The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) has identified 13 study areas that it has determined preliminarily to be subject to the “100 percent overlap rule” (i.e., Section 54.319(a) of the FCC’s rules). Comment is sought on whether the unsubsidized competitors in the listed study areas codes (SACs) are in fact offering voice and broadband to 100 percent of locations in the study areas. Following the comment cycle, the Bureau will issue a final determination of study areas with complete overlap and whose high-cost support will be phased down over a two-year period. The potentially affected study areas are located in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota. Comments are due by September 11, 2017 and reply comments by October 10, 2017.
