Bona Fide Retail Request Program (BFRR)
 

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 get the petition form?
Where do I send the completed form?
CSA Maps
List of BFRR communities
 

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.

To what companies does the BFRR program apply?

Verizon, Embarq (formerly 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 W. Randy Rice at the Northwest Commission at randyr@nwcommission.org or 814.677.4800.

Where do I get the petition form?

You can download the forms here or, you can request a form be mailed or faxed to you. There is a different form for each of the three telephone companies. Please be sure you are filling out the form for the same company that provides telephone service in your area. Links to download the BFRR petitions are provided below. If you prefer a form be mailed or faxed to you, please call 814.67.4800 Ext. 321.

Embarq BFRR Form
Verizon BFRR Form
Windstream BFRR Form

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.

CSA Maps

CSA Maps are available for the following areas:

Windstream Service Areas

Conneautville
Meadville
Sheffield
Sligo
Rockland
 

Participating BFRR Communities