FCC Designates 5 Carriers as Eligible for Universal Service Support

The Federal Communications Commission designated five carriers across six states as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in eligible high-cost areas within the specified states. Designation in these areas is conditioned upon, limited to, and effective upon petitioners’ authorization to receive support under the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) program. Any such ETC designation covering RDOF supported areas, however, should not be interpreted as an entitlement to support or an indication that the Bureau will ultimately authorize the petitioner for support. One additional petitioner, Carolina West Wireless, requested designation as an ETC in an area not eligible for RDOF funding authorization. For such area, the Bureau limits the ETC designation to eligibility for Lifeline support. In making these designations, the Bureau finds that each of these petitioners meets the eligibility requirements to receive universal service support. If the Bureau decides the petitioners should be authorized to receive support, it will release separate public notices announcing funding authorizations.

The five carriers are: 1) Bright House Networks Information Services (Alabama); Charter Fiberlink – Alabama; Time Warner Cable Information Services (Alabama); 2) Talkie Communications (Delaware); 3) Conexon Connect (Florida), 4) Conexon Connect (Tennessee), and 5) Charter Fiberlink – Tennessee, Time Warner Cable Information Services (Tennessee).