About USAC

6/22/2018 – News Brief Issued

6/20/2018 – FCC Announces 3rd Quarter 2018 Contribution Factor Decrease to 17.9 Percent

6/20/2018 – June 2018 Contributor Invoice Summary Now Available Online

The June 2018 invoice summary for contributors is now online and available for filers to view in E-File. 

Watch this quick video to learn how to access your online invoice summary.

6/18/2018 – USAC Announces National Verifier Soft Launch

6/18/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - June 18

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, June 18 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

6/15/2018 – News Brief Issued

6/14/2018 – Newsletter for June 2018

Upcoming Deadline Reminder: FY2018 Filing Window Closes June 29, 2018

The FY2018 filing window closes in two weeks, on Friday, June 29, 2018. To be considered eligible for funding, you must submit your funding requests (FCC Forms 462 for the HCF Program and FCC Forms 466 for the Telecom Program) by the close of the filing window on June 29, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Funding requests submitted after June 29, 2018 will not be accepted.

We would like to remind applicants to submit their funding request forms as soon as possible, so as to avoid running into any last minute challenges, such as system issues or password resets.

View our how-to guides and tip sheets to assist you during the submission process:

• Funding request summary
• Funding Request Best Practices webinar recording, slides, and FAQs
• Guide for FY2017 applicants
• Urban and rural rate guidance (Telecom Program only)

For more information on submitting funding requests:

• Individual HCPs applying in the HCF Program
• Consortia applying in the HCF Program
• HCPs applying in the Telecom Program

Important Reminders for FY2018

What to Do if You Receive an Information Request

As you submit your FCC Form 462 or 466, please upload all required documentation with your forms. FCC Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation will not be reviewed, and RHC reviewers will reach out to all account holders (the primary and all secondary and tertiary account holders associated with that HCP) with a request for additional information (“Information Request”). Information Requests are sent to collect any missing documentation, address deficiencies, or to ask clarifying questions about the FCC Form. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. Once you respond, the RHC reviewers will work with you, to the extent they can, to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation to complete their review. Failure to respond within the 14 calendar day timeframe will result in an automatic denial, so be sure to meet that deadline! 

LOA/TPAs Must Be Up to Date

In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2018, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through a minimum of FY2018. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, a consortium leader, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium leader. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date.

FCC Forms 462 and 466 submitted with expired LOAs or TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests.

• Download a Sample TPA or Sample LOA
• For more information about submitting LOAs, please see the submission guide.

FY2017 Information

FY2017 Funding Information Available Now

FY2017 funding information was announced on March 16, 2018 and is available on our website here. Following the announcement, the RHC Program hosted a webinar further explaining the funding breakdown. The recording and slides are available on our website here: FY2017 Funding Information Webinar. 

Did you receive your FY2017 Funding Commitment Letter (FCL)? Download our How to Read your FY2017 FCL tip sheet. 

6/8/2018 – News Brief Issued

6/7/2018 – Rate Floor Data Due July 2, 2018

Incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) receiving High Cost support must file their annual rate floor data with USAC by July 2, 2018. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules require carriers to report all residential rates in their service areas that fall below a minimum amount called the "rate floor," along with the number of lines served at those rates. The rate floor is currently set at $18.

Carriers must submit rates that met this criteria as June 1, 2018 by Monday, July 2, 2018. Carriers should use the rate floor data collection report and certification form on the High Cost Forms page and submit it via email to USAC at hccerts@usac.org. Carriers must also file this information with the FCC, relevant state commissions and U.S. Territory or Tribal governments as appropriate.   

6/7/2018 – FCC Extends Form 481 Deadline to July 16, 2018

6/1/2018 – News Brief Issued

6/1/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: June 3-4

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Monday, June 4 at 1:00 a.m. EDT for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

5/31/2018 – FCC Form 471 Data Tools Outage Resolved

5/30/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Thursday, May 31

5/30/2018 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - May 2018

The May 2018 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center. 

