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Home My WebLink About20230113Amended Application.pdf1 Ronald L. Williams, ISB #3034 HAWLEY TROXELL 877 W. Main Street, 10th Floor Boise, ID 83702 208-344-6633 (telephone) 208-954-5253 (facsimile) rwilliams@hawleytroxell.com Chérie R. Kiser Angela F. Collins CAHILL GORDON &REINDEL LLP 1990 K Street, N.W., Suite 950 Washington, D.C. 20006 202-862-8900 (telephone) 212-269-5420 (facsimile) ckiser@cahill.com acollins@cahill.com Before the IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION In the Matter of Application of Cable One VoIP LLC to Partially Relinquish Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. CAB-T-22-01 AMENDED REQUEST TO PARTIALLY RELINQUISH ETC DESIGNATION In accordance with 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(4), Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) Rule 54.205, and Idaho statutes,1 Cable One VoIP LLC d/b/a Sparklight (the “Company”), by its attorneys, respectfully submits this request to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (the “Commission”) to relinquish certain portions of the Company’s eligible telecommunications carrier (“ETC”) designation. In support of this request for partial relinquishment, the Company states: 1 Idaho Stat. § 62-610D(4). RECEIVED Friday, January 13, 2023 11:39:55 AM IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION 2 1.The Company is a Delaware limited liability company with a principal place of business located at 210 E. Earll Drive, Phoenix, Arizona 85012. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cable One, Inc. (“Cable One”), a publicly traded Delaware corporation (NYSE: CABO). Cable One and its wholly owned subsidiaries provide cable/video, Internet access, broadband, and voice services in 23 states, including Idaho. 2.In January 2020, the FCC adopted the framework and rules for Phase I of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”) auction (Auction 904) to connect millions of rural homes and small businesses to fixed high-speed broadband networks.2 The Company’s parent Cable One participated in Auction 904 as a member of the Wisper-CABO 904 Consortium (the “Consortium”). On December 7, 2020, the FCC announced the results of Auction 904, and the Consortium was a winning bidder in numerous states, including Idaho. Pursuant to the FCC’s process for distributing winning bids among related entities, the Consortium assigned the Company as the entity to receive RDOF support for certain winning bids in the state of Idaho. 3.The FCC required the Company (and other RDOF winning bidders) to obtain high-cost ETC designation in a state as a condition for receiving RDOF funding in that state. On April 19, 2021, in Case No. CAB-T-21-01, the Commission designated the Company as an ETC in 57 census block groups in which the Company was deemed the winning bidder in Auction 904 as well as additional geographic areas in which the Company requested to be designated as an ETC for the provision of federal Lifeline services. 4.On July 26, 2021, the FCC provided the Company (and numerous other RDOF winning bidders) with a list of census blocks covered by the Company’s winning RDOF bids in which “concerns” had been raised that those areas “are already served by one or more service 2 Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, et al., 35 FCC Rcd 686 (2020) (“RDOF Order”). 3 providers that offer 25/3 Mbps broadband service or otherwise raise significant concerns about wasteful spending, such as parking lots and international airports.”3 The FCC Letter asked the Company and other RDOF winning bidders to review their bids based on “significant concerns about the best use of [the public’s] limited universal service funds.”4 5.In response to the FCC Letter, on August 16, 2021, the Company informed the FCC that it would no longer pursue RDOF support for certain census blocks identified in the FCC Letter based on the Company’s determination that those census blocks either contained no serviceable locations or already received broadband service at 25/3 Mbps or better. The Company also indicated it would further review its other RDOF winning bids to determine if the public interest would be served by relinquishing RDOF support for any of the Company’s other winning bids. 6.On August 24, 2021, the Company informed the FCC that it would no longer seek RDOF support in several additional census blocks, including some of those for which it received ETC designation in Idaho.5 As a result, the Company will only receive RDOF funding in Idaho for 25 of the 57 census block groups for which it was originally designated.6 The FCC has noted the Idaho census block groups for which the Company will not receive RDOF support.7 Given 3 Letter from Michael Janson, FCC, to Cable One VoIP LLC (July 26, 2021) (“FCC Letter”), https://us-fcc.app.box.com/s/lq4iqpjt8ukal4wve6hbrkbs5473kpcw/file/838638500240. 4 FCC Letter at n.4. 5 AU Docket No. 20-34, et al., Petition for Waiver (filed Aug. 24, 2021), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/108240356730305; AU Docket No. 20-34, et al., Amended Petition for Waiver (filed May 12, 2022), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search- filings/filing/105111580221676. 6 https://www.fcc.gov/document/auction-904-10th-authorization-public-notice. 7 https://www.fcc.gov/document/sixth-auction-904-ready-authorize-public-notice; https://www.fcc.gov/document/auction-904-9th-ready-authorize-public-notice; see also Census Blocks Covered by Auction 904 Defaults (updated 6/14/22), https://www.fcc.gov/auction/904/round-results. 4 the substantial reduction in the Company’s RDOF service territory in Idaho, the Company has determined it no longer has a need for Lifeline-only ETC authority in non-RDOF areas. 7.Accordingly, the Company files the instant request to partially relinquish its ETC designation for RDOF. The Company will retain its RDOF ETC designation for 25 census block groups.8 The Company also seeks to relinquish the additional Lifeline ETC designation it received for non-RDOF areas. 8.Federal law provides an objective standard for ETC relinquishment: a state commission “shall permit” an ETC to relinquish its ETC designation “in any area” so long as that area is served by more than one ETC.9 FCC Rule 54.205 requires an ETC to “give advance notice to the state commission of such relinquishment.”10 Idaho law similarly states the Commission “shall permit” an ETC to relinquish its ETC designation for an area served by more than one ETC upon no less than 30 days’ notice to the Commission.11 The Company meets the established standard for ETC relinquishment. 