High Cost

State Commissions

States have the primary responsibility for designating carriers as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs).

State Regulatory Commissions
States have the primary responsibility for designating carriers as ETCs. The High Cost Program works with state utility regulators to determine ETC status and ETC service areas, to ensure that carrier certifications are received on time, and to respond to questions from state regulatory staff members.

State regulatory commissions are the regulatory bodies that, under the laws of a state, have regulatory jurisdiction over the intrastate operations of telecommunications carriers. These regulatory bodies define the service areas of incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and competitive LECs.

A service area is a geographic area established by a state commission for the purpose of determining universal service obligations and support mechanisms. A service area defines the overall area for which a carrier shall receive support from federal universal service support programs. In the case of a service area served by incumbent telephone companies, service area means the company's "study area."

Certification of ETCs is required for High Cost support. State regulators typically submit carrier certifications for rural, non-rural, and competitive carriers that are eligible to receive High Cost support in the form of a letter to USAC and the FCC. In cases where the state lacks jurisdiction, an authorized corporate officer of the ETC is responsible for submitting a certification. Certifications must state that all support received will be used only for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and services for which the support is intended.

 

Step 1 Notify USAC of New ETC Designations

Step 2 Filing Non-Rural Use Certifications

Step 3 Filing Rural Use Certifications

Step 4 Filing Annual Rate Comparability Review


Last modified on 1/15/2008