High Cost
About High Cost:
- Overview of the Program
- Overview of the Process
- Site Visits
- Training Events
- Filing Appeals
- Red Light Status (FCC site)
- Requesting Confidential Information
- Understanding Audits
- Understanding Disaggregation
- USAC FCC Filings
High Cost Tools:
Step 7: Disaggregation Plans
Disaggregation calculates the support provided to competitive carriers based on the Disaggregation Plan selected by the corresponding incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC).
The disaggregation process is a function in the High Cost Program of the Universal Service Fund (USF).
The disaggregation process targets High Cost support for a carrier at a level below the study area (for example, at the wire center level). Prior to the implementation of the disaggregation process, High Cost support was averaged across all lines served by a carrier in a study area. Thus, the per-line basis for High Cost support was the same throughout a study area.
However, the costs of serving customers may vary among locations within a study area. Through the disaggregation process, the High Cost support supplied to a competitor is calculated to reflect the support per loop that the ILEC receives for a particular disaggregated area, instead of the whole study area. Part 54.315 of the Federal Communications Commission rules describes disaggregation of support by rural ILECs.
