§54.1504. Term of Stage 2 fixed support, phase-down of legacy fixed support, and reporting obligations for phase-down support recipient.

Term of support. Support awarded through Stage 2 of the fixed Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and of the fixed Connect USVI Fund shall be provided for ten years.

Phase-down of legacy support. Stage 2 of the fixed Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and of the fixed Connect USVI Fund shall replace the legacy frozen high-cost support for the Territories. Beginning on a date determined by the Wireline Competition Bureau and announced by public notice following authorization of a winning application, frozen support recipient carriers will receive 2/3 frozen fixed support amortized for the first 12 months following the date announced by public notice; and 1/3 frozen fixed support amortized over the second 12-month period. Beginning June 1, 2023, legacy frozen support recipient carriers that continue receiving phase-down legacy support for use in accordance with applicable rules shall be authorized to continue to receive 1/3 frozen fixed support for the geographic areas in which it was not selected as the winning applicant of the Stage 2 competitive process. The frozen support recipient carriers shall receive a monthly support amount equal to the amortized monthly 1/3 frozen fixed support amount until December 31, 2025, and zero frozen support thereafter.