High Cost

Step 4: Filing Requirements

Competitive carriers that are eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) must submit line count data, certain cost data, and certifications to receive High Cost support.

Competitive carriers must submit line count data under Part 54 of the FCC's rules to USAC in order for USAC to calculate High Cost support amounts to be disbursed to competitive carriers for each support component.

Competitive carriers can use the High Cost Filing Requirements and Deadlines Tool (http://www.usac.org/hc/tools/filing-tool/default.aspx) or links below for more information on filing requirements.

High Cost Loop support is available to rural price-cap and rate-of-return incumbent carriers and competitive carriers providing service in the areas of these rural companies. Filing requirements

High Cost Model support, also known as forward-looking support, is available only to non-rural incumbent carriers (mostly price-cap carriers) and competitive carriers providing service in the eligible wire centers of these non-rural companies. Filing requirements

Interstate Access Support is available only to price-cap incumbent carriers (mostly non-rural and some rural carriers) and competitive carriers operating in the service area(s) of a price-cap carrier. Filing requirements

Interstate Common Line Support is available only to rate-of-return incumbent carriers (mostly rural and some non-rural carriers) and competitive carriers providing service in the areas of these companies. Filing requirements

Local Switching Support is available to rural incumbent carriers serving 50,000 lines or fewer (mostly rate-of-return and some price-cap carriers) as well as competitive carriers providing service in the areas of these rural companies. Filing requirements

Safety Net Additive support is a sub-component of High Cost Loop support and is available to rural price-cap and rate-of-return incumbent carriers and competitive carriers providing service in the areas of these rural companies. Filing requirements

Safety Valve Support is a sub-component of High Cost Loop support and is available for rural price-cap and rate-of-return incumbent carriers and competitive carriers providing service in the areas of these rural companies. Filing requirements

In FCC Report and Order 07-150, the Commission clarified document retention requirements for High Cost beneficiaries, requiring "recipients of universal service support for high-cost providers [and their agents] to retain all records that they may require to demonstrate to auditors that the support they received was consistent with the Act and the Commission's rules, assuming that the audits are conducted within five years of disbursement of such support.  These records should include without limitation the following:  data supporting line count filings; historical customer records; fixed asset property accounting records; general ledgers; invoice copies for the purchase and maintenance of equipment; maintenance contracts for the upgrade or equipment; and any other relevant documentation. 

"Beneficiaries must make available all such documents and records that pertain to them, including those of NECA, contractors, and consultants working on behalf of the beneficiaries to the Commission's OIG, to the USF Administrator, and to their auditors." 

Please note that "to the extent other rules or any other law require or necessitate documents be kept for longer periods of time (e.g., to support the account balances in the Part 32 Uniform System of Accounts, continuing property records, pole attachment calculations, plant equipment age, cost, or useful life, depreciation rates)," the Commission "[did] not alter, amend, or supplant such rule or law.  High cost program recipients must keep documents for such longer periods of time as required or necessary under such other rules or law and make such documents available to the Commission and USAC." 

This Report and Order became effective 30 days after it was published in the Federal Register, January 31, 2008, pp. 5843-5. 

 


Last modified on 3/12/2008