Glossary of Terms
Use this USAC Glossary to find commonly-used terms and definitions. Click the ‘Terms’ column heading to sort the table alphabetically or use the search bar to filter results.
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Terms
|
Program |
Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| Approved | Rural Health Care, Lifeline |
The status that USAC designates to an FCC form that has been reviewed and found to be compliant with FCC program rules and/or USAC standards. |
| Approved Support File (ASF) | Rural Health Care |
Confirmation of Universal Service (USF) funds to be disbursed to RHC applicants. |
| Audit | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers |
An examination of documentation and resources that verify the state of compliance with program rules. USAC conducts audits through the Beneficiary and Contributor Audit (BCAP) and Supply Chain Audit Program (SCAP) programs in accordance with the Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards. |
| Authorized Users | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers |
The employee(s) of a service provider company, established by the Company Officer or General Contact, authorized to enter and modify company information on FCC Forms 498 and 499 through the E-File application. For more information, visit USAC’s Entitlements Guide. |
| Average Schedule Carrier | High Cost |
The name given to NECA members that receive pool revenues or settlements for providing interstate telecommunications services. Revenues or settlements are calculated based on a series of FCC-approved statistical formulas that approximate the amounts that a similar cost company would receive. |
| Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC) | E-Rate |
Services covering the repair and upkeep of eligible equipment inside a school of library (i.e., within the facility demarcation point). BMIC is a Category Two service type on the E-Rate program’s Eligible Services List. See also Category Two Services. |
| BEAR Notification Letter | E-Rate |
A letter USAC sends to an E-Rate applicant and their service provider after a Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement form (FCC Form 472) has been processed by USAC. The letter can be accessed from the EPC Newsfeed. |
| Beneficiary and Contributor Audit Program (BCAP) | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers |
An audit program through which USAC confirms program compliance and the amounts of recoverable funds among universal service beneficiaries and contributors. BCAP audits may be performed by USAC’s internal audit staff or a firm under contract to USAC. For more details, visit USAC’s BCAP webpage. |
| Bid | E-Rate, Rural Health Care |
A response from a service provider (bidder) to a request for services. RHC and E-Rate program applicants request bids from service providers by posting their service needs to USAC’s website for a minimum of 28 days. |
| Billed Entity | E-Rate |
The entity that receives the bill and pays for the supported service. A Billed Entity may be separate from the physical location receiving services. |
| Billed Entity Number (BEN) | E-Rate |
A unique number assigned in EPC to each entity (school, library, school district, library system, or consortium) related to an application or associated funding requests. Whether the entity is a parent entity or a child entity associated to a parent BEN, each receives a distinctive billed entity number in EPC. For more information on creating, modifying, or cancelling a BEN, visit the E-Rate program’s Entity Numbers page. |
| Board of Directors | USAC General |
USAC’s Board of Directors, whose 20 Board members represent USF beneficiaries, various types of service providers, community organizations, state regulators, low -income consumer advocates, a Tribal representative, and USACs CEO. The USAC Board oversees USAC’s administration of the USF programs but does not make policy or interpret FCC rules. |
| Bundled Services Cost Allocation | E-Rate |
The requirement that E-Rate program recipients cost-allocate non-ancillary ineligible components bundled with equipment or services eligible for E-Rate support (e.g., virtual private networks (VPNs) bundled with internet access.) See also Eligible Services List. |
| Category One Services | E-Rate |
Services used to connect broadband or internet to eligible locations, or services that provide basic conduit access to the internet. Data transmission services and internet access are Category One services. See also Eligible Services List. |
| Category Two Budget | E-Rate |
The five-year maximum budget of E-Rate pre-discount funds that an applicant may receive for Category Two (C2) equipment and services within a school district, independent school, library system, or independent library. The C2 budget covers a 5-year budget cycle, with the current cycle running from FY2021-FY2025. The subsequent cycle will run from FY2026-FY2030. For additional details on C2 rules, visit the E-Rate program’s Category Two Budgets page. |
| Category Two Services | E-Rate |
Internal connections services needed to enable high-speed broadband connectivity and broadband internal connections components. Category Two includes local area networks/ wireless local area networks (LAN/ wireless LAN), internal connections components, basic maintenance of internal connections services, and managed internal broadband services. See also Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections, Managed Internal Broadband Services, and Eligible Services List. |
| Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | High Cost, Service Providers |
Corporate officer responsible for financial operations. Service provider company CFOs may serve as official certifiers of the accuracy of forms submitted to USAC. See also 497 Company Officer, 498 Company Officer, and 499 Company Officer. |
| Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) | E-Rate |
A law that mandates certain internet safety and filtering requirements for recipients of E-Rate program discounts for services other than telecommunications services. |
| Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers |
The general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by federal government agencies and executive branch departments. Telecommunications rules are located in Title 47 of the CFR. For specific language, see a digital version of the CFR. |
| Collections Team | Rural Health Care, Lifeline |
The team within USAC’s Accounting department responsible for recovering funds. |
| Commission | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers |
A common abbreviation for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). See also FCC. |
| Commitment Adjustment | E-Rate, Rural Health Care |
The process by which a universal service funding commitment is reduced by USAC. See also COMAD Letter. |
| Commitment Adjustment (COMAD) Letter | E-Rate, Rural Health Care |
Letter that USAC sends to a USF applicant whose funding commitment needs to be fully or partially adjusted (de-committed), including recovery of funds, if necessary. The letter explains the adjustment reason and amount and details whether universal service funds must be returned as a result of the adjustment. The letter also provides information on how to appeal the adjustment decision. Appeals must be received within 60 days of the date on the COMAD letter. |
| Common Carrier | E-Rate, High Cost, Service Providers |
An organization recognized by a regulatory authority (such as a state public utility commission) as providing telecommunications services to all requesting parties, or an organization that offers such services generally to the public for a fee. |
| Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) | E-Rate |
A mechanism for calculating schools’ levels of need that E-Rate applicants may use as an alternative to annual determinations of eligibility for free and reduced-cost meals under the NSLP. Schools must have at least 25 percent of their students directly certified to qualify for the CEP. For more information on discount calculations in E-Rate, visit the program’s Alternative Discount Mechanisms page. See also National School Lunch Program. |
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