The Federal Communications Commission will allow lifeline-only eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to serve a portion of the service area of a rural telephone company. The grant of forbearance applies to: (1) any ETC that has been designated by a state or the FCC and (2) pending and future requests by telecommunications carriers that seek limited designation as an ETC to participate only in the Lifeline program. The Order becomes effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Publication has not yet occurred.
