, the suggested record format template for 
responding to Question II.C.1 includes subparts “c-d Part 1” and “c-d Part 2” but there 
is no subpart “c-d” in the Data Collection Question II.C.1? 
In the Instructions, “Question II.C.1.c-d Part 1”on page 53 should read “Question II.C.a-b Part 
1” and “Question II.C.1.c-d Part 2” on page 54 should read “Question II.C.a-b Part 2.” 
 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
26 
 
“Purchasers – mobile wireless service provider” Questions (Section II.E) 
 
1. How do we report Locations that do not have U.S. Postal Service addresses or where 
we do not know the geocode (i.e., latitude and longitude) to the requisite degree of 
accuracy? (Questions II.E.2(b)-(c)) 
If you have entered the geocode for the Location (i.e., latitude and longitude), then you do 
not need to provide the situs address for the Location.  If you do not know the actual 
address for the Location or the geocode with the requisite degree of accuracy, then you may 
either enter the closest nearby address to the Location and/or estimate the geocode for the 
Location.      
 
2. Do the Purchaser questions capture Dedicated Services provided as Unbundled 
Network Elements (UNEs)? (Section II.E) 
Yes. Dedicated Services include DS1s and DS3s, whether or not they are sold as UNEs.  To the 
extent you can separately identify as part of a bundled service the expenditures associated 
with the purchase of a Dedicated Service, report those expenditures. 
“Purchasers – Other” Questions (Section II.F) 
 
1. Are expenditures on Dedicated Service reported to include just the monthly recurring 
charges (MRCs) or the MRCs and the non-recurring charges (NRCs) associated with 
the service, e.g., ETFs, construction charges, etc.?  (Question II.F.2) 
Filers should report both the MRCs and NRCs associated with the Dedicated Service as 
expenditures on Dedicated Service. 
 
2. How do I know where the Commission has granted Phase I or Phase II Pricing 
Flexibility? (Questions II.F.13(m)-(n))   
A complete list of where the Commission has granted either Phase I and/or Phase II Pricing 
Flexibility for Channel Terminations can be found in Appendix D to the Commission's Pricing 
Flexibility Suspension Order. 
 
3. Do the Purchaser questions capture Dedicated Services provided as Unbundled 
Network Elements (UNEs)? (Section II.F) 
Yes. Dedicated Services include DS1s and DS3s, whether or not they are sold as UNEs. To the 
extent you can separately identify as part of a bundled service the expenditures associated 
with the purchase of a Dedicated Service, report those expenditures. 
 
Form 477 Filer Certification (Section II.G) 
 
1. Does the data collection affect my Form 477 filing? 
No. 
 
2. Do I need to amend my Form 477 filing because of the special access data collection? 
No.  
 
3. Can I certify at the holding company level or do I need to break it out by subsidiaries? 
You have the option of filing the certification at the holding company-level or individually 
by subsidiary.   If you are certifying at the holding company-level and would like to clarify 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
27 
 
your relationship with various subsidiaries on whose behalf you are certifying, the 
parent/holding company or controlling entity may separately file a letter in the FCC’s 
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) in WC Docket No. 05-25 identifying its FCC 
Registration Number (FRN) and the FRN and name of all of its subsidiaries that are 
separately filing responses to the data collection.   Please address the letter to Marlene H. 
Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, 
D.C. 20554 and send a copy of this letter via email to SPADCOutreach@fcc.gov. 
 
4. When do I need to submit my corporate letter identifying FRNs in ECFS if I am filing 
both a Streamlined Certification for certain FRNs and a Full Website submission for 
other FRNs? 
You can submit two separate submission packages, one for your Affiliates filing Streamlined 
Certifications and one for your Affiliates filing Full Website submissions.  As explained in the 
Instructions, the ultimate parent/holding company or controlling entity must separately file 
a letter in ECFS in WC Docket No. 05-25 identifying its FRN and the FRN and name of all of 
its subsidiaries that are separately filing responses to this data collection; send a copy of 
this letter via email to SPADCOutreach@fcc.gov.  For the Streamlined Certifications, you 
should file the corporate letter identifying FRNs in ECFS for those filers covered by the 
submission by December 15, 2014.  For Full Website submissions, you should file the 
corporate letter identifying FRNs in ECFS for those filers covered by the submission by the 
appropriate deadline, i.e. January 29, 2015 for businesses with more than 1,500 employees 
that are required to respond to the special access data collection and February 27, 2015 for 
businesses with 1,500 or fewer employees that are required to respond to the special access 
data collection.  See Order Extending Deadlines for Special Access Data Collection.   
 
