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[Additional Archives]
What's New Archive 2001 - USAC
December 2001
FCC Appoints Eight USAC Board Members: USAC Board Appoints Board
Members to Committees (12/18/01)
Michael Powell, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
appointed eight individuals to the Board of Directors of the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC). USAC administers the Universal Service Fund
(USF), which provides communities across the country with access to affordable
telecommunications services. USAC is a private, not-for-profit company directed
by the FCC to administer the USF. USAC administers the four universal service
programs (the High Cost Program, Low Income Program, Rural Health Care Program,
and Schools and Libraries Program).
The appointments are a result of a FCC public notice soliciting nominations
to fill the vacancies that would be created when the terms of six current
members expire on December 31, 2001, and to fill two vacant positions on the
board. The USAC Board represents the diverse stakeholders that participate
in the universal service programs. The terms are staggered and six expire
each year.
The eight nominees appointed by the Chairman of the FCC, the stakeholder
group represented, and the USAC Board Committee assignments are:
(1) Anne Bryant, Executive Director, National School Board Association
- Schools that are eligible to receive support (re-appointed) - Schools
and Libraries Committee
(2) Anne Leslie Campbell, Director, National City Public Library - Libraries
that are eligible to receive support - Schools and Libraries Committee
(3) James R. Coltharp, Senior Director of Public Policy, Comcast Corporation
- Cable operators - Schools and Libraries Committee
(4) Diane Cornell, Vice President for Regulatory Policy, Cellular Telecommunications
and Internet Association - Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers
- High Cost and Low Income Committee
(5) Daniel Gonzalez, Vice President, External and Regulatory Affairs, XO
Communications - Competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) - High Cost
and Low Income Committee
(6) Billy Jack Gregg, Director, Consumer Advocate Division, West Virginia
Public Service Commission - Consumer advocates - High Cost and Low Income
Committee and Rural Health Care Committee
(7) Frank Gumper, Public Policy Consultant, Verizon Communications - Bell
Operating Companies (re-appointed) - High Cost and Low Income Committee
(8) Camie J. Swanson-Hull, Commissioner, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
- State utility regulators - High Cost and Low Income Committee and Rural
Health Care Committee
The new Board members will be welcomed at the January 2002 USAC Board meeting.
Billing & Disbursement Contact Center Holiday Announcement (12/18/01)
To enable our employees to enjoy the holiday season with their families and
friends, the B&D Contact Center will be closed Monday, December 24 and Tuesday,
December 25, resuming normal operations on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 at
9:30 a.m., EST.
The B&D Contact Center will also be closed Monday, December 31, 2001 and
Tuesday, January 1, 2002, resuming normal operations on Wednesday, January
2, 2002 at 9:30 a.m., EST.
You can leave questions on our voice mail system when the Contact Center
is closed. We will return your call promptly when we are back in the office.
Happy Holidays!
November 2001
Please Include Filer Information with Payment (11/16/01)
Please remember that when paying by check for a single filer 499 ID, you
should return the top portion of your billing statement with your payment.
When paying by ACH or wire for a single filer 499 ID, you should include your
filer 499 ID with the ACH or wire. When paying by check, wire or ACH for multiple
filer 499 IDs, you should complete and return the payment table on the back
of your billing statement or the enclosed Payment Identification Worksheet.
(Additional worksheets may be downloaded from the USAC web site in the Forms
Section.)
Please also note that all payments should be sent to 135 S. LaSalle, Department
1259, Chicago, IL, 60674-1259. Electronic payments should be submitted to
LaSalle Bank in CCD+ format to ABA #071000505, account #5590045653. Payments
sent to other addresses will be returned.
Contributors who do not follow these procedures will be responsible for any
resulting late payment fees.
Billing & Disbursement Contact Center Holiday Announcement (11/16/01)
The Billing & Disbursement Contact Center (888-641-8722) will be closed
on Thursday, November 22nd and Friday, Novemeber 23rd. The Contact Center
will resume normal operations on Monday, November 25th at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Happy Thanksgiving!
USAC Billing Helpdesk (11/8/01)
Please review the following information if you have questions about your
USAC billing statement.
The Billing Cheat Sheet
explains how to read your USAC bill.
The Sample Calculation will
explain how your USAC bill was calculated.
The Billing FAQs are also on the
reverse side of your USAC bill.