 May Headlines:

• Have You Started Using the New, Universal Lifeline Consumer Forms?
• Mark Your Calendar: Enrollment in 2019 USAC-Elected Recertification Opens in July
• Changes to NLAD Account Management Structure: One "ETC Admin" per SPIN
• Notable updates to the NLAD and LCS Systems 
• USF Funds Have Transferred to the U.S. Treasury
• Lifeline's Document Retention Rules
• Webinar on May 30: Universal Consumer Forms
• Webinar on June 13: Annual Recertification Process

5/30/2018 – NLAD 3.20.0 Production Release

NLAD version 3.20.0 was released into the Production environment today, May 30, 2018.

A new third-party identification verification (TPIV) checking process in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) was released that will prevent NLAD users from enrolling deceased subscribers in the Lifeline Program.

This code was previously released to the pre-production environment in early May and is now available in the production environment.

Two New UI Error Messages:

New error message during verify transactions

      "TPIV WebService: Subscriber is identified as deceased" 

New error message during enroll and transfer transactions

      "TPIV_FAIL_DECEASED: Subscriber is identified as deceased" 

One New API Error Message:

"TPIV_FAIL_DECEASED: Subscriber is identified as deceased" 

One New Argument for POST/Resolution/Submit Request:

      Field name: fullNameDeceasedTCode
      Field description: Full Name Deceased Error Resolution Code
      Data description: Resolution error codes are required to complete a dispute resolution submission.
      These codes reference specific NLAD failures relating to third party identity verification (TPIV) errors.
      Required status: Conditional  Conditional requirements: Required if transaction error =
      TPIV_FAIL_DECEASED
      Type: Alpha-numeric
      Format: T14, T16, T18, T19, T20, T21, T22

Questions about NLAD?

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.  

5/29/2018 – RESOLVED - E-rate CSB Temporary Phone Outage

5/25/2018 – News Brief Issued

5/24/2018 – Update on NLAD Performance

5/23/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - May 24

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 6:00-9:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 24 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

5/21/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: Monday, May 21

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will be unavailable starting Monday, May 21, from 7:00 p.m. EDT through midnight EDT for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. 

We apologize for any inconvenience.

5/21/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Tuesday, May 29

5/18/2018 – News Brief Issued

5/18/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - May 18-19

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 18 through 2:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday, May 19 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

5/18/2018 – May 2018 Contributor Invoice Summary Now Available Online

The May 2018 invoice summary for contributors is now online and available for filers to view in E-File.  

Watch this quick video to learn how to access your online invoice summary

5/16/2018 – Scheduled System Maintenance on Friday, May 18 + "Confirm Link Up" Back Online

5/11/2018 – News Brief Issued

5/10/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: May 11-12

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will be unavailable from Friday, May 11 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Saturday, May 12 at 11:00 a.m. EDT for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. 

We apologize for any inconvenience.

5/10/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) *TRAINING SITE* Outage Due to System Maintenance: May 10-11

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) *TRAINING SITE* will be unavailable from Thursday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. EDT through Friday, May 11 at 10:00 a.m. EDT for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use the training site. We apologize for any inconvenience.

5/9/2018 – Reminder: Request for Proposal (RFP) Opt-Out Available for FY2018

As mentioned in our Request for Services webinar, HCF Program applicants may choose to bypass the formal USAC RFP review when submitting their FCC Form 461. During the formal RFP review, RHC identifies areas of potential non-compliance with competitive bidding requirements and makes recommendations. Watch the webinar and download the slides and summary here. 

To opt-out of this formal review, applicants must email rhc-assist@usac.org at the time of FCC Form 461 submission.  

For more information about RFPs, please download the RFP Checklist. 

5/8/2018 – Temporary Fix for Time-Outs + "Confirm Link Up" is Disabled

Update to Enhance NLAD Performance

USAC is aware of the slow performance and time-outs that certain users are experiencing today in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD).

In response, USAC is temporarily disabling the "Confirm Link Up" functionality, which will increase the system's performance. Users will notice increased system performance shortly.

"Confirm Link Up" Function Disabled

To alleviate slow performance and time-outs in the NLAD system, USAC is disabling the "Confirm Link Up" functionality this afternoon, until mid-next week. 

The "Confirm Link Up" functionality verifies whether a subscriber already received Link Up at their address, and does not impact NLAD users' ability to enroll subscribers in Link Up. If a user attempts to use the "Confirm Link Up" functionality, they will receive an error message stating "Service Temporarily Unavailable."

The "Confirm Link Up" function will be available again mid-next week, once a permanent fix for NLAD's performance issues is in place.

We apologize for this inconvenience.

Questions about NLAD?

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

5/4/2018 – My Portal Browser Issue

5/4/2018 – News Brief Issued

5/3/2018 – Newsletter for May 2018

Recommended Submission Milestones Approaching

To ensure that you stay on track with your forms and are able to submit your funding request before the FY2018 filing window closes, USAC has developed recommended submission milestones for all HCF and Telecom program forms. These milestones account for both the minimum competitive bidding time required under RHC Program rules and time for USAC review:

• For individual HCPs and consortia in the HCF Program NOT using an RFP: we recommend submitting your FCC Form 461 by May 14, 2018.
• For HCPs in the Telecom Program: we recommend submitting your FCC Form 465 by May 14, 2018. 

Please note that these suggested submission dates, not deadlines enforced by RHC Program rules. View all the recommended submission milestones for FY2018.

FY2018 Filing Window Closes June 29, 2018

The FY2018 filing window has been extended through June 29, 2018, giving applicants additional time to submit their FY2018 funding requests. To be considered eligible for funding, you must submit your funding requests (FCC Forms 462 for the HCF Program and FCC Forms 466 in the Telecom Program) by the close of the window on June 29, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Funding requests submitted after June 29, 2018 will not be accepted.

View our how-to guides and tip sheets to assist you during the submission process:

• Funding request summary
• Funding Request Best Practices webinar recording, slides, and FAQs
• Guide for FY2017 applicants
• Urban and rural rate guidance (Telecom Program only)

Read more about funding requests:

• Individual HCPs applying in the HCF Program
• Consortia applying in the HCF Program
• HCPs applying in the Telecom Program

FY2017 Funding and Proration Information Available Now

USAC announced FY2017 funding and proration information on March 16, 2018 and this information is available on our website here. Following the announcement, the RHC Program hosted a webinar for individuals who received an FCL further explaining the proration factors and funding breakdown. The recording and slides are available on our website: FY2017 Funding Information Webinar.

Did you receive your FY2017 Funding Commitment Letter (FCL)? Download our How to Read your FY2017 FCL tip sheet. 

Important Reminders for FY2018

New Resource! Competitive Bidding FAQ: For FCC Forms 461 & FCC Forms 465 that receive one or zero bids, we have posted a printable PDF with best practices and answers to common questions. 

What to Do If You Receive an Information Request

As you submit your FCC Form 462 or 466, please upload all required documentation with your forms. Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation cannot be reviewed, and RHC reviewers will reach out to account holders with a request for additional information (an “Information Request”). RHC will also reach out with Information Requests to clarify specific items related to an application. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. If requesting an extension, RHC must receive your request via email prior to the 14 calendar day deadline. Once you respond, the reviewers will be happy to work with you to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation to complete their review. Failure to respond in some fashion within the 14 calendar day timeframe results in a denial, so be sure to meet that deadline! 

LOA/TPAs Must Be Up to Date

In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2018, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through a minimum of Funding Year 2018. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, a consortium leader, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium leader. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date.

FCC Forms 462 and 466 submitted with expired LOAs or TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests.

• Download a Sample TPA or Sample LOA
• For more information about submitting LOAs, please see the submission guide.

