High Cost
support ensures that consumers in all regions of the Nation have access to and
pay rates for telecom services that are reasonable comparable to those in urban
areas
Incumbent Carriers
Rural and non-rural incumbent local exchange
carriers (ILECs) serving people in high-cost areas, sparsely populated areas, or
areas with dense or rough terrain are the major participants in the High Cost
Program. A local exchange carrier is defined as "any person that is engaged
in the provision of telephone exchange service or exchange access."
Competitive carriers include competitive local
exchange carriers and wireless providers, among others, that serve customers in
the areas of rural and non-rural incumbents. Competitors may be eligible to
receive High Cost support if they are designated as a competitive eligible
telecommunications (CETCs) carrier by their state utility regulator or the FCC.
States have the primary responsibility for
designating carriers as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs). The High
Cost Program works with state utility regulators to determine ETC status and ETC
service areas, to ensure that carrier certifications are received on time, and
to respond to questions from state regulatory staff members.
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