5. How do I file at the parent/holding company-level if some of my Affiliates are filing 
Streamlined Certifications and others are filing Full Website submissions? 
You can submit two separate submission packages for your Affiliates filing Streamlined 
Certifications and Full Website submissions.  You will log in to the Special Access Web 
Portal under separate FRNs, one FRN for the Streamlined Certifications and one FRN for the 
Full Website submission.  The corporate letters filed in ECFS for the Streamlined 
Certification and Full Website submission will link the ultimate parent/holding company or 
controlling entity FRN and the FRN and name of all of its subsidiaries that are separately 
filing responses to this data collection. 
Special Access Web Portal 
 
“Log In” Page 
 
1. How do I submit responses to the collection?   
Submit responses to the collection, including narrative responses and database containers, 
and streamlined certifications through the Special Access Web Portal 
 
2. What is an FRN? 
FRN stands for FCC Registration Number.  In order to conduct business with the FCC, you 
must first register through the Commission Registration System (CORES) as a business or 
individual.  Upon registration, you will be assigned a 10-digit FRN, which will be used to 
uniquely identify you in transactions with the FCC.   
 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
28 
 
3. What's the format for entering the FRN? 
Enter the FRN with no dashes or spaces, and be sure to enter any leading zeroes. 
 
4. I don't know my FRN password. 
Click the Forgot You Password? link on the Log In page.  This will allow you to reset your 
password online if you know the answer to your previously-provided a Personal Security 
Question.  If you do not have this information, contact FCC Technical Support at 1-877-480-
3201 and select option #1 from the menu for password reset assistance (Mon-Fri 8:00am-
6:00pm ET). 
 
5. Does the parent company of a subsidiary or affiliate that is otherwise required to 
respond to the collection need to apply for an FRN is they do not have one?  
Yes, the parent company will need to register for an FRN in order to respond to the 
collection. 
6. I have multiple FRNs. Which FRN should I log in with? 
Parties can either summit a single response reporting aggregate information at the ultimate 
parent/holding company level for all subsidiaries, affiliates, and intermediate holding 
companies or submit separate responses for individual subsidiaries, affiliates, and 
intermediate holding companies.  For further information, see the date collection 
Instructions – Pages 7-8. 
 
7. How come I can’t log in with my FRN password? 
The web portal log in does not allow certain special characters (such as @ or &) to be in the 
password even if you registered an FRN and password with special characters with the 
FCC's Commission Registration System (CORES). Please click the "Forgot your password?" 
link on the web portal log in screen to generate a new password associated with your FRN 
and make sure this password does not contain any special characters.   
 
“Getting Started” Page 
 
8. What is the Database Container Download?  
The database container is a file for submitting data that will include validation scripts to 
verify that the filer is providing the data in the appropriate format.  The database container 
is now available by clicking here but is also available on the Special Access Web Portal.  
 
9. When will the Database Container be available for Download?  
On December 5, 2014, the FCC released the database container on the Special Access Web 
Portal, Version 1.1, which is necessary for the submission of data in response to the special 
access data collection.  A technical manual, database container, and .zip file containing a 
folder with scripts for creating and loading a database container in Oracle are available by 
clicking here.  The FCC hosted a webinar on December 18, 2014 discussing the technical 
aspects of the database container which provided a walk-through of the database container.  
A transcript and recording of the webinar will be available on the Special Access Data 
Collection Overview page.  
 
10. Can I submit data without using the Database Container?   
Only for .zip files that are larger than 2 GB.  Respondents can make arrangements with FCC 
staff to deliver files larger than 2 GB using a portable electronic storage medium.   
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
29 
 
 
11. Can I submit my Essay Uploads without submitting my Database Container and Log 
File? 
You can upload responses to the narrative questions on the Essay Uploads page but you will 
be unable to successfully complete the submission process for the Full Website filing option 
until the Database Container is made available.   
 
12. Do I qualify for the Streamlined Certification Process? 
You only qualify for the Streamlined Certification Process if you were required to file the 
Form 477 "Local Telephone Competition and Broadband Reporting," on March 1, 2013, to 
report broadband connections to end users as of December 31, 2012 and are not a Provider, 
Purchaser, or entity providing Best Efforts Business Broadband Internet Access Services to 
15,000 or more customers or 1,500 or more business broadband customers in price cap 
areas. Additionally, the FCC has prepared a decisional tree diagram to help you determine 
whether you are required to respond to the collection which is available by clicking here. 
 
13. Why can’t I access the Full Website with my Internet Explorer browser?  
The Full Website requires Internet Explorer (IE) 8 or higher. Users who have IE7 or lower 
should use a different web browser or upgrade to IE8 or higher in order to access the Full 
Website. 
 
“Filer Identification” Page 
 
14. Who do I address my letter identifying the parent/holding company or controlling 
entity FRN and subsidiary FRNs and names that are separately filing responses? 
(Instructions – Page 8)   
Parties can either submit a single response reporting aggregate information at the ultimate 
parent/holding company level for all subsidiaries, affiliates, and intermediate holding 
companies or submit separate responses for individual subsidiaries, affiliates, and 
intermediate holding companies. If filing separate responses, identify the name and FRN of 
the filer’s ultimate parent/holding company or controlling entity (Instructions – Pages 7-8)  
The ultimate parent/holding company or controlling entity must separately file a letter in 
the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) in WC Docket No. 05-25 
identifying its FRN and the FRN and name of all of its subsidiaries that are separately filing 
responses to this data collection; send a copy of this letter via email to Craig Glenn at 
Craig.Glenn@fcc.gov.  Please address the letter to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal 
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554  
 
15. Who is a “Purchaser – Other”? 
Refers to Purchasers that are not mobile wireless service providers. For more information, 
see Data Collection Questions 11.F.1-14 and Instructions – Pages 64-71. 
 
