Sec. 54.203  Designation of eligible telecommunications carriers for 
          unserved areas.

    (a) If no common carrier will provide the services that are 
supported by federal universal service support mechanisms under section 
254(c) of the Act and subpart B of this part to an unserved community or 
any portion thereof that requests such service, the Commission, with 
respect to interstate services, or a state commission, with respect to 
intrastate services, shall determine which common carrier or carriers 
are best able to provide such service to the requesting unserved 
community or portion thereof and shall order such carrier or carriers to 
provide such service for that unserved community or portion thereof.
    (b) Any carrier or carriers ordered to provide such service under 
this section shall meet the requirements of section 54.201(d) and shall 
be designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier for that 
community or portion thereof.