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GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES Public Services Commission IN RE: Docket No. 669 BROADBAND VI, LLC PETITION FOR Order No. 49/2018 ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER DESIGNATION IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Some! Ne age” ee” nee Sue” ORDER WHEREAS, on June 27, 2018, the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission (hereinafter “Commission” or “PSC”’) received a Petition from Broadband VI, LLC (hereinafter “BBVI") requesting designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (hereinafter “ETC”) in the United States Virgin Islands in order to be eligible to receive support from the federal Universal Service Fund (“USF’’); and WHEREAS, on August 7, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (hereinafter “FCC”) released a public notice regarding Stage | restoration funding for the Uniedo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund allocations; and WHEREAS, on August 8, 2018, the Commission received the Report and Recommendations from its Technical Consultant, Georgetown Consulting Group (hereinafter “GCG”); and WHEREAS, on August 15, 2018, the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporations d/b/a Innovative d/b/a Viya (hereinafter “Viya”) submitted Comments on Dockets 668 and 669: LAN Communications Corp. and Broadband VI, LLC. Viya suggested that the Commission limit its consideration of LAN and BBVI Petitions to Stage ! of the Connect USVI Fund only and defer designation for Stage 2 until the FCC clarifies its Stage 2 rules funding and while giving the Commission more time to further review and investigate the “complex implications” raised by Stage 2 distribution; and WHEREAS, on August 18, 2018, GCG submitted a response letter concerning Viya’s August 15, 2018 Comments regarding the Petitions for ETC Designation filed by LAN and BBVI. GCG recommended that Viya’s proposal be rejected due to its inconsistency with the structure of the federal Telecom Act of 1996 that is currently in place; and WHEREAS, on August 20, 2018, the Commission received additional letters from Viya regarding their comments on Dockets 668 and 669; and PSC Order No. 49/2018 Docket 669: Broadband VI, LLC Petition for Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation in the U.S. Virgin Islands WHEREAS, on August 20, 2018, BBVI replied to Viya’s Comments regarding BBVI’s Petition for ETC designation; and WHEREAS, on August 21, 2018, the Commission met in regular session at its office on St. Thomas and at the Virgin Islands Port Authority Conference Room on St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands; and WHEREAS, after review and deliberation, the Commission voted to GRANT BBVI ETC designation subject to the recommendations included in the GCG report; NOW THEREFORE, the Commission finds and ORDERS that, BBVI’s Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the United States Virgin Islands is GRANTED on the following findings, terms and conditions: 1. The Commission finds that BBVI has met all of the statutory and regulatory conditions for designation as an unrestricted ETC; 2. The Commission finds that granting the unrestricted ETC designation is in the public interest; 3. The ETC Designation shall encompass the entire territorial area of the USVI within the scope of the authority of the USVI PSC as it exists today or may come to exist in the future; 4. The ETC Designation shall require the ETC Designee to provide voice and other supported services as a common carrier and comply with all common carrier obligation required under independent territorial Jaw and federal law as it exists today or may come to exist in the future; 5. The ETC Designation requires the ETC Designee to comply with all applicable network reliability, network security, and applicable service quality standards required under independent territorial law and federal law as it exists today or may come to exist in the future; 6. The ETC Designee must file copies of any FCC awards of Stage 2 Connect USVI funds with the PSC. 7. The ETC Designation requires the ETC Designee to comply with any obligations imposed on the ETC Designee under independent territorial law and federal law as it currently exists or may come to exist in the future. 8. BBVI's petition is subject to the following conditions: a. The Company must comply with the FCC’s USF reporting requirements and provide a copy of any FCC reports to the PSC. b. By August J, 2019, and August | of every year thereafter for which the Company receives federal USF under the Connect USVI fund or any other high-cost program, the Company must file a report with the PSC showing the use of funds during the previous calendar year. This report must provide the PSC Order No. 49/2018 Docket 669: Broadband VI, LLC Petition for Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation in the U.S. Virgin Islands total USF received and identify the specific projects that were funded by USF together with the amounts expended, the localities served, the start and completion dates of each project, the status of the project if not completed and the number of subscribers affected. Records supporting the FCC and PSC reports must be retained for ten years. . Within 30 days of approval of the ETC designation, the Company must provide a plan to the PSC to implement a Lifeline program. This plan should include the pricing, terms and conditions for BIAS, a description of proposed outreach and a commitment to comply with the FCC’s rules on Lifeline enrollment, certification and verification. The Company must also provide to the PSC a copy of its petition to the FCC to waive the speed standard for its Lifeline BIAS offering and a copy of any FCC response. 9. The ETC designation is for an indefinite period of time. The Company must formally request relinquishment of its ETC designation if it no longer wishes to participate in the federal USF program per 47 CFR 54.205. However, the Company is subject to any penalties and forfeitures that may be imposed by the FCC if the Company files for relinquishment in less than one year from the date the ETC designation is granted. So Ordered. Date: September 5, 2018 For the Commission, ~. ay # # F] rs Raymond J. Williams, Chair