For rate-of-return carriers that plan to decline the FCC’s recent offer of revised Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM II) support and continue to receive legacy high-cost support, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has released information about revised deployment obligations. Such carriers may choose one of two methods to determine new deployment obligations, which are based in part on NECA Connect America Fund-Broadband Loop Support (CAF-BLS) forecasts: (1) the applicable CAF-BLS amount divided by certain averaged cost of providing 25/3 Mbps service or (2) the applicable CAF-BLS amount divided by the A-CAM II calculation of the cost per location of providing 25/3 Mbps service. Cost metrics are also determined based on certain housing unit density categories. The deployment obligations under each method are set forth by study area at: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-357277A1.xlsx. Further instructions on how to select a method are forthcoming.
