About USAC

USAC's Role as the Administrator of the USF

USAC's mission as the designated administrator of the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) is to administer the Fund's four programs on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the most effective and efficient manner in accordance with the FCC's rules. USAC does not set or advocate policy.

USAC and its dedicated professional staff are intimately familiar with the operations of the many aspects of the USF. USAC operations include collecting and disbursing funds, ensuring fund integrity, overseeing program accountability, and communicating with stakeholders. As the administrator, one of the greatest concerns for USAC is protecting the integrity of the fund. USAC wants to ensure that the process for program participants is streamlined and easy to use.

USAC's stakeholders include telecommunications consumers living in high cost rural areas, low income consumers, schools, libraries, and rural health care providers, all of which are the direct beneficiaries of the four USF programs. Stakeholders also include the telecommunications and other service providers that ultimately provide the service to the eligible customers. As USAC serves these stakeholders, its accountability is to the FCC, on whose behalf USAC administers the USF support programs.

USAC's functions and responsibilities include:

  • Administration of each of the support programs
  • Billing contributors, collecting contributions, and disbursing universal service support
  • Reporting quarterly to the FCC on disbursement of universal service support

USAC may not:

  • Make policy
  • Interpret unclear provisions of the statute or rules
  • Interpret the intent of Congress
  • Advocate policy positions before the FCC or its staff, but may advocate positions on administrative issues for managing the USF

Last modified on 2/18/2008