# Connect America Fund, ETC Annual Reports and Certifications, Establishing Just and Reasonable Rates for Local Exchange Carriers, Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime
> **Federal Communications Commission** · Final rule. · Published 2018-05-01 · Effective 2018-05-31 · 83 FR 18951
## Document
- **Document number:** 2018-08025
- **Category:** broadband
- **Federal Register citation:** 83 FR 18951
- **CFR reference:** 47 CFR 54
- **Publication date:** 2018-05-01
- **Effective date:** 2018-05-31
- **FCC docket:** WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, 07-135, CC Docket No. 01-92
## Abstract

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) takes the next step in closing the digital divide through actions and proposals designed to stimulate broadband deployment in rural areas. To reach the Commission's objective, it must continue to reform its existing high-cost universal support programs. Building on earlier efforts to modernize high-cost universal support, it seeks to offer greater certainty and predictability to rate-of-return carriers and create incentives to bring broadband to the areas that need it the most.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/05/01/2018-08025/connect-america-fund-etc-annual-reports-and-certifications-establishing-just-and-reasonable-rates)
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