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| FCC | RIN: 3060-AF85 | Publication ID: Spring 2011 |
| Title: Implementation of the Universal Service Portions of the 1996 Telecommunications Act | |
| Abstract: The goals of Universal Service, as mandated by the 1996 Act, are to promote the availability of quality services at just, reasonable, and affordable rates; increase access to advanced telecommunications services throughout the Nation; advance the availability of such services to all consumers, including those in low income, rural, insular, and high cost areas at rates that are reasonably comparable to those charged in urban areas. In addition, the 1996 Act states that all providers of telecommunications services should contribute to Federal universal service in some equitable and nondiscriminatory manner; there should be specific, predictable, and sufficient Federal and State mechanisms to preserve and advance universal service; all schools, classrooms, health care providers, and libraries should, generally, have access to advanced telecommunications services; and finally, that the Federal-State Joint Board and the Commission should determine those other principles that, consistent with the 1996 Act, are necessary to protect the public interest. More recently, modernization efforts for continuous improvements to the universal service programs are being realized consistent and in keeping with the goals envisioned by the National Broadband Plan. On February 19, 2010, the Commission released an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that enabled schools that receive funding from the E-rate program to allow members of the general public to use the schools' Internet access during non-operating hours through funding year 2010 (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010) and sought comment on revising its rules to make this change permanent. On March 18, 2010, the Commission issued a Report & Order and Memorandum Opinion & Order. In this order, the Commission addressed an inequitable asymmetry in the Commission's current rules governing the receipt of universal service high-cost local switching support (LSS) by small incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs). By modifying the Commission's rules to permit incumbent LECs that lose lines to receive additional LSS when they cross a threshold, the order provides LSS to all small LECs on the same basis. Nothing in the order is intended to address the long-term role of LSS in the Commission's high-cost universal service policies, which the Commission is considering as part of comprehensive universal service reform. April 16, 2010, the Commission issued an Order and NPRM addressing high-cost universal service support for non-rural carriers serving insular areas. In the NPRM, the Commission sought comment on amending its rules to provide additional low-income support in Puerto Rico. On April 21, 2010, the Commission issued a Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the first in a series of proceedings to kick off universal service support reform that is key to making broadband service available for millions of Americans who lack access. This NOI and NPRM sought comment on first steps to reform the distribution of universal service high-cost support. | |
| Agency: Federal Communications Commission(FCC) | Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant |
| RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda | Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions |
| Major: No | Unfunded Mandates: No |
| CFR Citation: 47 CFR 54 | |
| Legal Authority: 47 USC 151 et seq | |
Legal Deadline:
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Timetable:
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| Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes | Government Levels Affected: Undetermined |
| Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Governmental Jurisdictions | |
| Included in the Regulatory Plan: No | |
| RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes | |
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Agency Contact: Nakesha Woodward Program Analyst Federal Communications Commission Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554 Phone:202 418-1502 Email: kesha.woodward@fcc.gov |
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