2019 Urban Rate Survey

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announced the 2019 reasonable comparability benchmarks for fixed voice and broadband services for eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) subject to broadband public interest obligations, including incumbent local exchange rate-of-return carriers, incumbent price-cap carriers receiving CAF Phase II support, Rural Broadband Experiment providers, and Connect America Fund Phase II Auction (Auction 903) winners. In addition, the FCC posted the fixed voice and broadband services data collected in the most recent urban rate survey, and explanatory notes regarding the data. The FCC also announces the required minimum usage allowance for ETCs subject to public interest obligations for fixed broadband.

Voice Rates. Based on the survey results, the 2019 urban average monthly rate (the rate floor) is $26.98. Therefore, the reasonable comparability benchmark for voice services, two standard deviations above the urban average, is $51.61. Under the FCC's rules, each ETC, including competitive ETCs providing fixed voice services, must certify in the FCC Form 481 filed no later than July 1, 2019, that the pricing of its basic residential voice services is no more than $51.61.

Broadband Rates. Recipients of high-cost and/or Connect America Fund support that are subject to broadband performance obligations are required to offer broadband service at rates that are at or below the relevant reasonable comparability benchmark. Carriers subject to the Alaska Plan are required to meet Alaska-specific benchmarks and to certify that they are meeting the relevant reasonable comparability benchmark for their broadband service offering in the FCC Form 481 filed no later than July 1, 2019.