Florida Public Service Commission native order document 07088-2026

FILED 9/30/2026
DOCUMENT NO. 07088-2026
FPSC 	- COMMISSION CLERK
BEFORE THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
In re: 2027 State certification under 47 C.F.R.
§54.313 and §54.314, annual reporting
requirements for high-cost recipients and
certification of support for eligible
telecommunications carriers.
DOCKET NO. 20260089-TP
ORDER NO. PSC-2026-0345-FOF-TP
ISSUED: September 30, 2026
The following Commissioners participated in the disposition of this matter:
GABRIELLA PASSIDOMO SMITH, Chairman
GARY F. CLARK
MIKE LA ROSA
BOBBY PAYNE
ANA ORTEGA
ORDER AUTHORIZING 2027 UNIVERSAL SERVICE CERTIFICATIONS
BY THE COMMISSION:
Background
One 	of 	the 	primary 	principles 	of 	universal 	service 	support 	as 	described 	in 	the
Telecommunications 	Act 	of 	1996 	(Telecom 	Act) 	is 	for 	consumers 	in 	all 	regions 	to 	have
reasonably comparable 	access 	to 	telecommunications 	and 	information 	services 	at 	reasonably
comparable 	rates. 1The 	federal 	universal 	service high-cost program 	is designed 	to 	help ensure
that consumers 	in 	rural, 	insular, and 	high-cost 	areas 	have 	access 	to modem communications
networks capable of providing voice and broadband 	service, both fixed and mobile, 	at rates that
are reasonably comparable 	to those 	in urban 	areas. 2 The program supports the goal of universal
service by allowing 	eligible telecommunications 	carriers (ETCs) to recover some of the 	costs of
providing 	service 	in 	high-cost 	areas from 	the 	federal 	Universal 	Service Fund. 	Carriers can be
designated 	as ETCs 	in Florida by the Florida Public 	Service Commission (Commission) 	or the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
In 	order 	for 	requesting 	carriers 	to 	receive 	federal 	universal 	service 	high-cost 	support,
state 	commissions 	must 	annually 	certify 	to 	the 	Universal 	Service 	Administrative Company
(USAC) 	that each carrier complies with the requirements of Section 254(e) of the Telecom Act
by using high-cost support “only for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and
services 	for which 	the 	support 	is 	intended.” 3 Certification 	will be 	filed 	online by us 	through
1 47 U.S.C. §254(b)(3) (2026)
2 FCC, 	“Universal 	Service 	for 	High 	Cost 	Areas 	- 	Connect 	America 	Fund,” 	updated 	July 	31, 	2026,
https://www.fcc.gov/general/universal-service-high-cost-areas-connect-america-fund , accessed August 17, 2026.
347 C.F.R §54.3 14(a) (2026)

ORDER NO. PSC-2026-0345-FOF-TP
DOCKET NO. 20260089-TP
PAGE 2
USAC’s online portal. In order for a carrier to be eligible for high-cost universal service support
for all of calendar year 2027, we must submit the certification by October 1, 2026. 4
We have jurisdiction pursuant to 47 C.F.R. §54.313 and §54.314, as well as Chapter 364,
Florida Statutes (F.S.).
Analysis and Decision
All Florida ETCs that are seeking high-cost support have filed affidavits with us attesting
that the high-cost funds received for the preceding calendar year were used, and funds for the
upcoming calendar year will be used only for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of
facilities and services for which the support is intended. Based on previous years’ data, we
estimate that approximately $16.6 million in high-cost support may be received by these Florida
ETCs in 2027.5
We reviewed the affidavits made by each carrier to us. Each of the Florida ETCs
receiving high-cost support has attested that all federal high-cost support provided to them within
Florida was used in the preceding calendar year and will be used in the coming calendar year
only for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and services for which the
support is intended.
Having reviewed the carriers’ filings, we certify to USAC that Bright House Networks
Information 	Services 	(Florida), 	LLC; 	CenturyLink 	of 	Florida, 	Inc.; 	Consolidated
Communications of Florida Company, LLC; Frontier Florida LLC; ITS Telecommunications
Systems, LLC d/b/a Blue Stream Fiber; Northeast Florida Telephone Company d/b/a NEFCOM;
Quincy Telephone Company d/b/a TDS Telecom; Smart City Telecommunications LLC d/b/a
Smart City Telecom; Windstream Communications, LLC; and Windstream Florida, LLC are
eligible to receive federal high-cost support, that they have used the federal high-cost support
received in the preceding calendar year, and that they will use the federal high-cost support they
receive in the coming calendar year only for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of
facilities and services for which the support is intended.
Based on the foregoing, it is
ORDERED by the Florida Public Service Commission that we shall certify to USAC that
Bright House Networks Information Services (Florida), LLC; CenturyLink of Florida, Inc.;
Consolidated 	Communications 	of 	Florida 	Company, 	LLC; 	Frontier 	Florida 	LLC; 	ITS
Telecommunications Systems, LLC d/b/a Blue Stream Fiber; Northeast Florida Telephone
Company d/b/a NEFCOM; Quincy Telephone Company d/b/a TDS Telecom; Smart City
Telecommunications LLC d/b/a Smart City Telecom; Windstream Communications, LLC; and
Windstream Florida, LLC are eligible to receive federal high-cost support. It is further
4 47 C.F.R §54.314(d) (2026)
5 This estimate was obtained using data from the USAC high-cost funding data disbursement search tool.

ORDER NO. PSC-2026-0345-FOF-TP
DOCKET NO. 20260089-TP
PAGE 3
ORDERED by the Florida Public Service Commission that this docket should be closed
upon issuance of a Final Order.
By ORDER of the Florida Public Service Commission this 30th day of September, 2026 	.
Florida Public Service Commission
2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
(850)413-6770
www.floridapsc.com
Copies 	furnished: A 	copy 	of 	this 	document 	is
provided 	to 	the 	parties 	of record 	at 	the 	time 	of
issuance and, 	if applicable, interested persons.
JDI
NOTICE OF FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OR JUDICIAL REVIEW
The 	Florida 	Public 	Service Commission 	is 	required by 	Section 	120.569(1), 	Florida
Statutes, 	to notify parties of any administrative hearing or judicial review of Commission orders
that 	is available under Sections 120.57 or 120.68, Florida Statutes, as well as the procedures and
time 	limits 	that 	apply. 	This 	notice 	should 	not 	be 	construed 	to mean 	all 	requests 	for 	an
administrative hearing or judicial review will be granted or result in the relief sought.
Any party adversely affected by the Commission's 	final action in this matter may request:
1) 	reconsideration 	of the 	decision by 	filing 	a motion 	for 	reconsideration with 	the 	Office 	of
Commission 	Clerk, 2540 Shumard Oak 	Boulevard, 	Tallahassee, 	Florida 	32399-0850, 	within
fifteen (15) days of the issuance of this order in the form prescribed by Rule 25-22.060, Florida
Administrative 	Code; 	or 	2) 	judicial review by 	the 	Florida Supreme 	Court 	in 	the 	case 	of an
electric, gas or telephone 	utility or the First District Court of Appeal in the case of a water and/or
wastewater utility by 	filing a notice of appeal with the Office of Commission Clerk, and 	filing a
copy of the notice of appeal and 	the 	filing 	fee with the 	appropriate 	court. 	This 	filing must be
completed within thirty (30) days 	after the issuance of this order, pursuant to Rule 9.1 10, Florida
Rules 	of Appellate 	Procedure. 	The 	notice 	of appeal must be 	in 	the form 	specified 	in Rule
9.900(a), Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure.