[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 47, Volume 3]
[Revised as of October 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 47CFR54.209]

[Page 110-111]
 
                       TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION
 
        CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED)
 
PART 54_UNIVERSAL SERVICE--Table of Contents
 
        Subpart C_Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support
 
Sec. 54.209  Annual reporting requirements for designated eligible 
telecommunications carriers.

    (a) A common carrier designated under section 214(e)(6) as an 
eligible telecommunications carrier shall provide:
    (1) A progress report on its five-year service quality improvement 
plan, including maps detailing its progress towards meeting its plan 
targets, an explanation of how much universal service support was 
received and how it was used to improve signal quality, coverage, or 
capacity, and an explanation regarding any network improvement targets 
that have not been fulfilled. The information shall be submitted at the 
wire center level;
    (2) Detailed information on any outage, as that term is defined in 
47 CFR 4.5, of at least 30 minutes in duration for each service area in 
which an eligible telecommunications carrier is designated for any 
facilities it owns, operates, leases, or otherwise utilizes that 
potentially affect
    (i) At least ten percent of the end users served in a designated 
service area; or
    (ii) A 911 special facility, as defined in 47 CFR 4.5(e).
    (iii) Specifically, the eligible telecommunications carrier's annual 
report must include information detailing:
    (A) The date and time of onset of the outage;
    (B) A brief description of the outage and its resolution;
    (C) The particular services affected;
    (D) The geographic areas affected by the outage;
    (E) Steps taken to prevent a similar situation in the future; and
    (F) The number of customers affected.
    (3) The number of requests for service from potential customers 
within the eligible telecommunications carrier's

[[Page 111]]

service areas that were unfulfilled during the past year. The carrier 
shall also detail how it attempted to provide service to those potential 
customers, as set forth in Sec. 54.202(a)(1)(i);
    (4) The number of complaints per 1,000 handsets or lines;
    (5) Certification that it is complying with applicable service 
quality standards and consumer protection rules;
    (6) Certification that the carrier is able to function in emergency 
situations as set forth in Sec. 54.201(a)(2);
    (7) Certification that the carrier is offering a local usage plan 
comparable to that offered by the incumbent LEC in the relevant service 
areas; and
    (8) Certification that the carrier acknowledges that the Commission 
may require it to provide equal access to long distance carriers in the 
event that no other eligible telecommunications carrier is providing 
equal access within the service area.
    (b) Filing deadlines. In order for a common carrier designated under 
section 214(e)(6) to continue to receive support for the following 
calendar year, or retain its eligible telecommunications carrier 
designation, it must submit the annual reporting information in 
paragraph (a) no later than October 1, 2006, and thereafter annually by 
October 1 of each year. Eligible telecommunications carriers that file 
their reports after the October 1 deadline shall receive support 
pursuant to the following schedule:
    (1) Eligible telecommunication carriers that file no later than 
January 1 of the subsequent year shall receive support for the second, 
third and fourth quarters of the subsequent year.
    (2) Eligible telecommunication carriers that file no later than 
April 1 of the subsequent year shall receive support for the third and 
fourth quarters of the subsequent year.
    (3) Eligible telecommunication carriers that file no later than July 
1 of the subsequent year shall receive support for the fourth quarter of 
the subsequent year.

[70 FR 29978, May 25, 2005]

    Effective Date Note: At 70 FR 29978, May 25, 2005, Sec. 54.209 was 
added. This text contains information collection and recordkeeping 
requirements and will not become effective until approval has been given 
by the Office of Manangement and Budget.