1. (a)

   1. (1) Any eligible telecommunications carrier seeking funding from the Arkansas High Cost Fund shall file a request for funding with the Arkansas High Cost Fund administrator requesting support from the fund.
   2. (2) The request shall be on a form developed by the administrator.
2. (b) The application for funding shall include the ETC’s agreement to be subject to and comply with all TPRs adopted by the Arkansas Public Service Commission, except for any TPR the Arkansas Public Service Commission has waived for the ETC or for any TPR not applicable due to the technology employed by the ETC.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Upon receipt of a request for Arkansas High Cost Fund funding from an ETC, the administrator shall determine whether the applicant is a Category I, II, III, or IV Company.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) If possible, the administrator shall use publicly available information to determine the appropriate category for the applicant.
      2. (B) If such information is not available through public sources, the administrator may determine the category based upon other information submitted by the applicant with sufficient detail for the administrator to identify its reasonable accuracy.
4. (d) If an application for funding is submitted by an applicant requiring a proxy method to establish funding levels, the administrator shall promptly notify the Arkansas Public Service Commission, and a proxy method shall be developed by the Arkansas Public Service Commission for use in determining the funding to the ETC.
5. (e) The administrator shall provide copies of the request for funding to the secretary of the Arkansas Public Service Commission and to each provider of telecommunications services that has previously submitted a written request with the administrator to receive notice of requests for funding.

6. (f)

   1. (1) Within sixty (60) days after receipt of a request for funds, the administrator shall:

      1. (A) Review and determine the accuracy and appropriateness of the request; and
      2. (B) Advise the entity requesting funding of the administrator’s determination.
   2. (2) The administrator shall provide copies of his or her determination on the request for funding to the secretary and to each provider of telecommunications service in Arkansas which has previously requested in writing to receive such determinations.

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Any affected party shall have thirty (30) days following the date the administrator’s determination is filed with the secretary within which to request reconsideration by the Arkansas Public Service Commission of the administrator’s determination.
      2. (B) The Arkansas Public Service Commission shall, after notice and hearing, if requested, issue its opinion on the request for reconsideration within thirty (30) days after the request for reconsideration, unless the thirty-day period is extended for good cause.

Codification Notes: This section was promulgated as Rule 5.02 of the Arkansas High Cost Fund Rules prior to codification in the Code of Arkansas Rules. "ETC" means eligible telecommunications carrier.