Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Federal-State Joint Board on ) CC Docket No. 96-45 Universal Service ) ) Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless ) Petition for Designation as an Eligible ) Telecommunications Carrier in the State of ) Alabama ) ) Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless ) Petition for Designation as an Eligible ) Telecommunications Carrier in the State of ) North Carolina ) ) Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless ) Petition for Designation as an Eligible ) Telecommunications Carrier in the ) Commonwealth ofVirginia ) ) Alltel Communications, LLC Petition for ) Designation as an Eligible ) Telecommunications Carrier in the State of ) Florida ) ) Alltel Communications, LLC Petition for ) Designation as an Eligible ) Telecommunications Carrier in the State of ) Georgia ) NOTICE OF RELINQUISHMENT OF ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER DESIGNATIONS Verizon Wireless and Alltel Communications, LLC ("Alltel") 1 (collectively, "Verizon Wireless"), pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(4) and 47 C.F.R. § 54.205(a)-(b), hereby notify the Commission of the relinquishment of its eligible telecommunications carrier ("ETC") 1 Formerly Alltel Communications, Inc. designations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia effective December 31, 2012. Verizon Wireless is relinquishing its ETC status in these Commission-designated territories because its uni versa! service funding will be eliminated at the end of this year under the terms of the Alltel Acquisition Order. 2 The Commission confirmed the elimination of Verizon Wireless' ETC support in the USF-ICC Transformation Order3 and in a subsequent Wireline Competition Bureau ("WCB") decision.4 As discussed below, relinquishment of ETC status will have no impact on Verizon Wireless network coverage in any state, and there will be no impact on Verizon Wireless' announced, industry-leading roll-out of 4G LTE broadband and voice services. 5 In support of its notice of relinquishment, Verizon Wireless states as follows: 1. Verizon Wireless is licensed by the Commission to provide commercial mobile radio service ("CMRS") in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. 2 Applications of Cel!co Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless and Atlantis Holdings LLC For Consent to Transfer Control of Licenses, Authorizations, and Spectrum Manager and De Facto Transfer Leasing Arrangements and Petition for Declaratory Ruling that the Transaction is Consistent with Section 3JO(b)(4) of the Communications Act, Memorandum Opinion and Order and Declaratory Ruling, 23 FCC Red 17444, ~~ 192-95 (2008) ("Allte! Acquisition Order" ). 3 Connect America Fund, eta!., Report and Order and Fmther Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 26 FCC Red 17663 (2011) ("USF-ICC Transformation Order") Certain non-controlled partnerships and after­ acquired properties will continue to receive universal service suppott, subject to the larger phase-out of legacy competitive ETC support. 4 !d.,[ 520; Connect America Fund, eta!., Order, 27 FCC Red 2142, ~~ 6-8 (WCB 20 12). 5 Should Verizon Wireless later seek to participate in the developing and as-yet indeterminate Connect America Fund Phase II or Mobility Fund Phase II, Verizon Wireless will re-apply for ETC status in appropriate states and/or with the Commission. 2 2. By Order dated September 24, 2004, the WCB granted Alltel'~ request for designation as an ETC in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. 6 In 2004, the WCB also designated Virginia Cellular, LLC ("Virginia Cellular") as an ETC in Virginia. 7 In 2006, Alltel acquired Virginia Cellular's operations in Virginia. 3. In 2002, the Commission designated RCC Minnesota, Inc. ("RCC")8 as an ETC in Alabama. 9 In 2008, the Commission approved the expansion of Alltel's designated service areas in Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia and RCC's designated service area in Alabama. 10 4. On August 6, 2008, Verizon Wireless acquired Rural Cellular Corporation and each ofits subsidiaries and affiliates. 11 On January 9, 2009, Verizon Wireless acquired Alltel Corporation and each of its subsidiaries and affiliates. Alltel Acquisition Order. On May 28, 2010, the Commission approved a petition for pro forma amendment and consolidation of the 6 In the Matter of Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, Allie! Communications, Inc. Petitions for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, 19 FCC Red 20496 (WCB 2004). 7 In the Matter of Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, Virginia Cellular, LLC Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 19 FCC Red 1563 (WCB 2004). 