FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
June 6,2011
JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Dan Benishek
U.S. House ofRepresentatives
514 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Benishek:
Thank you for your letter regarding a petition filed by Osirus Communications, Inc. The
petition requests that the Commission designate it as an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC)
in the state ofMichigan to enable it to become a member ofthe National Exchange Carrier
Association (NECA), to participate in NECA tariffs and pools, and to begin collecting high-cost
universal service support. As you may know, there are two other carriers in Michigan seeking
ILEC status for the same unserved areas. It is highly unusual for the Commission to choose
among competing carriers seeking ILEC status, an issue more appropriately and typically
decided at the state level.
The Osirus petition raises important but complex issues, including how to ensure that
consumers in high-cost areas ofthe country have access to modem communications networks,
how to achieve that goal in a fiscally responsible manner, what to do when multiple providers
seek to serve the same high-cost area, and the roles ofthe states and federal government in
addressing these challenges.
Earlier this year, the Commission initiated a proceeding to modernize the Universal
Service Fund and intercarrier compensation systems to meet the nation's broadband availability
challenge. That proceeding, which is on an aggressive schedule, seeks comment on each ofthe
issues raised by the Osirus petition. Once that proceeding is concluded, we will be in a position
to address the petition. A copy ofyour letter is being entered into the record ofthe proceeding
and we will keep you apprised ofour work to resolve these important issues.
Thank you for your interest in this important matter and please do not hesitate to contact
me ifI can be offurther assistance.
Si~ly,
// .,/
iiUS Genachowski
445 12n-i STREET S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 • 202-418-1000