http://www.usac.orgUSAC administers the Universal Service Fund (USF) which helps provide communities across the country with affordable telecommunications services.Copyright 2011 Universal Service Administrative CompanyContributorsThe Federal Communications Commission released a Public Notice (DA 13-1361) announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the third quarter (July-September) of 2013 will be 0.151 or 15.1 percent./cont/tools/news/default.aspx#766Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:05:47 -0400ContributorsThe USAC website and applications including: E-File, Rural Health Care My Portal, Schools and Libraries Apply Online and Submit a Question, online forms, and most search tools, may experience periodic outages throughout the day on Saturday, April 20 for scheduled system maintenance. During this time, users may be unable to file, certify, and search for certain forms online. /about/tools/news/default.aspx#737Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:35:00 -0400ContributorsA recording of the webcast, "2013 Universal Service Fund Contributors," which was presented on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, is now available in the Online Learning Library. The presentation slides are also available. If you have questions about FCC Forms 499-A, 499-Q, or USF contributions, please contact the Form 499 team. http://www.usac.orghttp://www.usac.org/cont/about/outreach/online-learning.aspxWed, 20 Mar 2013 14:24:00 -0400ContributorsThe Federal Communications Commission released a Public Notice announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the second quarter (April-June) of 2013 will be 0.155 or 15.5 percent. (Docket No. CC 96-45 DA 13-422) /cont/tools/news/default.aspx#717Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:54:03 -0400ContributorsFCC Form 499-A, the Annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, is due April 1, 2013. Join USAC for a live webcast about updates to the form in 2013, and for more information about universal service fund (USF) contributions. The webcast will be presented by Fred Theobald, Senior Manager of USF Contributions./about/tools/news/default.aspx#714Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:54:00 -0400ContributorsDue to inclement weather, USAC’s Washington, DC office is closed today, Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Please note that the Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau (CSB) will remain open./about/tools/news/default.aspx#711Wed, 06 Mar 2013 07:58:12 -0400ContributorsFCC rules require all providers of telecommunications, including universal service fund de minimis exempt companies, to file a Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet (FCC Form 499-A) and report revenue data for the period of January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012. Even if you are a de minimis exempt company, filing FCC Form 499-A after the due date or failing to file will result in late filing fees imposed by the universal service fund as well as each of the funds named below. The universal service fund late filing fees are the greater of $100 per month or an amount computed using the U.S. prime rate (in effect on the date the applicable form is due) plus 3.5 percent of the filer's monthly obligation (FCC 07-150). Each of the funds named below can impose their own late filing fees based on their own billing practices. If you have questions about FCC Form 499-A, contact us./about/tools/news/default.aspx#708Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:16:00 -0400ContributorsIn observance of Martin Luther King Jr. and Inauguration days, USAC offices, including the Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau (CSB), will be closed on Monday, January 21, 2013. /about/tools/news/default.aspx#686Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:23:00 -0400ContributorsThe entire USAC website, including all static content, will be unavailable Saturday, January 19 from 8:00 AM through 10:00 AM EST due to scheduled maintenance. In addition, certain applications will be unavailable from Friday, January 18 at 11:59 PM to Saturday, January 19 at 10:00 AM EST. These applications include E-File, My Portal, funding commitment search tools, the News Brief archives, and training archives. The Schools and Libraries "Apply Online" page, "Submit a Question" page, online forms, and other search tools will be available except during the two-hour period when the entire website is down. We apologize for any inconvenience./about/tools/news/default.aspx#685Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:57:00 -0400ContributorsUSAC offices, including the Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau (CSB), will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, December 24-25, 2012. /about/tools/news/default.aspx#679Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:48:29 -0400ContributorsThe Federal Communications Commission released a Public Notice announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the first quarter (January-March) of 2013 will be 0.161 or 16.1 percent. (Docket No. CC 96-45 DA 12-2014) /cont/tools/news/default.aspx#676Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:06:25 -0400ContributorsOn December 12, 2012, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the deadline for comments on proposed changes to FCC Forms 499-A/Q and accompanying instructions is January 11, 2013. (See the related Public Notice, seeking comments, released November 23, 2012). The FCC set the comment deadline for the "2013 Form 499-A Proposed Revisions Public Notice" as 30 days after publication of a summary of the Public Notice in the Federal Register. On December 12, 2012, a summary of the Public Notice appeared in the Federal Register. Accordingly, interested parties may file comments on or before January 11, 2013. All pleadings are to reference WC Docket No. 06-122.  /cont/tools/news/default.aspx#674Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:28:00 -0400ContributorsOn November 23, 2012, the FCC released a Public Notice seeking comment on proposed revisions to the FCC Form 499-A, the FCC Form 499-Q, and the accompanying instructions. All are listed here in redline format, showing proposed changes from the forms and instructions currently in effect: (1) the annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499-A (Form 499-A) and accompanying instructions (Form 499-A Instructions) to be used in 2013 to report 2012 revenues, (2) the quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499-Q (Form 499-Q) and accompanying instructions (Form 499-Q Instructions) to be used in 2013 to report projected collected revenues on a quarterly basis. For further information, please contact Ernesto Beckford, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY(202) 418-0484, or Ernesto.Beckford@fcc.gov. /cont/tools/news/default.aspx#661Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:59:00 -0400ContributorsBeginning November 26, 2012, all service providers must use the new FCC Form 498 when applying for a new SPIN (Service Provider Identification Number) or when making changes to contact or remittance information to an existing SPIN. USAC has posted the new FCC Form 498 and instructions on its website. No prior years’ forms will be accepted; service providers who submit an outdated form will receive notice from USAC that the form could not be processed. E-File users will automatically see the newest version of the form upon log in, and their information will pre-populate. Features of the new FCC Form 498 include: • an additional field in block 3 for a company's Federal Registration Number (FRN); • a column for the Study Area Code Company Name in Block 8; • the ability for a carrier to designate an alternate bank account for the payment of BEAR funds in Block 11; • a box in Block 1 and a supplemental information sheet to allow respondents to include information about affiliates; • an update to the Principal Communications Types in Block 14 to include additional business types as listed on the FCC Form 499-A; • a box after every program on the form that will allow service providers to cease participation in the associated program without having to deactivate their entire SPIN. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the FCC Form 498 and the notice was published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2012. Please contact USAC Customer Operations at (888)641-8722 with any questions about the new FCC Form 498. /about/tools/news/default.aspx#659Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:25:00 -0400ContributorsThe E-File system will be unavailable from 9:00 PM EST on Monday, November 26th, until 7:00 AM EST on Tuesday, November 27th. Please plan your filing activity accordingly. /about/tools/news/default.aspx#651Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0400ContributorsIn order to classify revenues from wholesale services as being carrier revenue, the wholesale provider must either have affirmative knowledge or a reasonable expectation that its customer is itself contributing to universal service on revenues derived from the purchased whole sale services. More information is available in the order, FCC 12-134./about/tools/news/default.aspx#662Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0400ContributorsUSAC filed its first quarter (1Q) 2013 USF Support Mechanisms Fund Size Projections with the FCC on November 2. Overall, the funding requirement is down approximately $117 million from its fourth quarter 2012. The report is available here: USF Support Mechanisms Fund Size Projections./about/tools/news/default.aspx#663Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0400ContributorsThe due date of the November 2012 FCC Form 499-Q remains unchanged even in light of the disruptions due to Hurricane Sandy.  The November FCC Form 499-Q is due on November 1,2012; however, no fees are imposed if the form is received by December 1, 2012. Revisions to the FCC Form 499-Q are still due no later than December 17, 2012./cont/tools/news/default.aspx#648Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:41:00 -0400ContributorsDue to Hurricane Sandy, USAC is closed Monday and Tuesday, October 29-30, 2012./about/tools/news/default.aspx#646Sun, 28 Oct 2012 21:49:00 -0400