In the Universal Service Fund Reform Order, the FCC made $300 million available to price cap carries through a “Phase I” process to subsidize broadband deployment within their rate center footprints.  On April 25, 2012, the FCC released a public notice identifying the amounts of Phase I support that price cap carriers may receive.  

Each carrier has 90 days to file notices with the FCC, USAC, state commissions, and any affected Tribal governments, stating the amount of support it accepts, and the areas in which it intends to deploy broadband using the funds.  The public notice does not expressly identify the areas where Phase I support will be available.  Instead, it adopts by reference wire center data that has been classified as confidential under a Protective Order governing the proceeding.  Parties interested in viewing this data may do so after meeting the requirements of the Protective Order. 

If you have any questions regarding the Phase I support program, please contact James Moskowitz at (202) 872-6881 or jmoskowitz@cm-chi.com.