14. Service Territory

DTS' application seeks to provide service to all unserved areas within the state. As noted above, we are concerned about DTS' ability to effectively serve all unserved customers in the state, particularly given DTS' limited verifiable funding sources for its start-up costs, and that as a result, many unserved customers may remain in its service territory. Also, granting DTS unconditional authority to provide service to all the unserved territory effectively eliminates our Rural Telecommunications Infrastructure Grant Program as no other carrier would be able to apply for funds to provide service to unserved areas.

To remedy this situation, we grant DTS exclusive authority to provide service to all the currently unserved territory for twelve months from the effective date of this decision. After that time, if another carrier applies to provide service to any LATA where DTS is not currently providing service to at least one customer and DTS has not obtained a waiver of the 12-month requirement discussed in Section 4 above, DTS would surrender the involved LATA without protest. DTS would retain exclusive rights to serve all remaining territory. In addition, notwithstanding this grant of authority, Rural Telecommunications Infrastructure Grant Program applicants may continue to apply for and receive funding to provide service within DTS' service territory.