About USAC

Leadership

Board of Directors

USAC has a 19-member Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors provide leadership and guidance in USAC's administration of universal service.

All meetings of USAC's Board are open to the public and are held in Washington, DC. The quarterly meeting schedule and the non-quarterly meeting schedule are available along with the minutes from previous board meetings.

USAC's Board does not make policy or interpret statutes or rules or the intent of Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), or any state or federal agency. Board members do not receive compensation for service on the Board, but are entitled to reimbursement for expenses directly incurred as a result of participation on the USAC Board.

Board Composition

USAC's Board of Directors represents the universal service stakeholder community.

Three directors represent incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) made up from the following:

  • One for Bell Operating Companies (BOCs),
  • One for ILECs other than BOCs with annual operating revenues over $40 million, and
  • One for ILECs other than BOCs with annual operating revenues less than $40 million.

Two directors represent interexchange carriers (IXCs) (i.e., long distance companies) made up from the following:

  • One for IXCs with over $3 billion in annual operating revenues, and
  • One for IXCs with less than $3 billion in annual operating revenues.

Three directors represent schools that are eligible to receive discounts.

One director represents libraries that are eligible to receive discounts.

Two directors represent rural health care providers that are eligible to receive discounts.

Seven directors, each representing one of the following:

  • Wireless providers,
  • Competitive local exchange carriers,
  • Cable operators,
  • Information service providers,
  • Eligible consumers,
  • State telecommunications regulators, and
  • State consumer advocates.

USAC's chief executive officer is also a Board member.

Selection Process for the Board of Directors

USAC's Board members, excluding the CEO, are appointed for three-year terms. Board members may be reappointed for subsequent terms pursuant to the initial nomination and appointment process described below. If a Board member vacates a seat prior to the completion of the term, USAC must notify the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau and a successor will be chosen pursuant to the nomination and appointment process.

Sixty days before the expiration of a Board member's term, the industry or non-industry group that is represented by that member nominates, by consensus, a new candidate. The industry or non-industry group submits the name of its nominee, along with relevant professional and biographical information, to the Chairman of the FCC. Only members of the industry or non-industry group that a Board member will represent may submit a nomination for that position.

The Chairman of the FCC reviews the nominations submitted by industry and non-industry groups and selects each member of USAC's Board. If an industry or non-industry group does not reach consensus on a nominee or fails to submit a nomination for a position on the Board, the Chairman of the FCC can select the representative for the group.

By-laws and Board of Directors Committees

USAC's corporate by-laws have been adopted by the Board of Directors and establish the rules governing the management of the corporation, such as annual meeting dates, quorum requirements, committees, and officer duties. The current committees of the Board of Directors include: