Page 9-10 from the Connect America Fund (CAF) Report and Order on Rural Broadband Experiments. I don't think this needs translation, but please read carefully. *2.* We concluded in the Tech Transitions Order that we would encourage participation in the rural broadband experiments from a wide range of entities—including competitive local exchange carriers, electric utilities, fixed and mobile wireless providers, WISPs, State and regional authorities, Tribal governments, and partnerships among interested entities.49 We were encouraged to see the diversity in the expressions of interest submitted by interested parties. Of the more than 1,000 expressions of interest filed, almost half were from entities that are not currently ETCs, including electric utilities, WISPS, and agencies of state, county or local governments. *22.* We remind entities that they need not be ETCs at the time they initially submit their formal proposals for funding through the rural broadband experiments, but that they must obtain ETC designation after being identified as winning bidders for the funding award. As stated in the Tech Transitions Order, we expect entities to confirm their ETC status within 90 days of the public notice announcing the winning bidders selected to receive funding.51 Any winning bidder that fails to notify the Bureau that it has obtained ETC designation within the 90 day timeframe will be considered in default and will not be eligible to receive funding for its proposed rural broadband experiment. Any funding that is forfeited in such a manner will not be redistributed to other applicants. We conclude this is necessary so that we can move forward with the experiments in a timely manner. However, a waiver of this deadline may be appropriate if a winning bidder is able to demonstrate that it has engaged in good faith to obtain ETC designation, but has not received approval within the 90-day timeframe.[52] *23.* We sought comment in the Tech Transitions FNPRM on whether to adopt a presumption that if a state fails to act on an ETC application from a selected participant within a specified period of time, the state lacks jurisdiction over the applicant, and the Commission will address the ETC application. Multiple commenters supported this proposal.54 We now conclude that, for purposes of this experiment, if after 90 days a state has failed to act on a pending ETC application, an entity may request that the Commission designate it as an ETC, pursuant to section 214(e)(6).55 Although we are confident that states share our desire to work cooperatively to advance broadband, and we expect states to expeditiously designate qualified entities that have expressed an interest in providing voice and broadband to consumers in price cap areas within their states, we also recognize the need to adopt measures that will provide a pathway to obtaining ETC designation in situations where there is a lack of action by the state. ====== 52 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.3. We expect entities selected for funding to submit their ETC applications to the relevant jurisdiction as soon as possible after release of the public notice announcing winning bids, and will presume an entity to have shown good faith if it files its ETC application within 15 days of release of the public notice. A waiver of the 90-day deadline would be appropriate if, for example, if an entity has an ETC application pending with a state, and the state’s next meeting at which it would consider the ETC application will occur after the 90-day window. On Tue, Jul 15, 2014 at 10:01 PM, Brett Glass <nanog@brettglass.com> wrote:
I'll just say that we've consulted legal counsel about what it would take to become an ETC, and it's simply too burdensome for us to consider. We'd need to become a telephone company, at the very time when old fashioned telephone service is becoming a thing of the past. (We enthusiastically support "over the top" VoIP so that we can help our customers get inexpensive telephone service without ourselves having to be a telephone company.)
--Brett Glass
At 07:53 PM 7/15/2014, Bob Evans wrote:
I think your point needs to be explained. Because anything gnment is
riddled will large carrier benefiting. Look at the school discounts for internet services...pretty much just for LECs. Thank You Bob Evans CTO
-- Fletcher Kittredge GWI 8 Pomerleau Street Biddeford, ME 04005-9457 207-602-1134