CenturyLink: FCC's CAF-II program should address unfunded rural area voice obligations

CenturyLink may be putting the initial foundations in place to build out 10/1 Mbps broadband service in rural areas via the Federal Communications Commission's Connect America Fund (CAF-II), but is concerned that it won't be receiving funds to support traditional voice services. In an FCC filing, CenturyLink said it will now have to comply with a federal eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) "voice obligation in the extremely high-cost parts of a number of states without receiving any high-cost support for this obligation." It has asked the FCC to "realign the high-cost frozen support if it intends to sustain an ETC obligation for price cap carriers to offer voice service in extremely high-cost areas." Interestingly, the FCC Wireline Competition Bureau's request to refresh the record provided a list of markets where CenturyLink currently does not provide service today.