Service Provider FY2017 Voluntary Price Reductions per FCC 17-164

In December 2017, the FCC issued a waiver allowing, but not requiring, service providers to lower the cost of service on a one-time basis for HCPs which requested Telecom and/or HCF program support in FY2017. Under this order, the amount of RHC Program funding committed would not change, but service providers may voluntarily reduce the cost of service for HCPs up to the amount by which their RHC Program support was impacted by proration in FY2017.

This order does not affect FY2018 funding requests or funding determinations in any way. HCPs and service providers should determine on their own whether they want to participate. If a service provider reduces its rate downward, that change will not affect the original FCL or any of the language or dollar amounts located therein.

If you decide to take advantage of this waiver, you must notify USAC within 90 days of receiving your FY2017 FCL. Documentation should be emailed to RHC-Assist@usac.org. The email should include the following subject line: “FY17 Service Provider Voluntary Price Reductions [include FRN no.]”

Please include the following information in your email:

A statement signed by the service provider and the HCP detailing the reduction in cost of service. Specifically, this statement must include:

• Date
• HCP name
• HCP number
• Funding Request Number (FRN)
• Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN)
• Total cost to be remitted by HCP to the service provider
• Affirmative statement detailing the nature and impact regarding a reduction in the cost of service

A record or documentation from the service provider to the HCP that memorializes the reduction in the cost of service, to include:

• Type of Service
• Cost of Service
• Dates of Service

If you have any questions about service provider voluntary reductions, please email RHC-Assist@usac.org.

USF Disbursements Will Now Be Coming from the U.S. Treasury

As of May 2018, USAC will accept payments to and distribute funds from the U.S. Treasury. Note: This is not a change to USAC’s administration of the universal service fund (USF). 

For those service providers in the RHC Program receiving disbursements from USAC, no changes are needed. Disbursements will come from the U.S. Treasury, continue to be made via ACH transfers, and continue to be identified as coming from USAC. In the Rural Health Care Program, invoices that are approved by USAC are typically processed on the upcoming payment batch date, which occur on the 6th and the 21st of each month. If the payment batch date falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment batch date will be on the next business day.

Service providers can expect the payment from the approved submitted invoices to USAC to be reflected in their bank accounts approximately three business days after the payment batch date.

5/2/2018 – NLAD Service Temporarily Restored; Additional Maintenance Tonight

NLAD & LCS Service Restored Temporarily

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and Lifeline Claims System (LCS) is back in service temporarily this afternoon and will remain available until 9:00 p.m. ET.

Transaction reports will not be available during this time. Additional maintenance is required to restore report functionality; USAC will conduct additional unscheduled maintenance tonight, May 2, starting at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Early Reimbursement Payment Deadline Extension

The deadline to submit Lifeline reimbursement claims and receive same-month payment will be extended until Thursday, May 10.                     
Unscheduled Maintenance Tonight, May 2

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and the Lifeline Claims System (LCS) will be unavailable due to unscheduled system maintenance tonight, Wednesday, May 2, 2018, from 9:00 p.m. ET to 9:00 am ET on Thursday, May 3, 2018.

We sincerely apologize for the disruption. 

5/2/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: Sunday, May 6

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will be unavailable starting Sunday, May 6, from 7:00 p.m EDT through midnight EDT for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC.

The EPC training site will also be unavailable during this time.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

5/2/2018 – NLAD & LCS Out of Service

NLAD & LCS Out of Service

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and Lifeline Claims System (LCS) are out of service at this time. We will provide another update as soon as possible.

Additional maintenance is required to restore report functionality; USAC will conduct additional unscheduled maintenance tonight, May 2, starting at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Early Reimbursement Payment Deadline Extension

The deadline to submit Lifeline reimbursement claims and receive same-month payment will be extended. We will announce the new early payment deadline once NLAD and the LCS are functioning normally.

Unscheduled Maintenance Tonight, May 2

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and the Lifeline Claims System (LCS) will be unavailable due to unscheduled system maintenance tonight, Wednesday, May 2, 2018, from 9:00 p.m. ET to 9:00 am ET on Thursday, May 3, 2018.

We sincerely apologize for this disruption and are working diligently to resolve the issue. 

