FCC Appoints Eight USAC Board Members: USAC Board Appoints Board Members to Committees

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). 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.

FCC Designates Western Wireless as an ETC on the Pine Ridge Reservation

In companion orders released on October 1, the FCC found that it had jurisdiction to designate Western Wireless as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The FCC also determined that it was in the public interest to designate Western Wireless as an ETC for service offered to tribal members on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

In the Pine Ridge Jurisdiction Order, the FCC undertook a jurisdictional analysis to determine whether the FCC or the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (South Dakota PUC) should decide whether Western Wireless is eligible to receive federal universal service support for providing telephone service to residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation. After reviewing federal Indian law and the specific facts of the case, the FCC concluded that it should make the ETC determination for Western Wireless's provision of service to members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and the South Dakota PUC should do so for the provision of non-tribal members on the Reservation.

In the companion Pine Ridge Waiver Order, the FCC granted Western Wireless's petition to be designated as an ETC for service offered to tribal members on the Pine Ridge Reservation pursuant to section 214(e)(6) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. In so doing, the FCC concluded that Western Wireless had satisfied the statutory eligibility requirements of section 214(e)(1). Specifically, the FCC concluded that Western Wireless has demonstrated that it will offer and advertise the services supported by the federal universal service support mechanisms throughout the designated service area. In addition, the FCC found that the designation of Western Wireless as an ETC in those areas of the reservation served by rural telephone companies serves the public interest by promoting competition and the provision of new technologies to tribal members on the Pine Ridge Reservation that suffer from significant impediments to affordable telecommunications service.

August 2, 2001: Quarterly Filing Released

On August 2, 2001, USAC made its quarterly filing with the FCC. This filing contains the fund size projections and contribution base for the fourth quarter of 2001. There are eight (8) Low Income appendices to the filing, and the following list provides a roadmap to their contents:

LI1 (44kb): Low income support state-by-state information
This appendix provides detail on low income funding amounts for each of the states and territories.

LI2 (216kb): Eligible telecommunications carrier listing
This appendix lists all of the carriers that have been designated as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs).

LI3 (346kb): Low income disbursement amounts by carrier - 2Q2001
This appendix provides detail on company-specific disbursement amounts from the low income support mechanism for April 2001 through June 2001.

LI4 (274kb): Carrier-specific low income claims for reimbursement - 2000
This appendix provides company-specific low income reimbursement claims for 2000.

LI5 (11kb): Eligible telecommunications carriers submitted claims by month
This appendix provides reimbursement claims detail by month from 1998 through July 2001.

LI6 (33kb): Low income program dollars reported
This appendix provides detail on annual company claims by state from the low income support mechanism for 2000 and the first half of 2001.

LI7 (31kb): Lifeline assistance subscribers by state or jurisdiction
This appendix provides Lifeline subscribership information by state for 2000 and the first 6 months of 2001.

LI8 (49kb): Link Up assistance subscribers by state or jurisdiction
This appendix provides Link Up subscribership information by state for 2000 and the first 6 months of 2001.

New USAC Board Member Appointed

The Chairman of the FCC has nominated Karen Buller to the USAC Board to represent Low Income stakeholders. The USAC Board elected Ms. Buller to the Board and appointed her to the High Cost and Low Income Committee. Ms. Buller is very active in her state and in particular with the FCC's tribal lands initiative. She currently works at the National Indian Telecommunications Institute in Sante Fe, New Mexico.

Read more about Ms. Buller

Site Content Updated (05/24/2001)

The Low Income Program web site now has additional features which make it an even more valuable resource. In recent weeks, information has been added to the Program Overview, Eligibility, and Telecom Carriers navigation buttons. The Low Income Program continues to post all current events, Programs Forms, and Program Reports.

May 2, 2001: Quarterly Filing Released

On May 2, 2001, USAC made its quarterly filing with the FCC. This filing contains the fund size projections and contribution base for the third quarter of 2001. There are eight (8) Low Income appendices to the filing, and the following list provides a roadmap to their contents:

LI01 (44kb): Low Income support state-by-state information.
This appendix provides detail on low income funding amounts for each of the states and territories.

LI02 (217kb): Eligible telecommunications carrier listing.
This appendix lists all of the carriers that have been designated as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs).

LI03 (271kb): Low Income support control report - 1Q2001.
This appendix provides detail on company-specific claims for reimbursement from the Low Income support mechanism for January 2001 through March 2001.

LI04 (273kb): Carrier-specific Low Income claims for reimbursement - 2000.
This appendix provides company-specific Low Income reimbursement claims for 2000.

LI05 (9kb): Eligible telecommunications carriers submitted claims by month.
This appendix provides details on reimbursement claims by month from 1998 to 2000.

LI06 (25kb): Low Income Program dollars reported - 2000.
This appendix provides detail on annual company claims by state from the Low Income support mechanism for 2000.

LI07 (28kb): Lifeline assistance subscribers by state or jurisdiction - 2000.
This appendix provides Lifeline subscribership information by state for 2000.

LI08 (45kb): Link Up assistance subscribers by state or jurisdiction - 2000.
This appendix provides Link Up subscribership information by state for 2000.

High Cost and Low Income Committee Meeting Minutes, April 23, 2001

The quarterly meeting of the High Cost & Low Income (HCLI) Committee of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Board of Directors was held at the Westin Grand, 2350 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC, on Monday, April 23, 2001. Ms. Martha Hogerty, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Eastern Time. View Meeting Minutes (draft).

Upcoming Committee Meeting

The High Cost and Low-Income Committee quarterly meeting has been scheduled for April 23, 2001 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., EST. The meeting will be held at the Westin Grand, 2350 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC and is open to the public. The Board of Directors and its committees meet on a regular quarterly basis. View quarterly meeting schedule.

New Chair and Vice Chair of High Cost and Low-Income Committee Announced

During the January Board meeting, the USAC Board of Directors approved the USAC High Cost & Low-Income Committee's recommendation to elect Ms. Martha Hogerty as Chair and Mr. Edwin Eichler as Vice Chair of the USAC High Cost & Low-Income Committee for the term of one year. The term began at the conclusion of the January 2001 Board meeting and shall conclude at the close of the January 2002 Board meeting.
More information on Martha Hogerty.
More Information on Edwin Eichler.

High Cost and Low-Income Committee Minutes, January 29, 2001

The quarterly meeting of the High Cost & Low-Income (HCLI) Committee of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Board of Directors was held at the Westin Grand, 2350 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, on Monday, January 29, 2001. Ms. Heather Gold, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. Eastern Time. The Committee Minutes in draft are now available. View meeting minutes.

New Contribution Methodology and Carrier Reporting Requirements

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:

*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.

2000 Disbursal Report Now Available

The 2000 Disbursal Report for the Low-Income support mechanism was released on March 6. These dollars represent submitted claims to USAC that were paid out during calendar year 2000, including true-ups reported during that time period.