Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-39.2 - [Effective until 4/9/2025] Definition of terms

For the purposes of the commission's implementation of federal universal service fund requirements, the following definitions apply. Whenever a reference in this chapter is made to provisions found in 47 CFR Part 36, 51 or 54, that reference includes any amendment through February 20, 2019.

"Broadband service" means the broadband Internet access service designated by the Federal Communications Commission at 47 CFR § 54.101 as eligible for support by the federal universal service support mechanisms. Eligible broadband Internet access services must provide the capability to transmit data and receive data by wire or radio from all or substantially all Internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service, but excluding dial-up service.

"Competitive eligible telecommunications carrier" means a carrier that meets the definition of an "eligible telecommunications carrier" below and does not meet the definition of an "incumbent local exchange carrier" in 47 CFR § 51.5.

"Connect America fund" or "CAF" means the federal universal service fund, as reformed by the Federal Communications Commission, to phase down and replace support previously provided through high-cost mechanisms, as referenced in 47 CFR §§ 54.304 and 54.312.

"Eligible telecommunications carrier" or "eligible carrier" means a carrier designated by the commission as eligible to receive universal service support pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 214(e).

"Facilities" means any physical components of the telecommunications network that are used in the transmission or routing of the services designated for universal service fund support.

"High-cost program" means the component of the federal universal service fund that includes the following support mechanisms: high-cost loop support, safety net support, safety valve support, local switching support, interstate common line support, high-cost model support, interstate access support, and the connect America fund, which includes funding to support and advance networks that provide voice and broadband services, both fixed and mobile.

"High-cost support" means those support mechanisms in existence as of October 1, 2011, specifically, high-cost loop support, safety net additive support and safety valve support provided pursuant to 47 CFR Part 36, Subpart F; local switching support pursuant to 47 CFR § 54.301; forward-looking support pursuant to 47 CFR § 54.309; interstate access support pursuant to 47 CFR §§ 54.800 through 54.809 ; interstate common line support pursuant to 47 CFR §§ 54.901 through 54.904; support provided pursuant to 47 CFR §§ 51.915, 51.917, and 54.304; support provided to competitive eligible telecommunications carriers as set forth in 47 CFR § 54.307(e); connect America fund support provided pursuant to 47 CFR § 54.312; mobility fund support provided pursuant to 47 CFR Part 54, Subpart L; and Rural Broadband Experiment support.

"Lifeline-only ETC" means a telecommunications carrier that seeks limited designation as an ETC only to participate in the Lifeline program.

"Lifeline program" means the federal universal service program providing support for low-income consumers that is defined in 47 CFR § 54.401 to mean a nontransferable retail service offering (1) for which qualifying low-income consumers pay reduced charges as a result of application of the Lifeline support amount described in 47 CFR § 54.403, and (2) which provides qualifying low-income consumers with voice telephony service as defined in 47 CFR § 54.101(a) or broadband Internet access service as defined in 47 CFR § 54.400.

"Mobility fund" means the wireless component of the connect America fund which provides support for the extension of mobile broadband networks in otherwise unserved areas.

"National Lifeline accountability database" means the electronic system, with associated functions, processes, policies and procedures, to facilitate the detection and elimination of duplicative support, as directed by the Federal Communications Commission and as defined in 47 CFR § 54.400.

"National Lifeline eligibility verifier," as defined in 47 CFR § 54.400(o), means the electronic and manual system that facilitates the determination of consumer eligibility for the Lifeline program.

"Qualifying low-income consumer" means a consumer who meets the qualifications for Lifeline as specified in 47 CFR § 54.409.

"Services designated for support" means voice telephony service and broadband service.

"Tribal Link Up" means an assistance program for eligible residents of tribal lands seeking telecommunications service from a telecommunications carrier that is receiving high-cost support on tribal lands, that provides a reduction of the customary charge for commencing telecommunications service for a single telecommunications connection at a subscriber's principal place of residence and a deferred schedule of payments of the customary charge for commencing telecommunications service as defined in 47 CFR § 54.413(a).

"Voice telephony service" means the service designated by the Federal Communications Commission at 47 CFR § 54.101 as eligible for support by the federal universal service support mechanisms. "Voice telephony service" is service which provides:

1. Voice grade access to the public switched network or its functional equivalent;

2. Minutes of use for local service at no additional charge to end users;

3. Access to the emergency services provided by local government or other public safety organizations, such as 911 and enhanced 911, to the extent the local government in an eligible carrier's service area has implemented 911 or enhanced 911 systems; and

4. Toll limitation services to qualifying low-income consumers as provided in 47 CFR Part 54, Subpart E.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-39.2

Amended by IAB March 4, 2015/Volume XXXVII, Number 18, effective 4/8/2015 Amended by IAB January 16, 2019/Volume XLI, Number 15, effective 2/20/2019 Editorial change: IAC Supplement 7/24/2024