Press Release

PUC Approves ETC Designation for Armstrong Telecommunications, Inc.; Enables Federal Funds to Expand Broadband Deployment in Northwest PA

Published on 2/6/2020

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today granted the petition of Armstrong Telecommunications, Inc. (ATI) for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC).  The ETC designation will promote efforts to provide voice and broadband services in underserved parts of northwestern Pennsylvania, including Crawford, Erie and Mercer counties. 

The Commission voted 5-0 to approve the ETC designation, which is required under federal law before a company can receive federal universal service fund support to build voice and broadband networks and provide related services in high-cost areas of Pennsylvania.  It is the third ETC designation granted by the Commission in the past year.  ATI joins Tri-Co Connections LLC and Velocity.Net Communications, Inc., as well as the Commonwealth’s incumbent local exchange carrier telephone companies (ILECs), as current ETCs.

On Aug. 28, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that ATI had been awarded federal high-cost support funding in certain designated census blocks in Pennsylvania via the FCC’s Connect American Fund Phase II Auction.  ATI had requested ETC designation in specific census blocks located in Crawford, Erie and Mercer counties where it had successfully bid.

ATI plans to use the $2,642,412.90 in federal funds from Auction 903 to provide service to 1,949 locations by extending its existing fiber optic network to provide telecommunications and broadband Internet access services with simultaneous download and upload speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second to customers residing only in the awarded census blocks.  As a condition of receiving an ETC designation to receive high-cost support, ATI must also participate in the federal Lifeline program and is required to offer Lifeline service to low-income eligible customers or households, in accordance with applicable federal and state law.

ATI holds certificates of public convenience from the Commission to operate as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC), Interexchange Toll Reseller (IXCR), and a Competitive Access Provider (CAP) in the following ILEC service territories: Commonwealth Telephone Company d/b/a Frontier Communications Commonwealth Telephone Company, LLC (Frontier Commonwealth); Verizon North LLC (Verizon North); Verizon Pennsylvania LLC (Verizon PA); The United Telephone Company of Pennsylvania d/b/a CenturyLink (CenturyLink); Citizens Telephone Company of Kecksburg; Consolidated Communications of Pennsylvania Company; and Windstream Pennsylvania, LLC (Windstream PA). 

In recent years, the PUC has repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of lost federal broadband funding fueling a growing economic divide between communities and businesses that have access to higher Internet speeds, and those that do not. Additionally, the Commission has supported the launch of the Pennsylvania Broadband Investment Incentive Program, and recently finalized a rulemaking intended to more quickly resolve disputes over access to utility poles, which is a key issue for enhanced broadband deployment.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” PAPowerSwitch on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

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Docket No.:  P-2018-3005035

Contact:

• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov