Incumbent ETC Designation and Certification Process

 

Please answer the following questions regarding incumbent carriers' receipt of funding from the federal High Cost program.


While eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) include rural and non-rural incumbent and competitive telecommunications carriers as designated by the FCC or state regulatory commission, this section of the survey only applies to rural and non-rural incumbent ETCs.

 

8.
How many rural incumbent carriers are currently designated as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in your state?
 
 
Number of rural incumbent carriers:  
   

9.
How many non-rural incumbent carriers are currently designated as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in your state?
 
 
Number of non-rural incumbent carriers:  
   

10.

Have any new applications for incumbent carrier ETC status been submitted to your state commission since 2002?

Please exclude any mergers that may have taken place between carriers.

(Check one.)
1.
2. (Skip to Question 13.)
3. (Skip to Question 13.)

11.
If yes, how many new applications have been received since 2002?
 
 
Number of applications received:  
   

12.
How many of these new applications have been approved since 2002?
 
 
Number of applications approved:  
   

13.
Does your state commission have the following procedures for initial designation of incumbent carriers for ETC status?
(Check one in each row.)
    Yes No Don't know
13a.
Carriers are required to file an application
13b.
Public hearings are held to determine eligibility
13c.
Your state commission consults with the carrier
13d.
Other procedure (please specify below)
   

 
If "other", please specify:

14.
After an incumbent carrier applies to become an ETC, does your state commission review any of the following to determine eligibility?
(Check one in each row.)
    Yes No Don't know
14a.
Carrier's plans for quality, coverage, or capacity improvements
14b.
Evidence that the carrier has complied with state requirements for use of funds
14c.
Evidence that the carrier is able to provide the federally required High Cost services
14d.
Other type of review (please specify below)
   

 
If "other", please specify:

15.
In order to be annually certified, does your state commission require incumbent carriers to fulfill any of the following requirements?
(Check one in each row.)
    Yes No Don't know
15a.
New application
15b.
Affidavit indicating that High Cost funding will be used for its intended purposes
15c.
Evidence that previously received High Cost funding was used for its intended purposes
15d.
Carriers' plans for quality, coverage, or capacity improvements
15e.
Consultation between your state commission and carrier
15f.
Evidence that the carrier has complied with state requirements for use of funds
15g.
Review of carriers' annual or other periodic reports
15h.
Other requirements for annual certification (please specify below)
   

 
If "other", please specify:

16.
Does your state commission require incumbent carriers to provide a build-out plan in order to maintain ETC status?
(Check one.)
1.
2. (Skip to Question 18.)
3. (Skip to Question 18.)

17.
If yes, for how many years ahead is an incumbent carrier required to project in its build-out plan?
 
 
Number of projected years:  
   

18.
Does your state commission measure the quality of telephone service provided by incumbent carriers using any of the following indicators?
(Check one in each row.)
    Yes No Don't know
18a.
Local service penetration rates
18b.
Comparable local usage plans
18c.
E-911 or 911 capability
18d.
Number of outages
18e.
Unfulfilled service requests
18f.
Number of consumer complaints
18g.
Other quality of service measures (please specify below)
   

 
If "other", please specify:

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