5/2/2018 – NLAD Unscheduled Maintenance until Noon ET

5/1/2018 – Update + Unscheduled System Maintenance Tonight

NLAD and LCS Update

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) is back in service. To resume service, USAC disabled the NLAD transaction reports (both the Summary and Detailed Transaction Reports), which will not be available for use today.

The May 1 NLAD Snapshot Reports are available in NLAD now; however, the data will not be available in the Lifeline Claims System (LCS) for some users until later today.

USAC is working to increase the performance of transactions, and will closely monitor NLAD today and tomorrow. To fix the issues with transaction reports, USAC is conducting unscheduled NLAD maintenance today, May 1, 2018. Access to the reports will be restored tomorrow, May 2.

Unscheduled NLAD Maintenance Today, May 1

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) will be unavailable due to unscheduled system maintenance today, Tuesday, May 1, 2018, from 6 p.m. ET to Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 6 a.m. ET.

Both the NLAD and LCS pre-production and production environments will not be available for use during this time.

We apologize for the inconvenience and early maintenance start time. The start time was selected due to the complexity of the issue, and the length of time required to fix it.

Questions about NLAD?

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

5/1/2018 – NLAD Currently Down

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) is currently out of service. USAC is aware of the issue and is actively working toward a resolution. We will provide an update shortly.

Questions about NLAD?

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

5/1/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Thursday May 3, 2018

5/1/2018 – Budget Control Mechanism for 2018-2019 Now Available

4/30/2018 – NLAD Intermittent Connectivity Issues

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) experienced intermittent connectivity issues between 2:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. ET. This was affecting some users' ability to conduct transactions in NLAD and was causing slow response times to API requests.

USAC is actively working to resolve the issue and is closely monitoring the system as we resolve the underlying problems which caused performance issues over the last week.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Questions about NLAD? 

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

4/27/2018 – News Brief Issued

4/26/2018 – HUBB Outage Due to System Maintenance: Friday, April 27

4/26/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - April 27-28

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 8:00 PM EDT on Friday, April 27 through 2:00 AM EDT on Saturday, April 28 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

4/25/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance, Friday April 27, through Saturday, April 28, 2018

4/24/2018 – Scheduled System Maintenance on Thursday, April 26 & Friday, April 27

Scheduled System Maintenance on Thursday, April 26

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) will be unavailable due to scheduled system maintenance on Thursday, April 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

The NLAD and LCS pre-production environments will not be available for use during this time.

Monthly Scheduled System Maintenance on Friday, April 27

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) will be unavailable due to monthly scheduled system maintenance starting Friday, April 27 at 10 p.m. until Saturday, April 28 at 2 a.m. ET.

The NLAD and LCS production and pre-production environments will not be available for use during this time.

For a full calendar list of scheduled maintenance, visit the Maintenance Schedule page on the Lifeline Program website. 

4/24/2018 – Special Edition News Brief Issued

4/23/2018 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - April 2018

The April 2018 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center.

April Headlines:

• Universal Consumer Forms Requirements
• FCC Form 555 Revisions for Hurricane-Affected Areas
• NLAD Tribal Verification Map - Work in Progress
• Lifeline Resources for Beginners
• Notable Updates to the NLAD + LCS Systems
• FCC Form 481 Now Available; Due July 2
• Webinar on May 9: Universal Consumer Forms

4/20/2018 – News Brief Issued

4/20/2018 – April 2018 Contributor Invoice Summary Now Available Online

The April 2018 invoice summary for contributors is now online and available for filers to view in eFile.  

Watch this quick video to learn how to access your online invoice summary.

4/19/2018 – NLAD Enhancement to Allow Updates to Broadband Service Types

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) released an enhancement today, April 19, 2018, that allows carriers to update a subscriber's service type to broadband without experiencing an error if the service initiation date is before 12/2/2016.

This enhancement resolves the error message carriers received when attempting to update a subscriber's service type to broadband following the removal of the benefit port freeze in NLAD.

