<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><title></title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-indent: 0.00in; text-align: justify; background: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; } span.s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0 { color: black; background: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000000 { color: #0000FF; background: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000001 { color: black; background: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9000002 { color: black; background: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000003 { background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000004 { color: black; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000005 { color: #0000FF; background: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules?Rule=20:10:32:43.07"><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000000">20:10:32:43.07</span></a><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000001">.  Public interest standard.</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> Prior to designating an eligible telecommunications carrier, the commission shall determine that </span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">the</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> designation is in the public interest</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">, based upon the following considerations:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    (1)  T</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">he benefits of increased consumer choice</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">;</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    (2)  T</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">he impact of multiple designations on the universal service fund</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    (3)  T</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">he unique advantages and disadvantages of the applicant's service offering</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    (4)  Any</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> commitments made regarding the quality of the telephone service provided by the applicant</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    (5)  T</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">he applicant's ability to provide the supported services throughout the designated service area within a reasonable time frame</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">; and</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    (6)  W</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">hether the designation of the applicant </span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">is likely to</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> have detrimental effects on the provisioning of universal service by the incumbent local exchange carrier.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">If an applicant seeks designation below the study area level of a rural telephone company, the commission </span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">must</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> also conduct a creamskimming analysis that compares the population density of each wire center in which the applicant seeks designation against that of the wire centers in the study area in which the applicant does not seek designation. In its creamskimming analysis, the commission shall consider </span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">relevant</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> factors pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 54.315 (January 1, 2006) by the incumbent local exchange carrier.</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> </span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000003">The creamskimming analysis is not required for a wireless lifeline-only eligible telecommunications applicant</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000004">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    </span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000001">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> 32 SDR 231, effective July 10, 2006</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">; 52 SDR 32, effective September 29, 2025</span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    </span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000001">General Authority:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> SDCL </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-31-3"><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000005">49-31-3</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-31-76"><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000005">49-31-76</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-31-77"><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000005">49-31-77</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-31-81"><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000005">49-31-81</span></a><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">    </span><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000001">Law Implemented:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0"> SDCL </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-31-3"><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000005">49-31-3</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-31-76"><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000005">49-31-76</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-31-78"><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0-000005">49-31-78</span></a><span class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9C0">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2f90832b-d32c-4400-9a8b-4e1d4d3919b9000002"> </span></p></div></body></html>