§  54.101   Supported services for rural, insular, and high cost areas.

   (a) Voice telephony services shall be supported by Federal universal
   service support mechanisms. Eligible voice telephony services must
   provide voice grade access to the public switched network or its
   functional equivalent; minutes of use for local service provided at no
   additional charge to end users; 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 toll limitation services to qualifying low-income
   consumers as provided in subpart E of this part.

   (b) An eligible telecommunications carrier eligible to receive
   high-cost support must offer voice telephony service as set forth in
   paragraph (a) of this section in order to receive Federal universal
   service support.

   (c) An eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) subject to a high-cost
   public interest obligation to offer broadband internet access services
   and not receiving Phase I frozen high-cost support must offer broadband
   services within the areas where it receives high-cost support
   consistent with the obligations set forth in this subpart and subparts
   D, K, L, and M of this part.

   (d) Any ETC must comply with subpart E of this part.

   [ 86 FR 1021 , Jan. 7, 2021]

   

Subpart C—Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support