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2009 Latest News Archive
The News Archive gives you access to all announcements related to Lifeline information as they were made throughout the years. The archives will be updated as new announcements are made.
11/11/2009
11/04/2009
Online 497 System will be unavailable from 5PM EST, December 4th through 11PM EST, December 5th
The Online 497 System will be unavailable from 5PM EST, December 4th through 11PM EST, December 5th for System Maintenance. Users will not be able to submit FCC Form 497 online during this period.
10/29/2009
2010 High Cost and Low Income Workshop in Washington, DC-Registration Open
2010 High Cost and Low Income Workshop in Washington, DC
10/13/2009
10/08/2009
FCC Announces Mandatory Electronic Disbursement of USF Support Payments
The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau announced September 28 that all federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support payments must be made by electronic funds transfer (See Public Notice DA 09-2126).
The notice states that recipients of USF support payments shall provide their financial institution information and other relevant information on FCC Form 498, which is being updated to reflect these requirements. USAC encourages all service providers to update their Form 498 information using USAC's E-File System. Once the updated 498 form is processed, all following support payments will be made electronically.
The Wireline Competition Bureau will issue a further public notice announcing the effective date of the electronic payment requirement. After the effective date, USAC will not make USF support payments to any entity that has not provided financial institution information sufficient to enable payment through electronic funds transfer.
Please note: Service providers in the Schools and Libraries Program that currently use the Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR Form 472) form will continue to receive check payments even if they provide electronic banking information until further notice.
If you have any questions, please contact USAC at (888) 641-8722 or customerservice@bcd.universalservice.org.
10/08/2009
09/15/2009
USAC Announces New Address For High Cost and Low Income Filings Effective October 1, 2009
Beginning October 1, 2009, USAC will begin collecting all High Cost and Low Income forms at its Washington, DC mailing address. The High Cost and Low Income email addresses and fax numbers will remain the same.
ETCs must send Low Income FCC Form 497 and High Cost Forms 507, 508, 509, 525, Local Switching Support forms, Interstate Access Support line count filings, CMT revenue filings, and any additional information previously sent to USAC in New Jersey to the address below:
USAC
Customer Operations
2000 L Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
To avoid interruption in form processing, USAC recommends that ETCs file FCC Forms 497 and 525 online.
USAC will continue to receive High Cost and Low Income forms sent to USAC New Jersey until December 31, 2009. After that date, USAC will not process any High Cost or Low Income data mailed to the old address. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to change your records to indicate the new address or, if applicable, submit the Forms 497 and 525 online.
08/14/2009
08/11/2009
08/11/2009
Public Notice: Annual Certification and Verification Deadline
The FCC released a Public Notice reminding ETCS that the deadline for submitting the Annual Certification and Verification Letter is August 31, 2009, and August 31st each subsequent year. The Public Notice includes Frequently Asked Questions and, for companies that must follow the federal verification procedures, instructions for calculating a statistically valid sample.
07/22/2009
06/29/2009
FCC Form 497 is Moving Online!
The FCC Form 497 is the latest form to move online. Starting in August, ETCs will be able to submit Form497 electronically, rather than sending paper copies and faxes. The online form will allow carriers to input their monthly support claims directly. The online Form 497 will include automated validations, which should reduce the number of resubmissions made by carriers. By eliminating the need for USAC to perform manual data input, electronic filing will reduce the amount of time it takes to process Low Income disbursements. And electronic filing is a "greener" alternative to paper!
ETCs using the online Form 497 can submit both original submissions and revisions, including revisions of forms previously submitted offline. Finally, the online filing mechanism has a bulk upload and a bulk certify feature that will allow ETCs with multiple study area codes (SACs) to submit all of their Forms 497 at one time.
USAC strongly encourages all ETC Officers and/or General Contacts to begin establishing E-File accounts for their staff members who usually complete the Form 497. Setting up the accounts earlier will help mitigate any problems that may arise and ensure a smooth transition from the paper form to the online form.
ETCs can set up two types of users, Authorized Users and Authorized Agents. An Authorized User is a company employee. An Authorized Agent is typically a consultant. Each user has different entitlements (see chart below). Because a company employee must sign the FCC Form 497, Officers/General Contacts must create both an Authorized User and an Authorized Agent if a consultant will be completing the Form 497.
|
Authorized User |
Authorized Agent |
Enter 497 Data |
✓ |
✓ |
Save 497 Data |
✓ |
✓ |
Certify 497 Data |
✓ |
|
Instructions for setting up new users and modifying existing user accounts are below.
Online Form 497 – Setting Up Users [PDF, 2.52MB]
USAC respectfully requests that individuals do not begin using the Online 497 until USAC gives the "go ahead." USAC will host three training sessions in late July to help users become oriented with the new form and to troubleshoot any potential problems. Invitations will be sent to current 497 contacts and any user assigned Online Form 497 contacts in the next few weeks.
Please visit our website for updates regarding the Online Form 497. Contact Tanea Davis at tdavis@usac.org or (202) 776-0200 with any questions.
06/12/2009
03/12/2009
02/24/2009
Update: changes to DTV transition requirements
Changes to DTV Transition Notification
The DTV Delay Act was enacted into law on February 11, 2009. The Act changed the analog to digital broadcasting transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. On February 20, 2009, the FCC extended eligible telecommunication carriers' (ETCs) outreach obligations (see FCC 09-11).
Background
In March 2008, the FCC revised Part 54 of the Universal Service rules to include a section on DTV outreach (see Public Notice). 47 C.F.R. § 54.418 required all ETCs to notify their Lifeline and Link Up customers about the DTV transition using bill inserts or language on a monthly bill. On April 23, 2008, the FCC released a reconsideration order (FCC 08-119) that expanded its rules to include stand-alone outreach materials (brochures, postcards, etc.) to the methods in which ETCs could notify their Lifeline and Link Up customers of the DTV transition.
New ETC requirements
ETCs must continue to notify their Lifeline and Link Up customers of the impending DTV transition through June 30, 2009. All materials sent between April 1, 2009 and June 30, 2009 should convey, at a minimum, the following language (emphasis added by FCC):
The nationwide switch to digital television broadcasting will be complete on June 12, 2009, but your local television stations may switch sooner. After the switch, analog-only television sets that receive TV programming through an antenna will need a converter box to continue to receive over-the-air TV. Watch your local stations to find out when they will turn off their analog signal and switch to digital-only broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before to receive low power, Class A or translator television stations and with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products.
Information about the DTV transition is available from your local television stations, www.DTV.gov, or 1-888-CALL-FCC (TTY 1-888-TELL-FCC), and from www.dtv2009.gov or 1-888-DTV-2009 (TTY 1-877-530-2634) for information about subsidized coupons for digital-to-analog converter boxes.
All ETCs that receive federal universal funds must include the above language on all Lifeline and Link Up related outreach materials in addition to the monthly bill inserts or stand-alone mailer (postcard, brochure, etc).
02/06/2009