“Essay Uploads” Page 
 
16. What collection Questions should appear in the Essay Uploads section for my filer 
type?  
Type of Filer Selected Essay Questions that Should Appear 
Competitive Provider 
II.A.5, A.8, A.10, A.11 Part 2, A.18, and A.19 
II.D.1-2 
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
30 
 
Type of Filer Selected Essay Questions that Should Appear 
Explanatory Attachment  
ILEC 
II.D.1-2 
Explanatory Attachment  
Entity that provides Best 
Efforts Business Broadband 
Internet Access Service to 
15,000 or more customers or 
1,500 or more business 
broadband customers in price 
cap areas 
II.C.1 
Explanatory Attachment  
Purchaser that is a mobile 
wireless service provider 
II.E.9-13 
Explanatory Attachment  
Purchaser that is not a 
mobile wireless service 
provider 
II.F.8-12 
Explanatory Attachment  
Voluntary Filer 
II.C.1 and II.F questions 
Explanatory Attachment  
 
17. Is there a file size limit for Essay Uploads?  
Yes. The updated file size limit is now 200 MB (not 2 GB). 
 
18. How can I submit files that exceed 2 GB?  
Respondents can make arrangements with FCC staff to deliver files larger than 2 GB using a 
portable electronic storage medium.   
 
19. My essay responses do not contain Highly Confidential Information so what am I 
supposed to upload in the "Highly Confidential" field? 
Upload the same Confidential filing in the "Highly Confidential" field.   
 
20. What should I file in the “Confidential” section for the fiber route maps? (Question 
II.A.5) 
Consistent with the Protective Order, you may upload a document with the stamp 
“REDACTED – FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.” You must upload a document in the Confidential 
and Highly Confidential sections or you will receive an error message.  
 
21. What types of files will the essay upload accept? 
There are no formatting restrictions on uploads responding to the Essay Questions.  The 
essay upload will accept Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Adobe PDFs, text, etc.   
 
“Database Upload” Page 
 
22. What types of files will the database upload accept?  
The database container will only accept a .zip file format that does not exceed 2 Gigabytes 
(GB). 
 
23. Is there a file size limit for Database Uploads?  
Yes. A 2 GB limit applies to the zipped database container file that is loaded into the special 
access web portal. 
 
24. How can I submit files that exceed 2 GB?  
Respondents can make arrangements with FCC staff to deliver files larger than 2 GB using a 
portable electronic storage medium.  Contact Craig Glenn, Craig.Glenn@fcc.gov and/or 202-
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
31 
 
418- 1542, to discuss the manual submission of your database container file on hard 
drive(s) if it is excessively large and cannot reasonably be submitted electronically to 
the FCC. 
 
25. What is a Log File? 
A file that provides a system check to ensure that your FCC Registration Number (FRN) 
matches the database container and that your database container is properly received by 
the FCC. 
 
26. Why can’t I upload my Log File and Database Container? 
The database container parties will download from the web portal to load and deliver 
certain data in response to the collection, e.g., location and pricing data, is available and at 
this time you are able to being loading data into the database container.  However, the 
Bureau has deactivated certain functionality on the web portal that respondents will use to 
electronically upload the database container pending additional testing of the Special 
Access Web Portal Database Upload system.  
 
“Certification” Page 
 
27. May a single Certification Statement cover multiple entities? 
Yes. 
 
Submission 
 
28. Can I print my complete submission package? 
No. 
 
29. Can I print the certification page as proof of filing? 
Yes. 
 
30. When will I be able to submit responses to the Full Website. 
You will not be able to submit your responses until the Database Container is uploaded to 
the Full Website under the "Getting Started" webpage. The database container parties will 
download from the web portal to load and deliver certain data in response to the collection, 
e.g., location and pricing data, is undergoing final testing and is not yet available.  
Accordingly, the Bureau has deactivated certain functionality on the web portal that 
respondents will use to electronically upload the database container pending completion of 
the database container.  This feature will become available in the near future, in Version 2.0, 
once testing is successfully completed. 
 
31. How can I amend, correct or delete my submission once I submit through the web 
portal? (Instructions – Page 8) 
The web portal is not designed to allow parties to amend, correct or delete their 
submissions.  The only option available is for the FCC to reset the web portal system.  If the 
FCC resets the system, all information that you previously entered in the web portal and 
submitted will be deleted.  In order to be compliant with the collection, you will need to re-
enter your information and resubmit your corrected certification in full through the web 
portal.  If you need to make a corrective resubmission, contact FCC staff at SPADC@fcc.gov 
to reset the system to enable you to resubmit your submission.  
Special Access Data Collection FAQs 2/13/15 
 
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