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Code of Federal Regulations (Last Updated: July 5, 2024) |
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Title 47 - Telecommunication |
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Chapter I - Federal Communications Commission |
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SubChapter B - Common Carrier Services |
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Part 54 - Universal Service |
Subpart A - General Information |
§ 54.1 - Basis and purpose. |
§ 54.5 - Terms and definitions. |
§ 54.7 - Intended use of federal universal service support. |
§ 54.8 - Prohibition on participation: suspension and debarment. |
§ 54.9 - Prohibition on use of funds. |
§ 54.10 - xxx |
§ 54.11 - xxx |
Subpart B - Services Designated for Support |
§ 54.101 - Supported services for rural, insular, and high cost areas. |
Subpart C - Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support |
§ 54.201 - Definition of eligible telecommunications carriers, generally. |
§ 54.202 - Additional requirements for Commission designation of eligible telecommunications carriers. |
§ 54.203 - Designation of eligible telecommunications carriers for unserved areas. |
§ 54.205 - Relinquishment of universal service. |
§ 54.207 - Service areas. |
§ 54.209 - Annual reporting requirements for designated eligible telecommunications carriers. |
Subpart D - Universal Service Support for High Cost Areas |
§ 54.301 - Local switching support. |
§ 54.302 - Monthly per-line limit on universal service support. |
§ 54.303 - Eligible Capital Investment and Operating Expenses. |
§ 54.304 - Administration of Connect America Fund Intercarrier Compensation Replacement. |
§ 54.305 - Sale or transfer of exchanges. |
§ 54.306 - Alaska Plan for Rate-of-Return Carriers Serving Alaska. |
§ 54.307 - Support to a competitive eligible telecommunications carrier. |
§ 54.308 - Broadband public interest obligations for recipients of high-cost support. |
§ 54.309 - Connect America Fund Phase II Public Interest Obligations. |
§ 54.310 - Connect America Fund for Price Cap Territories—Phase II. |
§ 54.311 - Connect America Fund Alternative-Connect America Cost Model Support. |
§ 54.312 - Connect America Fund for Price Cap Territories - Phase I. |
§ 54.313 - Annual reporting requirements for high-cost recipients. |
§ 54.314 - Certification of support for eligible telecommunications carriers. |
§ 54.315 - Application process for Connect America Fund phase II support distributed through competitive bidding. |
§ 54.316 - Broadband deployment reporting and certification requirements for high-cost recipients. |
§ 54.317 - Alaska Plan for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers serving remote Alaska. |
§ 54.318 - [Reserved] |
§ 54.319 - Elimination of high-cost support in areas with 100 percent coverage by an unsubsidized competitor. |
§ 54.320 - Compliance and recordkeeping for the high-cost program. |
§ 54.321 - Reporting and certification requirements for Alaska Plan participants. |
§ 54.322 - xxx |
Subpart E - Universal Service Support for Low-Income Consumers |
§ 54.400 - Terms and definitions. |
§ 54.401 - Lifeline defined. |
§ 54.403 - Lifeline support amount. |
§ 54.404 - The National Lifeline Accountability Database. |
§ 54.405 - Carrier obligation to offer Lifeline. |
§ 54.406 - xxx |
§ 54.407 - Reimbursement for offering Lifeline. |
§ 54.408 - Minimum service standards. |
§ 54.409 - Consumer qualification for Lifeline. |
§ 54.410 - Subscriber eligibility determination and certification. |
§ 54.411 - [Reserved] |
§ 54.412 - Off reservation Tribal lands designation process. |
§ 54.413 - Link Up for Tribal lands. |
§ 54.414 - Reimbursement for Tribal Link Up. |
§ 54.415 - Consumer qualification for Link Up. |
§ 54.416 - Annual certifications by eligible telecommunications carriers. |
§ 54.417 - Recordkeeping requirements. |
§ 54.418 - Digital Television Transition Notices by Eligible Telecommunications Carriers. |
§ 54.419 - Validity of electronic signatures. |
§ 54.420 - Low income program audits. |
§ 54.422 - Annual reporting for eligible telecommunications carriers that receive low-income support. |
§ 54.423 - Budget. |
§ 54.424 - Emergency communications support for survivors. |
§ 54.509 - Adjustments to the discount matrix. |
§ 54.518 - Support for wide area networks. |
Subpart F - Universal Service Support for Schools and Libraries |
