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What is the Bona Fide Retail Request (BFRR) Program?
To what companies does the BFRR program apply?
What number of "petitions" are required?
How do I know what CSA I am in?
Where do I send the completed form?

What is the Bona Fide Retail Request (BFRR) Program?

The BFRR program was created by PA Act 183 of 2004. Act 183 requires telecommunications companies to provide high-speed access to Internet service to all customers no later than 2015. The Act also provides that customers demanding service earlier than 2015 may, in effect, "petition" their telephone company to provide high-speed Internet service. When a certain number of customers within a specified "Carrier Serving Area" (CSA) submit completed petitions the telephone company is required, by law, to make DSL service available within 365 days.

BFRR related assistance activities conducted by the Northwest Commission are financed in part by grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The DCED has made this funding available to the Commission on two separate occasions - the first covering the period from January 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. Funding in the current period runs through September 2009.

To what companies does the BFRR program apply?

Verizon, CenturyLink (formerly Embarq/Sprint) and Windstream (formerly Alltel).

What number of "petitions" are required?

When the company receives applications for high-speed Internet service for 50 telephone lines or 25 percent of the telephone lines in a Carrier Serving Area, whichever is LESS, the company must make that service available to customers in that area.

How do I know what CSA I am in?

Many CSA maps are available here. Please scroll down for a complete list. If your community is not on the list please contact Janet Anderson at the Northwest Commission at janeta@nwcommission.org or 814.677.4800.

Where do I send the completed form?

Return the completed form to:

Northwest PA Regional Planning and Development Commission
Att: BFRR Coordinator
395 Seneca Street, PO Box 1127
Oil City, PA  16301

As we receive a sufficient number of forms we will package and send the forms to the appropriate telephone company. All applications are submitted using Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested. Backup copies are maintained at the Northwest Commission.