The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) has approved the Alaska Plan performance plans of eight wireless providers in Alaska that elected to receive frozen high-cost support pursuant to the August 23, 2016 Alaska Plan Order. The Alaska Plan establishes an integrated high-cost support plan for both fixed and mobile voice and broadband service in remote areas of Alaska (Alaska Plan) and was built on an Alaska Telephone Association (ATA) proposal. The eight Alaskan competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (CETCs) submitted and revised their proposed performance plans committing to provide 131,000 more consumers in remote Alaska with access to mobile broadband service (including 4G LTE to over 120,000 consumers) within 10 years. With the Bureau’s approval, the Alaska Plan carriers must submit compliance certification letters by December 29, 2016 and frozen support disbursements will start as of January 1, 2017.
