The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) has released guidance addressing the area eligibility challenge process for Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II, which has not yet started. Among other things, the guidance (i) emphasizes that parties only have one opportunity to submit evidence and arguments in support of their challenge and will not have an opportunity to reply to oppositions; (ii) further clarifies how the term “served” should be interpreted; (iii) reaffirms that testimony from a person who is knowledgeable of the facts will fulfill the requirement that challenges be supported by evidence; (iv) concludes that an analysis of porting data will suffice as evidence; (v) explains how parties should file confidential and sensitive information; and (vi) clarifies that any evidence relied on by a challenging party must be submitted along with the challenge.
