Aug 10 -- The Federal Communications Commission invites public comment by October 11, 2022 regarding the extension of the Survey of Urban Rates. Each year, the FCC conducts a survey of the fixed voice and broadband service rates offered to consumers in urban areas. The FCC uses the survey data to determine the reasonable comparability benchmarks for fixed voice and broadband rates for universal service purposes.
In April 2013, the Wireline Competition Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission adopted an Order (Order), in WC Docket No. 10-90; DA 13-598, 78 FR 29063, Connect America Fund. The Order adopted the form and content for a survey of urban rates for fixed voice and fixed broadband residential services for purposes of implementing various reforms adopted as part of the USF/ICC Transformation Order, 76 FR 73830, November 29, 2011. The information collected in this survey will be used to help ensure that universal service support recipients offering fixed voice and broadband services do so at reasonably comparable rates to those in urban areas. The comparability requirements are important components of the Commission's overall effort to improve accountability for the use of universal service funding. The comparability requirements will ensure that rates are reasonably comparable for voice as well as broadband service, between urban and rural, insular, and high cost areas. Rates must be reasonably comparable so that consumers in rural, insular, and high cost areas have meaningful access to these services. This Order requires a statistically valid sample of urban providers to complete a survey with information regarding the types and prices of their offerings. The Commission conducts this survey through an online reporting form accessible to those urban providers of fixed voice and broadband services that are chosen to participate.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,275 respondents; 2,275 responses.
Urban Rate Survey Data & Resources
https://www.fcc.gov/economics-analytics/industry-analysis-division/urban-rate-survey-data-resources
Draft 2022 technical documentation
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6g9guib7l4ngq4w/AADecE4rzfFPFNvUUgBMw62ba?dl=0.
2019 submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201911-3060-013
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-17183
