§  54.203   Designation of eligible telecommunications carriers for unserved
areas.

   (a) If no common carrier will provide the services that are supported
   by federal universal service support mechanisms under section 254(c) of
   the Act and subpart B of this part to an unserved community or any
   portion thereof that requests such service, the Commission, with
   respect to interstate services, or a state commission, with respect to
   intrastate services, shall determine which common carrier or carriers
   are best able to provide such service to the requesting unserved
   community or portion thereof and shall order such carrier or carriers
   to provide such service for that unserved community or portion thereof.

   (b) Any carrier or carriers ordered to provide such service under this
   section shall meet the requirements of section 54.201(d) and shall be
   designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier for that community
   or portion thereof.