§ 54.500 - Terms and definitions. |
§ 54.501 - Eligible recipients. |
§ 54.502 - Eligible services. |
§ 54.503 - Competitive bidding requirements. |
§ 54.504 - Requests for services. |
§ 54.505 - Discounts. |
§ 54.506 - [Reserved] |
§ 54.507 - Cap. |
§ 54.508 - [Reserved] |
§ 54.511 - Ordering services. |
§ 54.513 - Resale and transfer of services. |
§ 54.514 - Payment for discounted services. |
§ 54.515 - Distributing support. |
§ 54.516 - Auditing and inspections. |
§ 54.517 - [Reserved] |
§ 54.519 - State telecommunications networks. |
§ 54.520 - Children's Internet Protection Act certifications required from recipients of discounts under the federal universal service support mechanism for schools and libraries. |
§ 54.521 - Prohibition on participation: suspension and debarment. |
§ 54.522 - [Reserved] |
§ 54.523 - Payment for the non-discount portion of supported services. |
§§ 54.517--54.518 - [Reserved] |
§§ 54.508--54.509 - [Reserved] |
Subpart G - Universal Service for Rural Health Care Program |
§ 54.600 - Terms and definitions. |
§ 54.601 - Health care provider eligibility. |
§ 54.602 - Health care support mechanism. |
Defined Terms and Eligibility |
General Provisions |
§ 54.619 - Cap. |
§ 54.620 - Annual filing requirements and commitments. |
§ 54.621 - Filing window for requests and prioritization of support. |
§ 54.622 - Competitive bidding requirements and exemptions. |
§ 54.623 - Funding requests. |
§ 54.624 - Site and service substitutions. |
§ 54.625 - Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) changes. |
§ 54.626 - Service delivery deadline and extension requests. |
§ 54.627 - Invoicing process and certifications. |
§ 54.628 - Duplicate support. |
§ 54.629 - Prohibition on resale. |
§ 54.630 - Election to offset support against annual universal service fund contribution. |
§ 54.631 - Audits and recordkeeping. |
§ 54.632 - Signature requirements for certifications. |
§ 54.633 - Validity of electronic signatures and records. |
§ 54.671 - Resale. |
§ 54.672 - Duplicate support. |
§ 54.675 - Cap. |
§ 54.679 - Election to offset support against annual universal service fund contribution. |
§ 54.680 - Validity of electronic signatures. |
Healthcare Connect Fund |
§ 54.634 - Eligible services. |
§ 54.635 - Eligible equipment. |
§ 54.636 - Eligible participant-constructed and owned network facilities for consortium applicants. |
§ 54.637 - Off-site data centers and off-site administrative offices. |
§ 54.638 - Upfront payments. |
§ 54.639 - Ineligible expenses. |
§ 54.640 - Eligible vendors. |
§ 54.642 - Competitive bidding requirement and exemptions. |
§ 54.643 - Funding commitments. |
§ 54.644 - Multi-year commitments. |
§ 54.645 - Payment process. |
§ 54.646 - Site and service substitutions. |
§ 54.647 - Data collection and reporting. |
§ 54.648 - Audits and recordkeeping. |
§ 54.649 - Certifications. |
Telecommunications Program |
§ 54.603 - Consortia, telecommunications services, and existing contracts. |
§ 54.604 - Determining the urban rate. |
§ 54.605 - Determining the rural rate. |
§ 54.606 - Calculating support. |
Healthcare Connect Fund Program |
§ 54.607 - Eligible recipients. |
§ 54.608 - Eligible service providers. |
§ 54.609 - Designation of Consortium Leader. |
§ 54.610 - Letters of agency (LOA). |
§ 54.611 - Health care provider contribution. |
§ 54.612 - Eligible services. |
§ 54.613 - Eligible equipment. |
§ 54.614 - Eligible participant-constructed and owned network facilities for consortium applicants. |
§ 54.615 - Off-site data centers and off-site administrative offices. |
§ 54.616 - Upfront payments. |
§ 54.617 - Ineligible expenses. |
§ 54.618 - Data collection and reporting. |
Subpart H - Administration |
§ 54.701 - Administrator of universal service support mechanisms. |
§ 54.702 - Administrator's functions and responsibilities. |
§ 54.703 - The Administrator's Board of Directors. |
§ 54.704 - The Administrator's Chief Executive Officer. |
§ 54.705 - Committees of the Administrator's Board of Directors. |
§ 54.706 - Contributions. |
§ 54.707 - Audit controls. |
§ 54.708 - De minimis exemption. |
§ 54.709 - Computations of required contributions to universal service support mechanisms. |
§ 54.711 - Contributor reporting requirements. |
§ 54.712 - Contributor recovery of universal service costs from end users. |
§ 54.713 - Contributors' failure to report or to contribute. |