Questions about NLAD? 

If you have questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

4/19/2018 – Recommended FY2018 Form Submission Milestones Approaching

To ensure that you stay on track with your forms and are able to submit your funding request before the FY2018 filing window closes, USAC has developed recommended submission milestones for all HCF and Telecom program forms. These milestones account for both the minimum competitive bidding time required under RHC Program rules and time for USAC review:

Please note that these are suggested submission dates and not deadlines enforced by RHC Program rules. View all the recommended submission milestones for FY2018.

Guides and Webinars

• RHC Program FY2018 Calendar
• RHC Program Application Process Overview

FCC Form 460 and 465 (Eligibility)

• Eligibility Forms Best Practices webinar
• Consortia Rurality Compliance Tip Sheet (HCF Program Only)
• Information for HCF Program Individual Applicants
• Information for HCF Program Consortia Applicants
• Information for Telecom Program Applicants

FCC Forms 461 and 465 (Request for Services)

• Request for Services Best Practices webinar and slides
• Request for Proposal checklist (HCF Program Only)
• Network Plan checklist (HCF Program Only)
• Information for HCF Program Individual Applicants
• Information for HCF Program Consortia Applicants
• Information for Telecom Program Applicants

4/19/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - April 20

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 6:00-9:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 20 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

4/18/2018 – New Requirement on July 1: Lifeline Universal Consumer Forms

4/13/2018 – News Brief Issued

4/13/2018 – Updated NLAD API Specs

New TPIV Error Code Add Deceased Subscribers        

USAC is enhancing its Third-Party Identity Verification (TPIV) process in NLAD by adding a validation that will check subscribers’ identity to verify that they are not deceased. These changes will involve a new error code that will notify carriers if a subscriber is identified as deceased, and will involve new T codes to be used to dispute the error.

The changes are expected to be released to the NLAD Pre-production environment during the first week of May 2018. The changes will be available for testing in the Pre-Production environment for about two weeks before being moved to production.

Carriers can begin to prepare for this change by updating their API to accommodate the new error message and to send dispute resolution requests for the new error. The authorized proof-of-life documentation associated with each new T code will be updated on usac.org after these changes have been released in Pre-production.

The list of acceptable documentation to resolve the deceased subscriber error, along with the corresponding T codes, will be sent in a separate communication.

Summary of API Changes

If a subscriber is identified as deceased, the TPIV_FAIL_DECEASED message code will be returned in the API, and the appropriate T Code will need to be entered to resolve this error.

One New API Message Code:

• MSGCD: TPIV_FAIL_DECEASED  
• Description: Subscriber is identified as deceased.  
• Return Code: 400

One New Argument for POST/Resolution/Submit Request:

• Field name: fullNameDeceasedTCode
• Field description: Full Name Deceased Error Resolution Code
• Data description: Resolution error codes are required to complete a dispute resolution submission. These codes reference specific NLAD failures relating to third party identity verification (TPIV) errors.
• Required status: Conditional
• Conditional requirements: Required if transaction error = TPIV_FAIL_DECEASED
• Type: Alpha-numeric
• Format: T18, T19, T20, T21, T22, T23, T24

Sample JSON with New Argument for POST/Resolution/Submit Request: see bulletin sent on Friday, April 13

Additional Change for Broadband Service Types

In addition to the changes described above, USAC will release functionality next week that removes the requirement that the service initiation date for broadband service types is on or after December 2, 2016.

Carriers will no longer encounter the error "INVALID_BROADBAND_SVCINITDATE" when attempting to update subscribers from a voice to broadband service type.

Questions about NLAD?

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325. 

4/12/2018 – Lifeline Program Webinar Recording & Slides Available - April 2018

The April 2018 Lifeline Program Webinarrecording and slides are now available in the Learn section.

This month, the User Support team gives a high-level overview of the Lifeline Program's application process, including eligibility checking, designed for service providers who are new to the Lifeline Program.