8 Formerly RCC Holdings, Inc. See Letter from B. Lynn F. Ratnavale, Counsel for RCC Minnesota, Inc., to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, CC Docket No. 96-45 (filed Mar. 2, 2007) (notice of name change from RCC Holdings, ]nc. to RCC Minnesota, Inc.). 9 In the Matter of Federal State Joint Board on Universal Service,· RCC Holdings, Inc. Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Throughout its Licensed Service Area in the State ofAlabama, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 17 FCC Red 23532 (WCB 2002). 10 In the Matter ofHigh-Cost Universal Service Support, Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, Alltel Communications, Inc., et al. Petitions for Designation as Eligible Telecommunications Carrier, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 23 FCC Red 8834 (2008). 11 In the Matter of Applications of Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless and Rural Cellular Corporation for Consent To Tramfer Control of Licenses, Authorizations, and Spectrum Manager Leases, Memorandum Opinion and Order and Declaratory Ruling, 23 FCC Red 12463 (2008). 3 ETC designations held by Alltel, RCC, Virginia Cellular and their affiliated legal entities to reflect Verizon Wireless as the designated entity in Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia. 12 5. Verizon Wireless' designated ETC service areas in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia include each of the incumbent local exchange carrier ("ILEC") wire centers and/or study areas set forth in Exhibit A (the "Designated Areas"). 6. Consistent with 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(4) and 47 C.F.R. § 54.205(a)-(b) Verizon Wireless has determined to relinquish its ETC designations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. 7. Relinquishment ofVerizon Wireless' ETC designations will not affect the amount of federal high-cost universal service support available to other ETCs, nor, as discussed below, Verizon Wireless' continued operations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. 8. Pursuant to the Commission's recently amended universal service rules and associated orders, the federal high-cost universal service support available to Verizon Wireless will be phased out effective December 31, 2012. USF-ICC Transformation Order~ 520. Likewise, the Commission has capped the amount of federal high-cost universal service support available to all competitive ETCs and further clarified that the relinquislu11ent of an ETC designation by one carrier will not affect the amount of federal high-cost universal service support received by other ETCs. 9. 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(4) states, in pertinent part: A State commission (or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6)) shall permit an eligible telecommunications 12 In the Matter of Federal-State Board on Universal Service, Cellco Partnersh;p d/b/a Verizon Wireless, Petitions for Pro Forma Amendment of Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designations in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the States of Alabama and North Carolina, 25 FCC Red 5955 (WCB 2010). 4 carrier to relinquish its designation as such a carrier in any area served by more than one eligible telecommunications carrier. An eligible telecommunications carrier that seeks to relinquish its eligible telecommunications carrier designation for an area served by more than one eligible telecommunications carrier shall give advance notice to the State commission (or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6)) of such relinquishment. Prior to permitting a telecommunications carrier designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier to cease providing universal service in an area served by more than one eligible telecommunications carrier, the State commission (or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6)) shall require the remaining eligible telecommunications carrier or carriers to ensure that all customers served by the relinquishing carrier will continue to be served, and shall require sufficient notice to permit the purchase or construction of adequate facilities by any remaining eligible telecommunications carrier. The State commission (or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6)) shall establish a time, not to exceed one year after the State commission (or the Commission in the case of a common carrier designated under paragraph (6)) approves such relinquishment under this paragraph, within which such purchase or construction shall be completed ld (emphasis added); see also 47 C.F.R. § 54.205(a)-(b). Verizon Wireless satisfies all of these requirements. 10. Verizon Wireless seeks to relinquish its ETC designations throughout its Designated Areas, which are areas smaller than Verizon