9.To the Company’s knowledge, there are numerous other ETCs operating in the geographic areas for which the Company seeks relinquishment, including wireless ETCs and incumbent local exchange carriers (“ILECs”), as shown in Exhibit 1. 10.No consumer will be impacted by the Company’s request to partially relinquish its ETC designation in Idaho because the Company does not serve any customers pursuant to its ETC designation. Thus, no customer notice is required in connection with the partial relinquishment. 8 https://www.fcc.gov/document/auction-904-10th-authorization-public-notice. 9 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(4); 47 C.F.R. § 54.205. 10 47 C.F.R. § 54.205(a). 11 Idaho Stat. § 62-610D(4). 5 11.Finally, there will be no discontinuance of service associated with the partial relinquishment of the Company’s ETC designation because the Company does not currently serve any customers in Idaho. 12.Commission rules require an ETC applicant seeking designation for “any part of tribal lands” to provide a copy of its application to the affected tribal government or tribal regulatory authority, as applicable.12 A portion of one census block group in the Company’s RDOF area (census block group 160059400001 in Bannock County) overlaps with the Fort Hall Reservation on which the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are located. The Company is retaining ETC designation for this census block group, and some of the locations within that census block group may be located on tribal land. Further, some of the non-RDOF Lifeline-only service areas to be relinquished overlap with the Fort Hall Reservation. The Company provided a copy of its original Application for ETC designation to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Attorney’s Office, and will provide a copy of this Amended Request to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Attorney’s Office via electronic mail within one (1) business day of this Amended Request being filed with the Commission (the original relinquishment request also was provided via U.S. Mail to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Attorney’s Office). 12 Case No. WST-T-05-1, The Application of WWC Holding Co., Inc. dba Cellular-One Seeking Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier that may Receive Federal Universal Service Support, Order No. 29841 (Aug. 4, 2005) (“ETC Order”). 6 CONCLUSION WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, the Company respectfully requests that the Commission grant this request and issue an order confirming the Company’s partial relinquishment of its RDOF ETC designation and relinquishment of its Lifeline ETC designation in non-RDOF areas. Dated: January 13, 2023 Respectfully submitted, CABLE ONE VOIP LLC D/B/A SPARKLIGHT /s/ Ronald L. Williams Ronald L. Williams, ISB #3034 Hawley Troxell 877 W. Main Street, 10th Floor Boise, ID 83702 208-344-6633 (telephone) 208-954-5253 (facsimile) rwilliams@hawleytroxell.com Chérie R. Kiser Angela F. Collins Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP 1990 K Street, N.W., Suite 950 Washington, D.C. 20006 202-862-8900 (telephone) 212-269-5420 (facsimile) ckiser@cahill.com acollins@cahill.com Its Attorneys 1 EXHIBIT 1 The Company seeks to relinquish ETC designation in the following areas. Other known ETCs in the area also are listed, which were determined using the “Companies Near Me” search function available on the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) website. RDOF areas to be relinquished County Census Block Group Located Near Other ETCs Ada 160010001002 Boise CenturyLink, RTI, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless Ada 160010001003 Boise See above Ada 160010002023 Boise See above Ada 160010008051 Boise See above Ada 160010009001 Boise See above Ada 160010009004 Boise See above Ada 160010010002 Boise See above Ada 160010021001 Boise See above Ada 160010023103 Boise See above Ada 160010102012 Eagle See above Ada 160010102251 Boise See above Ada 160010103211 Meridian CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless Ada 160010103311 Meridian See above Ada 160010103321 Meridian See above Ada 160010103351 Meridian See above Bannock 160050003001 Chubbuck CenturyLink, AT&T Mobility, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless Bannock 160050003003 Chubbuck See above Bannock 160050004001 Chubbuck See above Bannock 160050007001 Pocatello CenturyLink, AT&T Mobility, Safelink Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless Bannock 160050007002 Pocatello See above Bannock 160050008001 Pocatello See above Bannock 160050010003 Pocatello See above 2 Bannock 160050011021 Pocatello See above Bannock 160050011022 Pocatello See above Bannock 160050014001 Pocatello See above Bannock 160050015001 Pocatello See above Bannock 160050015002 Pocatello See above Bannock 160050016011 Pocatello See above Bannock 160050016012 Pocatello See above Bannock 160050016032 Pocatello See above Nez Perce 160699604004 Lewiston CenturyLink, Inland Cellular, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless Payette 160759604003 New Plymouth Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless Additional Lifeline-only/non-RDOF areas to be relinquished Franchise Area County Other ETCs Garden Ada CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless Boise Ada CenturyLink, RTI, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless Ada Ada CenturyLink, RTI, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless Shelley Bingham CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless Firth Bingham CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Access Wireless Bingham Bingham CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Q Link Wireless Iona Bonneville CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless Basalt Bingham CenturyLink, Syringa Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless Blackfoot Bingham CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Q Link Wireless Bonneville Bonneville CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless, AT&T