20020903Reminder from USAC.pdf

U 2W2 ers Service Administrative Company
High Cost &Low Income Division
Irene M.Flannery
OCTOBER 1 CERTIFICATION
REMINDER
All carriers,rural,as well as non-rural carriers eligible to receive high cost model or hold harmlesssupport,are subject to an annual certification requirement that has a direct impact on those carriers'receipt of high cost universal service support.The certification for 2003 for both rural and non-ruralcarriersisdueonorbeforeOctober1,2002.Without that certification,carriers will not be eligible forthefirstquarter2003highcostsupportforwhichtheywouldotherwisebequalified.Provided below
is a summary of the components of this certification requirement.
What must be contained in the certification?
The certification must state that all federal high cost support (which includes high cost loopsupport,local switching support,high cost support received pursuant to the purchase of exchanges,high cost model support,and hold harmless support)will be used only for the provision,maintenance,and upgrading of facilities and services for which the support is intended,consistentwithsection254(e)of the Communications Act.
The certification may be in the form of a letter from the appropriate state regulatory authority,orauthorizedcorporateofficerwherethestatelacksjurisdiction.
The certification must clearly reference CC Docket No.96-45.
The certification should list rural carriers separately from non-rural carriers,in those states inwhichnon-rural carriers are certified.
The certification should include each carrier's study area code,the six-digit number assigned toeachcarrierbytheNationalExchangeCarrierAssociation(NECA).
Who must submit the certification?
If a carrier is subject to state jurisdiction,the certification must come from the appropriatestateregulatoryauthority.In states in which the commission has limited jurisdiction,the statecommissionneednotinitiatetheprocess.Rather,the carriers may initiate the process,formulateplanstocomplywithsection254(e),and present them to the state commission,which may then inturncertifythecarriers.
If the carrier is not subject to state jurisdiction,the carrier may certify directlyto the FCC andUSAC.The certification may be in the form of a sworn affidavit executed by a corporate officer,attesting to the use of the support onlyfor the provision,maintenance,and upgrading of thefacilitiesandservicesforwhichthesupportisintended.
Carriers are encouraged to work closely with their state commissions.
October 1 Certification Reminder
August 29,2002
Page 2 of2
What carriers are covered by this certification requirement?
All carriers seeking support from the followingcomponents of the high cost universal service support
mechanism are subject to this certification requirement:High Cost Loop Support;Local Switching
Support;High Cost Model Support;and interim hold harmless support.That is,all rural carriers andallcompetitiveETCsseekinghighcostsupportintheserviceareaofaruralLECaresubjecttothe
rural certification requirement contained in section 54.314 of the FCC's rules.In addition,all non-rural carriers that are eligible to receive either forward-lookingsupport underthe high cost model orholdharmlesssupport,as well as all competitive ETCs seeking high cost support in the service area of
such a non-rural carrier,are subject to the non-rural certification requirement contained in section
54.313 of the FCC's rules.
Where should certiñcations be filed?
Certifications must be filed with both the FCC and USAC at the followingaddresses:
FCC:
Marlene H.Dortch
Office of the Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 -12th Street,SW
Washington,DC 20554
USAC:
Irene Flannery
Universal Service Administrative Company
2120 L Street,NW -Suite 600
Washington,DC 20037
When must certifications be filed?
In order to receive first quarter 2003 high cost support,certifications must be submitted on or beforeOctober1,2002.The certifications must be received by the FCC and USAC on or beforeOctober1.The consequence of failing to file is loss of first quarter 2003 support,absent a waiverfromtheFCC.If a state commission or a carrier misses the October 1 deadline,the following
schedule applies:
Certify by January 1,2003:the carrier may receive support for the second,third,and fourth
quarters of 2003.
Certify by April 1,2003:the carrier may receive support for the third and fourth quarters of 2003.
Certify by July 1,2003:the carrier may receive support for the fourth quarter of 2003.
Fail to certify by July 1,2003:the carrier may not receive any high cost support for 2003.
If you have additional questions,please contact me or Karen Majcher at (202-776-0200).
Sincerely,
Irene M.Flannery
Vice President