Mellon Bank Forwarding Discontinued (11/1/01)
Starting November 1, 2001, our former lockbox at Mellon Bank will no longer
be forwarding information to our current bank. Please be certain that all
checks are sent to LaSalle Bank at this address:
Universal Service Administrative Company
135 S. LaSalle
Department 1259
Chicago, Illinois 60674-1259
Please do not send correspondence or other materials to this address. Please
overnight payments to:
Universal Service Administrative Company
Department 1259
200 W. Monroe
Suite 200
Chicago, Illinois 60606
312-904-4200
Please send all ACH transfers to:
ABA: 071000505
Account #: 5590045653
Please return a Payment ID Form to the Billing and Disbursement Center for
all ACH payments.
FCC Announces Quarterly Contribution Factor (11/01/01)
October marked the beginning of a new USAC billing quarter. USAC will
be using a new set of 499Q revenue data and a new contribution factor
to determine your monthly contribution.
Your total monthly contribution is determined by taking one-third of your
second quarter 2001 interstate and international revenue data (Lines 116b
plus 116c from the August 1 Form 499Q) multiplied by the fourth quarter FCC
contribution factor, 0.069187.
(116B + 116C)/3 x .069187 = Total Monthly Contribution
For more information regarding the contribution factor, please visit the
FCC web site.
October 2001
Web Site Maintenance to Occur (10/11/2001)
Please be advised, due to server maintenance the Schools and Libraries and
Rural Health Care sites will be inaccessible between the hours of 12 A.M.
- 5 A.M. Eastern Time on October 11 and October 12.
Access to the site will be completely inaccessible and may result in a PAGE
or SERVER not found error message. This maintenance will not affect the main
USAC web site and other division sites. We apologize for any inconvenience
this may cause.
September 2001
Billing and Disbursement Newsletter (9/27/2001)
Please read the latest B&D newsletter. We hope to use the newsletter
to answer frequently asked questions and to share news. View
the newsletter 
September Payment Deadline (9/27/2001)
Due to the disruption and cancelation of mail and air courier service throughout
the United States during the week of September 10 - 14, 2001 the deadline
for Universal Service Fund payments has been extended three business days
from September 14, 2001 to September 19, 2001.
USAC Billing and Disbursement Updates (9/26/2001)
The USAC Billing & Disbursement Department is making changes to the USAC
support mechanisms that may affect service providers over the next several
months.
These changes are limited to the USAC financial operations, the billing,
collection, and disbursement operations. The only visible changes that you
will see relate to contact information (e.g., a new account number to route
the electronic payment for your universal service obligation). All other operations
will continue according to the same familiar routine that you are currently
using. The new banking information is detailed below.
If you would like to send an ACH or a wire please send it to:
LaSalle ABA Number: 071000505
LaSalle Bank Account Number: 5590045653
Please also include the following information in your ACH or wire:
- Company Name
- Filer 499 ID
-
Invoice Number
If you are paying for multiple Filer 499 ID's, please complete the following
payment form and fax or email it to the contact numbers listed on the form.
If you would like to send a check please send it to:
Universal Service Administrative Company
135 S. LaSalle, Dept. 1259
Chicago, IL 60674-1259
If you would like to send a check overnight please address the package as
follows:
Your Company Name, Dept. 1259
200 W. Monroe, Ste. 200
Chicago, IL 60606
312-904-4200
If you have questions about these changes, we encourage you to contact us
via Email.
USAC Taps George McDonald to Head SLD (9/14/2001)
The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is pleased to announce
that, after a nationwide search, George McDonald has been appointed USAC Vice
President with overall responsibility for the Schools and Libraries Division
(SLD). Mr. McDonald has been serving as acting head of that Division until
the search was completed.
Read
more
July 2001
USAC Billing & Disbursements (7/30/01)
The USAC Billing & Disbursement Department is making changes to the USAC
support mechanisms that may affect service providers over the next several
months.
These changes are limited to the USAC financial operations, the billing,
collection, and disbursement operations. The only visible changes that you
will see relate to contact information (e.g., a new account number to route
the electronic payment for your universal service obligation). All other operations
will continue according to the same familiar routine that you are currently
using. The new banking information is detailed below.