§ 54.715 - Administrative expenses of the Administrator. |
§ 54.717 - Audits of the Administrator. |
Subpart I - Review of Decisions Issued by the Administrator |
§ 54.719 - Parties permitted to seek review of Administrator decision. |
§ 54.720 - Filing deadlines. |
§ 54.721 - General filing requirements. |
§ 54.722 - Review by the Wireline Competition Bureau or the Commission. |
§ 54.723 - Standard of review. |
§ 54.724 - Time periods for Commission approval of Administrator decisions. |
§ 54.725 - Universal service disbursements during pendency of a request for review and Administrator decision. |
Subpart J - Rural Digital Opportunity Fund |
§ 54.800 - Terms and definitions. |
§ 54.801 - Use of competitive bidding for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. |
§ 54.802 - Rural Digital Opportunity Fund geographic areas, deployment obligations, and support disbursements. |
§ 54.803 - Rural Digital Opportunity Fund provider eligibility. |
§ 54.804 - Rural Digital Opportunity Fund application process. |
§ 54.805 - Rural Digital Opportunity Fund public interest obligations. |
§ 54.806 - Rural Digital Opportunity Fund reporting obligations, compliance, and recordkeeping. |
§ 54.807 - Interstate access universal service support. |
§ 54.808 - Transition provisions and periodic calculation. |
§ 54.809 - Carrier certification. |
Subpart K - Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support for Rate-of-Return Carriers |
§ 54.901 - Calculation of Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support. |
§ 54.902 - Calculation of CAF BLS Support for transferred exchanges. |
§ 54.903 - Obligations of rate-of-return carriers and the Administrator. |
§ 54.904 - Carrier certification. |
Subpart L - Mobility Fund and 5G Fund |
§ 54.1001 - Mobility Fund - Phase I. |
§ 54.1002 - Geographic areas eligible for support. |
§ 54.1003 - Provider eligibility. |
§ 54.1004 - Service to Tribal Lands. |
§ 54.1005 - Application process. |
§ 54.1006 - Public interest obligations. |
§ 54.1007 - Letter of credit. |
§ 54.1008 - Mobility Fund Phase I disbursements. |
§ 54.1009 - Annual reports. |
§ 54.1010 - Record retention for Mobility Fund Phase I. |
§ 54.1011 - 5G Fund. |
§ 54.1012 - xxx |
§ 54.1013 - Applicant eligibility. |
§ 54.1014 - xxx |
§ 54.1015 - Public interest obligations and performance requirements for 5G Fund support recipients. |
§ 54.1016 - xxx |
§ 54.1017 - 5G Fund support disbursements. |
§ 54.1018 - Annual reports. |
§ 54.1019 - Interim service and final service milestone reports. |
§ 54.1020 - Non-compliance measures for 5G Fund support recipients. |
§ 54.1021 - Record retention for the 5G Fund. |
Subpart M - High Cost Loop Support for Rate-of-Return Carriers |
§ 54.1301 - General. |
§ 54.1302 - Calculation of incumbent local exchange carrier portion of nationwide loop cost expense adjustment for rate-of-return carriers. |
§ 54.1303 - Calculation of the rural growth factor. |
§ 54.1304 - Calculation of safety net additive. |
§ 54.1305 - Submission of information to the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA). |
§ 54.1306 - Updating Information Submitted to the National Exchange Carrier Association. |
§ 54.1307 - Submission of Information by the National Exchange Carrier Association. |
§ 54.1308 - Study Area Total Unseparated Loop Cost. |
§ 54.1309 - National and study area average unseparated loop costs. |
§ 54.1310 - Expense adjustment. |
Subpart N - The Digital Opportunity Data Collection |
§ 54.1400 - Purpose. |
§ 54.1401 - Frequency of reports. |
§ 54.1402 - Scope and content of filed reports. |
§ 54.1403 - Authority to update the Digital Opportunity Data Collection. |
Subpart O - Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund |
§ 54.1501 - Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund - Stage 2 for service to fixed locations. |
§ 54.1502 - Geographic areas eligible for Stage 2 fixed support. |
§ 54.1503 - Geographic area and locations to be served by Stage 2 fixed support recipients. |
§ 54.1504 - Term of Stage 2 fixed support, phase-down of legacy fixed support, and reporting obligations for phase-down support recipient. |
§ 54.1505 - Stage 2 fixed support application process. |
§ 54.1506 - Stage 2 fixed support deployment milestones. |
§ 54.1507 - Stage 2 public interest obligations for service to fixed locations. |
§ 54.1508 - Letter of credit for stage 2 fixed support recipients. |
