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The Telecommunications Act of 1996 expanded the traditional goal of universal service to include increased access to both telecommunications and advanced services—such as high-speed Internet—for all consumers at just, reasonable, and affordable rates. The Act established principles for universal service that specifically focused on increasing access to evolving services for consumers living in rural and insular areas, and for consumers with low incomes. Additional principles called for increased access to high-speed Internet in the nation's schools, libraries, and rural health care facilities. The FCC established four programs within the Universal Service Fund to implement the statute. The four programs are:Connect America Fund (formally known as High-Cost Support) for rural areas,Lifeline (for low-income consumers), including initiatives to expand phone service for Native Americans Schools and Libraries (E-rate), Rural Health Care,The Universal Service Fund is paid for by contributions from telecommunications carriers, including wireline and wireless companies, and interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, including cable companies that provide voice service, based on an assessment on their interstate and international end-user revenues. The Universal Service Administrative Company, or USAC, administers the four programs and collects monies for the Universal Service Fund under the direction of the FCC. On July 26, 2012, the Commission released a Public Notice seeking comments on a proposed survey of urban rates for fixed voice and fixed broadband residential services. On September 12, 2012, the Commission released a Public Notice seeking comments on the 2013 Modification of Average Schedule high-cost loop support formula proposed by NECA. On November 16, 2012, the Commission released a fifth Order on Reconsideration clarifying certain aspects of the USF/ICC Transformation Order regarding financial reporting obligations and requests for waivers in response to various petitions for reconsideration and/or clarification. On November 19, 2012, the Commission released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on two alternative approaches to advancing broadband objectives in price cap territories, using the remaining 2012 Connect America Phase I funding. On November 23, 2012, the Commission released a public notice seeking comments on proposed revisions to the annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Forms 499A-Q and their accompanying instructions. On December 13, 2012, the Commission released an Order approving NECA's 2013 proposing modifications to the formula used to calculate interstate USF High-Cost Loop Support for Average Schedule Companies. On December 21, 2012, the Commission released a Report and Order launching the Healthcare Connect Fund to expand health care provider access to broadband and foster state and regional broadband health care networks, and creates a Skilled Nursing Facility Pilot Program. On January 2, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice announcing the comment cycle regarding modifications to Connect America Phase I Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. On January 17, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice seeking further comment on issues related to the implementation of the Remote Areas Fund. On January 30, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice announcing the high-cost loop support benchmarks to be used by NECA for 2013. On February 8, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice seeking to further develop the record on issues relating to Connect America Phase II support for price cap carriers serving areas outside of the contiguous United States. On February 12, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice seeking updates and corrections to TelcoMaster table for the Connect America Cost Model. On February 26, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice seeking comments on issues related to the service obligations for support recipients and unsubsidized competitors in Phase II of Connect America. On February 27, 2013, the Commission released a Sixth Order on Reconsideration and Memorandum Opinion and Order addressing several issues related to the benchmarking rule and other changes made to high-cost universal service support for rate-of-return carriers in the USF/ICC Transformation Order. On March 26, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice announcing updated 2013 high-cost loop support benchmarks, accounting for the changes adopted in the Sixth Order on Reconsideration, and making minor corrections to the input variables. On April 15, 2013, the Commission released a Memorandum Opinion and Order granting limited forbearance to Lifeline-only eligible telecommunications carrier from requirements of the Communications Act and the Commission's rules. On April 22, 2013, the Commission released a Report and Order adopting platform, addressing the design of the network and network engineering for Connect America Cost Model to estimate forward-looking costs of Connect America Phase II deployment. On May 16, 2013, the Commission released a Report and Order announcing the parameters for the Connect America Phase II. On May 22, 2013, the Commission released a Report and Order providing for a second round of Connect America Phase I incremental funding in 2013 to further leverage private investment in rural America and accelerate the availability of broadband to consumers who lack access. On May 23, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice providing guidance regarding the 2013 Lifeline recertification process. On June 7, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice announcing the availability of version 3.1.3 of the Connect America Cost Model (CAM). On June 17, 2013, the Commission announced the release of illustrative model outputs from running the Connect America Cost Model version 3.1.3 and of model methodology documentation. On June 25, 2013, the Commission released an Order codifying the Commission's requirement that eligible telecommunications carriers verify a Lifeline subscriber's eligibility for Lifeline service before activating such service. On July 16, 2013, the Commission released an Order on Reconsideration requiring carriers to report updates to planned Phase I deployments and provide a limited waiver of the deadline for carriers to accept second round Phase I support. On July 23, 2013, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking initiating a review and update of the E-rate program to focus on 21st-century broadband needs of schools and libraries. On July 26, 2013, the Commission released an Order adopting several measures to provide greater clarity regarding universal service high-cost support amounts that the rate-of-return carriers will receive in 2014. On August 29, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice announcing availability of version 3.2 of the CAM (including illustrative results), and seeks comment on certain adjustments to reflect the unique circumstances and operating conditions in the non-contiguous areas of the United States. On October 31, 2013, the Commission released an Order specifying service obligations of price cap carriers that accept Connect America Phase II model-based support through the State-level commitment process, and addressed how to determine what areas are considered as served by an unsubsidized competitor. On December 2, 2013, the Commission released a Public Notice announcing Availability of Version 4.0 of the Connect America Fund Phase II Cost Model.