If you would like to send an ACH or a wire originate it with your
bank in a CCD+ format and please send it to:
LaSalle ABA Number: 071000505
LaSalle Bank Account Number: 5590045653
Please also include the following information in your ACH or wire:
Company Name
Filer 499 ID
Invoice Number
If you would like to send a check please send it to:
Universal Service Administrative Company
135 S. LaSalle, Dept. 1259
Chicago, IL 60674-1259
If you would like to send a check overnight please address the package as
follows:
Universal Service Administrative Company, Dept. 1259
200 W. Monroe, Ste. 200
Chicago, IL 60606
If you have questions about these changes, we encourage you to contact us.
USAC Billing and Disbursements (07/16/01)
The USAC Billing & Disbursement Department is making minor changes to the
USAC support mechanisms that may affect service providers over the next several
months.
These changes are limited to the USAC financial operations, the billing,
collection, and disbursement operations. The only visible changes that you
will see relate to contact information (e.g., a new account number to route
the electronic payment for your universal service obligation). All other operations
will continue according to the same familiar routine that you are currently
using.
No action is required at this time. USAC will send additional information
to you in the near future.
If you have questions about these changes, we encourage you to contact us.
May 2001
2000 Annual Report Now Available (05/21/01)
The Universal Service Administrative Company 2000 Annual Report is now available
for viewing on our web site. If you have a question or comment about the 2000
Annual Report, please contact us!
View 2000 Annual Report!
April 2001
New Contribution Methodology and Carrier Reporting Requirements (04/09/01)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently modified the Universal
Service Fund (USF) contribution methodology to reduce the interval between
the accrual of revenues and the assessment of universal service contributions
based on those revenues. Currently, contributions to the USF are based on
a carrier's interstate and international end-user revenue generated 12 months
prior. The new methodology shortens the lag from 12 months to six months.
In order to administer this change, the Order modifies reporting requirements
for USF contributors. Going forward, the FCC eliminated the semi-annual September
1 FCC Form 499-S. However, in addition to the annual FCC Form 499-A due each
April, four quarterly FCC Form 499-Q worksheets will be filed throughout the
year. Form due dates, revenue data reported and invoicing time period are
summarized below:
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FCC Form
499-Q
Due Date:
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Revenue Reported on Form:
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Utilized to meet USF contributions:
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May 11, 2001*
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1Q: January - March 2001
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July - September 2001
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August 1, 2001
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2Q: April - June 2001
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October - December 2001
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November 1, 2001
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3Q: July - September 2001
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January - March 2002
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February 1, 2002
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4Q: October - December 2001
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April - June 2002
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April 1, 2002
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Annual: January - December 2001
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July 2002 True-up
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*For subsequent years, the first quarter revenue reporting will be due
on May 1.
Telecommunications providers qualifying for the USF De Minimis Exemption
(using process outlined on page 5 of the Form 499-Q instructions) do not need
to complete the Form 499-Q. However, for all other USF contributors, the
first Form 499-Q must be submitted to USAC by Friday May 11, 2001. We
advise each carrier to review the instructions prior to completing the form.
The FCC has made significant changes in the format and content of customer
information reported.
March 2001
Job Opening (3/9/01)
USAC is currently seeking an Assistant General Counsel, who will provide
legal counsel to USAC management on issues concerning the administration of
the Universal Service Support Mechanisms. This position provides a unique
opportunity to do challenging, public-spirited work in a small and collegial
working environment.
Click here to view job description.
January 2001
Notice of Opportunity to Bid for Billing, Disbursement, and Treasury Support
Services to Administrator of $5 Billion Federal Universal Service Support
Mechanisms (01/02/2001)
USAC has issued a Request for Proposals to obtain financial and operational
support services for administering the federally established Universal Service
Support Mechanisms. USAC may choose to contract with a firm that is capable
of providing financial and operational support services for the complex mechanisms
for an initial term of five years beginning July 1, 2001. The services sought
require mastery of the FCC program rules and development and implementation
of cost effective customer service, management, processing, and analytical
skills. Among many critical functions, the contractor must have sufficient
resources to support the processing, analysis and individual scrutiny of no
less than 20,000 payments annually that vary widely in complexity at the highest
level of quality. USAC issued the Request for Proposals on December 26, 2000.
Responses are due no later than February 28, 2001. If your company has sufficient
resources and may be interested in submitting a proposal, or if you have any
other questions concerning the RFP process, please contact D. Scott Barash,
Vice President and General Counsel of USAC by telephone at (202) 776-0200.
USAC Archives
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Content Last Modified: December 18, 2001
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