About High Cost:

• Overview of the Program
• Overview of the Process
• Site Visits
• Training Events
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• Filing Appeals
• Red Light Status (FCC site)
• Requesting Confidential Information
• Understanding Audits
• Understanding Disaggregation
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• USAC FCC Filings

High Cost Tools:

• Required Forms
• Filing Requirements and Deadlines
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• High Cost Maps IAS
• HCM CLLI Tool
• Disaggregation Maps
• Disaggregation Checklist
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• Disbursement Data Search
• Certification Search
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• Latest News
• Program Compliance - Whistleblower Hotline
• Submitting A Complaint

Step 4: Safety Valve Support (SVS)

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

SVS is support "above the cap" that is available to incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) that acquire high-cost exchanges and make substantial post-transaction investments to enhance these exchanges. If HCL support is not capped in a particular year, SVS is not available to carriers.

Competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (CETCs) will receive SVS at the same per-line rate as the ILEC in whose service area the CETC serves lines when the CETC files line count data at the acquired exchange level.

Filing Requirements

Competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (CETCs) are not required to submit cost data to receive SVS. CETCs must file line count data with USAC consistent with the incumbent local exchange carrier's acquired exchanges and ensure that it is listed in the Rural Use certification submitted by its state commission or self-certify if not subject to state jurisdiction.

Required Line Count Filings

Required Certification Filings

State regulator certification requirement

If an ETC is not subject to state jurisdiction, it may file a self-certification directly with USAC and the FCC. Filing requirements