§ 54.308   Broadband public interest obligations for recipients of high-cost
support.

   (a) Rate-of-return carrier recipients of high-cost support are required to
   offer broadband service at actual speeds of at least 10 Mbps downstream/1
   Mbps upstream, with latency suitable for real-time applications, including
   Voice  over  Internet  Protocol, and usage capacity that is reasonably
   comparable  to  comparable offerings in urban areas, at rates that are
   reasonably comparable to rates for comparable offerings in urban areas, upon
   reasonable request. If a request for broadband service at actual speeds of
   at least 10 Mbps downstream/1 Mbps upstream is unreasonable, and offering
   broadband service at actual speeds of at least 4 Mbps downstream/1 Mbps
   upstream is reasonable, rate-of-return recipients of high-cost support are
   required to offer broadband service at actual speeds of at least 4 Mbps
   downstream/1  Mbps  upstream.  For  purposes of determining reasonable
   comparability of rates, recipients are presumed to meet this requirement if
   they  offer rates at or below the applicable benchmark to be announced
   annually by public notice issued by the Wireline Competition Bureau, or no
   more than the non-promotional prices charged for a comparable fixed wireline
   service in urban areas in the state or U.S. Territory where the eligible
   telecommunications carrier receives support.

   (b) Rate-of-return carrier recipients of high-cost support are required upon
   reasonable request to bid on category one telecommunications and Internet
   access services in response to a posted FCC Form 470 seeking broadband
   service that meets the connectivity targets for the schools and libraries
   universal service support program for eligible schools and libraries (as
   described in § 54.501) within that carrier's service area. Such bids must be
   at rates reasonably comparable to rates charged to eligible schools and
   libraries in urban areas for comparable offerings.

   [ 80 FR 4477 , Jan. 27, 2015, as amended at  80 FR 5987 , Feb. 4, 2015]

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