The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) has approved the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc.’s (NECA) annual average schedule company high-cost loop support (HCLS) formula for 2019. NECA’s proposed 2019 formula projects approximately $7.01 million in payments to carriers serving 102 average schedule study areas, an increase of 12.3% over the 2017 approved estimated payments. The WCB released NECA’s proposed 2019 HCLS formula for public comment and received no comments in response. The WCB finds NECA’s results and cost per loop calculations to be accurate and complete, and appropriate for the allocation of funds to average schedule companies. Accordingly, the WCB approves the HCLS formula which will take effect on January 1, 2019.