§ 54.1509 - Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund - Stage 2 for mobile service. |
§ 54.1510 - Stage 2 mobile carrier eligibility. |
§ 54.1511 - Appropriate uses of Stage 2 mobile support. |
§ 54.1512 - Geographic area eligible for Stage 2 mobile support. |
§ 54.1513 - Provision of Stage 2 mobile support. |
§ 54.1514 - Stage 2 mobile additional annual reporting. |
§ 54.1515 - Disaster preparation and response measures. |
§ 54.1516 - Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund—Transitional support for mobile service. |
§ 54.1517 - Transitional support mobile carrier eligibility. |
§ 54.1518 - Appropriate uses of transitional mobile support. |
§ 54.1519 - Geographic area eligible for transitional mobile support. |
§ 54.1520 - Provision of transitional mobile support. |
§ 54.1521 - Transitional mobile support additional annual reporting. |
§ 54.1522 - Security reporting. |
§ 54.1523 - Spending plans for recipients of legacy frozen phase-down support. |
§ 54.1524 - Disaster preparation and response measures; Disaster Information Reporting System. |
§§ 54.1516--54.1524 - xxx |
Subpart P - Emergency Broadband Benefit Program |
§ 54.1600 - Definitions. |
§ 54.1601 - Participating providers. |
§ 54.1602 - Emergency Broadband Benefit. |
§ 54.1603 - Emergency Broadband Benefit Program support amount. |
§ 54.1604 - Participating provider obligation to offer Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. |
§ 54.1605 - Household qualification for Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. |
§ 54.1606 - Household eligibility determinations. |
§ 54.1607 - Enrollment representative registration. |
§ 54.1608 - Reimbursement for providing Emergency Broadband Benefit Program discount. |
§ 54.1609 - De-enrollment from the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. |
§ 54.1610 - Expiration of Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. |
§ 54.1611 - Recordkeeping requirements. |
§ 54.1612 - Validity of electronic signatures. |
Subpart Q - Emergency Connectivity Fund |
§ 54.1700 - Terms and definitions. |
§ 54.1701 - Eligible recipients. |
§ 54.1702 - Emergency Connectivity Fund eligible equipment and services. |
§ 54.1703 - Emergency Connectivity Fund competitive bidding requirements. |
§ 54.1704 - Emergency Connectivity Fund gift restrictions. |
§ 54.1705 - Emergency Connectivity Fund eligible uses. |
§ 54.1706 - Emergency Connectivity Fund service locations. |
§ 54.1707 - Emergency Connectivity Fund reasonable support amounts. |
§ 54.1708 - Emergency Connectivity Fund cap and requests. |
§ 54.1709 - Availability period of the Emergency Connectivity Fund. |
§ 54.1710 - Emergency Connectivity Fund requests for funding. |
§ 54.1711 - Emergency Connectivity Fund requests for reimbursement. |
§ 54.1712 - Duplicate support. |
§ 54.1713 - Treatment, resale, and transfer of equipment. |
§ 54.1714 - Audits, inspections, and investigations. |
§ 54.1715 - Records retention. |
§ 54.1716 - Children's Internet Protection Act certifications. |
§ 54.1717 - Administrator of the Emergency Connectivity Fund. |
§ 54.1718 - Appeal and waiver requests. |
Subpart R - Affordable Connectivity Program |
§ 54.1800 - Definitions. |
§ 54.1801 - Participating providers. |
§ 54.1802 - Affordable connectivity benefit. |
§ 54.1803 - Affordable Connectivity Program support amounts. |
§ 54.1804 - Participating provider obligation to offer the Affordable Connectivity Program. |
§ 54.1805 - Household qualifications for Affordable Connectivity Program. |
§ 54.1806 - Household eligibility determinations and annual recertification. |
§ 54.1807 - Enrollment representative registration and compensation. |
§ 54.1808 - Reimbursement for providing monthly affordable connectivity benefit. |
§ 54.1809 - De-enrollment from the Affordable Connectivity Program. |
§ 54.1810 - Consumer protection requirements. |
§ 54.1811 - Recordkeeping requirements. |
§ 54.1812 - Validity of electronic signatures. |
§ 54.1813 - Affordable Connectivity Program Transparency Data Collection. |
§ 54.1814 - High-cost area benefit. |
Subpart S - Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program |
§ 54.1900 - Applicability of Uniform Administrative Requirements for grants and cooperative agreements to non-Federal entities. |
§ 54.1901 - Neutrality requirement. |
§ 54.1902 - Prohibited activities and costs. |
§ 54.1903 - Ineligible entities. |
§ 54.1904 - Recordkeeping and audits. |