1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Restoring Economic Strength and Telecommunications Operations by Releasing Expected Dollars Act of 2018 or the RESTORED Act of 2018 . 2. Use of high cost universal service support following presidentially declared major disasters or emergencies Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 254 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (m) Use of high cost universal service support following presidentially declared major disasters or emergencies (1) Use of support A covered telecommunications carrier may use high cost support received with respect to a covered area to aid in the restoration of telecommunications capabilities in such area if such carrier— (A) repairs its network as rapidly and widely as possible to restore service; and (B) uses such support for such restoration only in a covered area that is substantially unserved by facilities-based providers of residential fixed voice and broadband service that do not receive high cost support. (2) Advance payments (A) In general If a covered telecommunications carrier makes an election described in subparagraph (B) with respect to a covered area, the Commission shall provide to such carrier in the form of a single advance payment the high cost support that, in the absence of such election, such carrier would have received with respect to such area over the number of months specified in such election. (B) Election The election described in this subparagraph is an election— (i) by a covered telecommunications carrier to receive high cost support with respect to a covered area for a number of months specified in the election (not to exceed 7 months) in the form of a single advance payment