Press Release

PUC Approves ETC Designation for Viasat Carrier Services, Inc.; Enables Federal Funding to Expand Voice, Broadband Services in PA

Published on 4/30/2020

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today granted the petition of Viasat Carrier Services, Inc. (VCS) for an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) designation subject to certain terms and conditions, further promoting statewide efforts to provide voice and broadband access services in underserved parts of rural and non-rural Pennsylvania.

The Commission voted 4-0 to approve the ETC designation, which is required under federal law before a company can receive federal universal service fund support to build voice and broadband access networks and provide related services in high-cost areas of Pennsylvania.  It is the fourth ETC designation granted by the Commission over the past year, joining Armstrong Telecommunications, Inc., Tri-Co Connections LLC and Velocity.Net Communications, Inc., as recently designated ETCs. 

On Aug. 28, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that VCS’ parent company, Viasat, Inc. (Viasat), had been awarded federal high-cost support funding in certain designated census blocks in Pennsylvania via the FCC’s Connect American Fund (CAF) Phase II Auction.  As a winning bidder, along with providing voice services, Viasat must also offer broadband access services at a speed of at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream (25/3 Mbps).  In accordance with Auction 903 rules and procedures, Viasat assigned all its winning bids in Pennsylvania to VCS.

In its petition, VCS had requested limited ETC designation in 1,287 CAF-eligible census blocks and 45,100 locations in certain local exchanges dispersed throughout seventeen Pennsylvania ILECs’ service territories, including Citizens Telephone Company of Kecksburg; Consolidated Communications of Pennsylvania Company; Frontier Communications Commonwealth Telephone Company; Frontier Communications of Breezewood; Frontier Communications of Lakewood; Hancock Telephone Company; Laurel Highland Telephone Company; North Penn Telephone Company; TDS Telecom - Mahanoy & Mahantango Telephone Company; United Telephone of Pennsylvania d/b/a CenturyLink; West Side Telephone Company; Windstream Buffalo Valley Inc.; Windstream Conestoga Inc.; Windstream D&E Inc.; Windstream Pennsylvania LLC; Verizon North LLC; and Verizon Pennsylvania LLC.

VCS plans to use the federal funds to provide voice services while promoting the deployment of advanced telecommunications and broadband Internet access service (BIAS) in relevant areas and locations of the Commonwealth.  VCS will partner with a third-party vendor, Alianza Inc., for the provisioning of interconnected VoIP service to potential customers in Pennsylvania; and utilize Viasat’s extensive geostationary satellite network and terrestrial facilities that it owns, or a combination of its own and leased facilities to offer CAF-funded BIAS of at least a minimum speed of 25/3 Mbps to its potential customers residing within its proposed Designated Service Area.

As a condition of receiving an ETC designation to receive high-cost support, VCS must also participate in the federal Lifeline program and is required to offer Lifeline service to qualified low-income eligible customers or households in those census blocks only, in accordance with applicable federal and state law.  VCS is also required to provide independent stand-alone voice service for those consumers who may not want to purchase broadband access service. 

In recent years, the PUC has repeatedly taken action to avert the loss of federal high cost support in Pennsylvania.  The loss of federal high cost support, particularly for broadband, is fueling a growing economic divide between communities and businesses that have access to higher Internet speeds and those that do not.  The loss of support may also challenge the continued delivery of basic voice service also supported by this federal program and overseen by the Commission. 

In addition to its most recent advocacy before the FCC, which controls the funding, the Commission has supported the launch of the Pennsylvania Broadband Investment Incentive Program, and recently finalized a rulemaking intended to more quickly resolve disputes over access to utility poles, which is a key issue for enhanced broadband deployment – including the launch of the PUC’s inaugural Pole Attachments Working Group.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Facebook for easy access to information on utility issues.

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 Docket No.:   P-2018-3004983

Contact:

• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov