The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that it has updated the list of census blocks where price cap carriers remain subject to the federal high-cost eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) obligation to provide voice service under Section 214(e)(1) of the Communications Act. Using Broadband Data Collection (BDC) availability data as of December 31, 2025, the Bureau removed census blocks where an unsubsidized competitor already offers fixed terrestrial voice and broadband service at 10/1 Mbps to all eligible locations, as well as areas receiving support through the Puerto Rico Together Fund and Connect USVI Fund. Price cap carriers retain voice-service obligations only in the census blocks listed on the updated FCC resource page, unless they are authorized to receive support for excluded census blocks through a high-cost support program. The list can be downloaded directly, in Excel format, here.
