PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 News Media Information: 202-418-0500 Internet: www.fcc.gov TTY: 888-835-5322 DA 18-187 February 27, 2018 MOBILITY FUND PHASE II INITIAL ELIGIBLE AREAS MAP AVAILABLE; CHALLENGE WINDOW WILL OPEN MARCH 29, 2018 WC Docket No. 10-90 WT Docket No. 10-208 The Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force (Task Force), in conjunction with the Wireline Competition Bureau and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (the Bureaus), today publishes the map of areas presumptively eligible for Mobility Fund Phase II (MF-II) support (initial eligible areas map). The map is available on the FCC’s website at www.fcc.gov/mobility-fund-phase-2. The Task Force and Bureaus also announce that the challenge window for the MF-II challenge process will open on March 29, 2018. 1 A link to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) challenge process portal (portal) will be posted on the FCC’s website at www.fcc.gov/mobility-fund- phase-2. Interested parties have 30 days to review the initial eligible areas map before the challenge window opens. 2 Beginning on March 22, 2018, any party that submits contact information to the portal access request form (at www.fcc.gov/MF2-Challenge-Portal/form) and obtains login credentials will be able to test its credentials by logging in to the portal. 3 Challengers will not be able to upload speed test data to the portal until the challenge window opens on March 29, 2018. 4 The challenge window will remain open for 150 days, until August 27, 2018. 5 Only challenges certified by August 27, 2018, will proceed. 6 1 See Procedures for the Mobility Fund Phase II Challenge Process, Public Notice, DA 18-186 at 6, para. 11 (WCB/WTB Feb. 27, 2018) (MF-II Challenge Process Procedures Public Notice). 2 Id. at 7, para. 12. 3 See Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force Announces Availability of Mobility Fund Phase II Challenge Process Portal Access Request Form, Public Notice, DA 18-142 at 1 (WCB/WTB Feb. 14, 2018). Information about access to the USAC portal, including the URL and individual account login credentials, will be sent via email to parties that requested access to the portal and are eligible to participate in the MF-II challenge process. 4 Once the challenge window opens, an eligible party will be able to download the provider-specific confidential data necessary to conduct speed tests. MF-II Challenge Process Procedures Public Notice at 6-7, para. 11. We may update or otherwise correct the confidential provider-specific data before the challenge window opens so that challengers will have access to the most accurate data to conduct their speed tests. 5 Connect America Fund; Universal Service Reform – Mobility Fund, Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order, 32 FCC Rcd 6282, 6296-97, para. 29 (2017) (MF-II Challenge Process Order). 6 MF-II Challenge Process Procedures Public Notice at 7, para. 11 & n.40; MF-II Challenge Process Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 6297, para. 30. Federal Communications Commission DA 18-[XXXX] 2 For further information concerning the initial eligible areas map or how to access the USAC portal, please email mf2challengeprocess@fcc.gov or contact Jonathan McCormack, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-0660. – FCC –