High Cost

Competitive Carriers

Competitive wireline and wireless telephone companies operating in the service area(s) of a rural or non-rural incumbent local exchange carrier may be eligible to receive High Cost support.

Competitive wireline and wireless telephone companies operating in the service area(s) of a rural or non-rural incumbent local exchange carrier may be eligible to receive High Cost support if they seek and receive designation as a competitive eligible telecommunications carrier (CETC) by their state utility regulator or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). CETCs are eligible to receive universal service support provided that they provide service using their own facilities, either partially or completely. Pure resellers are not eligible.

A competitive carrier that is designated as an ETC can receive High Cost support that is determined by the number of lines it serves using its own facilities and the per-line support received by the ILEC in whose service area the CETC is competing. CETCs must file line count data and certifications as required by each High Cost support component.

Rural or Non-Rural Carrier Status
A CETC receives High Cost support based on the status of the ILEC in whose service area the CETC operates.

Step 1 Understand What is Supported

Step 2 Determine Eligibility

Step 3 Obtain a USAC Service Provider Identification Number

Step 4 CETC Filing Requirements

Step 5 File Line Count Data

Step 6 File Certifications

Step 7 Report Revenue (Form 499)


Last modified on 1/11/2008