FCC Designates Four More CAF II Auction Awardees as Eligible Telecommunications Carriers

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau designated four petitioners -- Bloosurf, Hankins Information Technology, Northern Arapaho Tribal Industries (Wind River Internet), and Tombigbee Communications, Inc -- as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in eligible high-cost areas within the specified states. Designation is conditioned upon and limited to petitioners’ authorization to receive Connect America support awarded through the Connect America Fund Phase II auction (Auction 903) and effective only upon such authorization. One of these petitioners, Wind River, also requests designation as an ETC outside of areas eligible for Auction 903 funding authorization. For such areas, the FCC limited the designation of Wind River as an ETC only 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, as set forth in section 214(e)(6) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), and related Commission rules. The Bureau also waives, on its own motion, the requirement that these petitioners submit proof of their ETC designation on or before February 25, 2019.