Mobility Idaho Falls Bonneville CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless, AT&T Mobility 3 Ririe Bonneville CenturyLink, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless Ucon Bonneville CenturyLink, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless Ammon Bonneville CenturyLink, Syringa Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless, AT&T Mobility St. Anthony Fremont Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Fremont Telecom Co., Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless Fremont Fremont Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Fremont Telecom Co., Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless Teton Fremont CenturyLink, Fremont Telecom Co., Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless Rigby Jefferson CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Safelink Wireless Ririe Jefferson CenturyLink, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless Sugar City Madison Fremont Telecom Co., CenturyLink, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless Rexburg Madison CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless Madison Madison CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless Rockford Bingham CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless Lewiston Nez Perce CenturyLink, Inland Cellular, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless Nez Perce Nez Perce CenturyLink, Inland Cellular, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless Chubbuck Bannock CenturyLink, AT&T Mobility, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless Pocatello Bannock CenturyLink, AT&T Mobility, Safelink Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless Inkom Bannock CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless Bannock Bannock CenturyLink, AT&T Mobility, Safelink Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless 4 American Falls Power CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Safelink Wireless Salmon Lemhi CenturyLink, Custer Telephone Cooperative, AT&T Mobility, Safelink Wireless Burley Cassia Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative, CenturyLink, Q Link wireless, Syringa Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless Burley Minidoka Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative, CenturyLink, Q Link wireless, Syringa Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless Hagerman Gooding CenturyLink, Syringa Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless Wendell Gooding CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Syringa Wireless Gooding Gooding CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless Jerome Jerome CenturyLink, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Assurance Wireless Shoshone Lincoln CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless Heyburn Minidoka Filer Mutual Telephone Company, CenturyLink, Syringa Wireless, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless Minidoka Minidoka Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless Rupert Minidoka Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless Paul Minidoka CenturyLink, Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative, Syringa Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless Kimberly Twin Falls CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless, Syringa Wireless Filer Twin Falls CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Syringa Wireless Hansen Twin Falls CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless 5 Twin Falls Twin Falls Filer Mutual Telephone Company, CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Syringa Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless Buhl Twin Falls CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Syringa Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless Meridian Ada CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless Star Ada CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless Kuna Ada CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless Horseshoe Bend Boise Ziply Fiber, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless Canyon Canyon CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless Greenleaf Canyon CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless Nampa Canyon CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless Notus Canyon CenturyLink, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless Parma Canyon Ziply Fiber, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless Middleton Canyon CenturyLink, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless Purple Sage Canyon CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless Wilder Canyon Ziply Fiber, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless Caldwell Canyon CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless Cassia Cassia Project Mutual Telephone Cooperative, CenturyLink, Q Link wireless, Syringa Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless Emmett Gem Ziply Fiber, CenturyLink, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless Owyhee Owyhee Ziply Fiber, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless Fruitland Payette Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, CenturyLink, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless Payette Payette CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Access Wireless Homedale Owyhee Ziply Fiber, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless 6 Payette Payette Farmers Mutual Telephone Cooperative, CenturyLink, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Safelink Wireless New Plymouth Payette Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless Marsing Owyhee Ziply Fiber, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless Eagle Ada CenturyLink, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless New Meadows Adams Ziply Fiber, Q Link Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless Gem Gem Ziply Fiber, CenturyLink, Access Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless Cascade Valley Ziply Fiber, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Access Wireless Donnelly Valley Ziply Fiber, Q Link Wireless, Access Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless McCall Valley Ziply Fiber, Assurance Wireless, Q Link Wireless, Safelink Wireless