PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 16-1353
Released:  December 6, 2016
WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF CAPITAL 
INVESTMENT ALLOWANCE FOR 2017
WC Docket No. 10-90
The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that the Universal Service 
Administrative Company (USAC) has published final Capital Investment Allowance (CIA) amounts for 
each rate-of-return carrier in 2017.
1
  The CIA is the maximum amount of capital investment expenses that 
a rate-of-return carrier may include for purposes of calculating High-Cost Loop Support (HCLS) and 
Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS). As adopted in the Rate-of-Return Reform 
Order, the CIA will first apply to investment made in 2017.
2
The final results replace the previously published illustrative results.
3
  The final results reflect 
final 2015 data, including deployment obligations published by USAC.
4
The allowances shown in the 
final results will be applicable to 2017 capital investment, absent special circumstances as provided by 
section 54.303(k) of the Commission’s rules.
5
  As previously noted, USAC has published a worksheet 
that allows a carrier to calculate the CIA based on its own inputs.
6
  Using this worksheet, a carrier may 
replicate the 2015 results and test alternate investment plans. USAC has also published documentation of 
the CIA methodology to accompany the final results and template. The final results, the template, and the 
documentation of the methodology are available at http://www.usac.org/hc/tools/default.aspx.
For more information, please contact Ted Burmeister, Telecommunications Access Policy 
Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-7389 or Theodore.burmeister@fcc.gov.
                                                     
1
Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration 
and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 3087, 3129-31, paras. 110-115 (2016) (Rate-of-Return 
Reform Order).
2
Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Order, 31 FCC Rcd 6856, 6859, para. 15 (WCB 2016).  
3
Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Publication of Resources for Rate-of-Return Carriers to Calculate 
Capital Investment Allowance for 2017, WC Docket No. 10-90, Public Notice, DA 16-1115 (WCB rel. Sept. 30, 
2016) (CIA Resource PN).
4
Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Posting of Adjustments to Information Regarding Study Area Density, 
Deployment Percentages, Operating Expense Limitations, and Deployment Obligations for a Limited Number of 
Incumbent Rate-of-Return Carriers, WC Docket No. 10-90, Public Notice, DA 16-1279 (WCB rel. Nov. 15, 2016).
5
47 C.F.R. § 54.303(k).  The Bureau expects that carriers will first report the existence of special circumstances 
concurrently with the submission of actual cost data for 2017, subject to procedures to be announced at a later date.
6
CIA Resources PN.
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