4/9/2018 – E-File Outage Due to System Maintenance on Monday, April 9, 2018

4/9/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Monday, April 9, 2018

4/6/2018 – News Brief Issued

4/6/2018 – NLAD 3.16.0 Production Release

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) version 3.16.0 was released into the production environment today, April 6, 2018.    

In this release, issues that some users experienced when selecting the E16 eligibility code in New York have been resolved. Users should now be able to enroll, verify, update, and transfer any subscriber in New York until the waiver expires on April 30, 2018.  

The Detail Subscriber Snapshot report has been updated to reflect a subscriber's anniversary date as of the date the snapshot report was taken, regardless of when the report is pulled.       

Lastly, the language that users must accept on the warning page after logging in to NLAD has been updated.

Questions about NLAD?  

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

4/5/2018 – Newsletter for April 2018

FY2018 Filing Window Extended

The FY2018 filing window has been extended through June 29, 2018, giving applicants additional time to submit their FY2018 funding requests. To be considered eligible for funding, you must submit your funding requests (FCC Forms 462 for the HCF Program and FCC Forms 466 in the Telecom Program) by the close of the window on June 29, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Funding requests submitted after June 29, 2018 will be automatically denied.

View our how-to guides and tip sheets to assist you during the submission process:

• Funding request summary
• Funding Request Best Practices webinar recording, slides, and FAQs
• Guide for FY2017 applicants
• Urban and rural rate guidance (Telecom Program only)

Read more about funding requests:

• Individual HCPs applying in the HCF Program
• Consortia applying in the HCF Program
• HCPs applying in the Telecom Program

FY2017 Funding and Proration Information Available Now

USAC announced FY2017 funding and proration information on March 16, 2018 and this information is available on our website here. Following the announcement, the RHC Program hosted a webinar further explaining the proration factors and funding breakdown. The recording and slides are available on our website: FY2017 Funding Information Information Webinar.

Did you receive your FY2017 Funding Commitment Letter (FCL)? Download our How to Read your FY2017 FCL tip sheet. 

FY2017 FRNs Currently in Review

Some applicants may have received an email notifying them that their FY2017 funding request was still under review. USAC will reach out when we have more information about when you will receive your FY2017 FCL. We will also hold an additional webinar explaining proration and the FY2017 funding information when the next batch of FCLs is released. Until then, please read our Information for FY2017 and FY2018 Applicants tip sheet to determine which forms you should submit for FY2018.

Recommended Submission Milestones Approaching

To ensure that you stay on track with your forms and are able to submit your funding request before the FY2018 filing window closes, USAC has developed recommended submission milestones for all HCF and Telecom program forms. These milestones account for both the minimum competitive bidding time required under RHC Program rules and time for USAC review:

• For individual HCPs and consortia in the HCF Program using an RFP: we recommend submitting your FCC Form 460 by April 13 and your FCC Form 461 by April 30.
• For individual HCPs and consortia in the HCF Program NOT using an RFP: we recommend submitting your FCC Form 460 by April 13 and your FCC Form 461 by May 14.
• For HCPs in the Telecom Program: we recommend submitting your FCC Form 465 by May 14. 

Please note that these are suggested submission dates and not deadlines enforced by RHC Program rules. View all the recommended submission milestones for FY2018.

Important Reminders for FY2018

What to Do If You Receive an Information Request

As you submit your FCC Form 462 or 466, please upload all required documentation with your forms. Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation cannot be reviewed, and RHC reviewers will reach out to account holders with a request for additional information (an “Information Request”). RHC will also reach out with Information Requests to clarify specific items related to an application. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. If requesting an extension, RHC must receive your request via email prior to the 14 calendar day deadline. Once you respond, the reviewers will be happy to work with you to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation to complete their review. Failure to respond in some fashion within the 14 calendar day timeframe results in a denial, so be sure to meet that deadline! 

LOA/TPAs Must Be Up to Date

In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2018, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through a minimum of Funding Year 2018. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, a consortium leader, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium leader. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date.

FCC Forms 462 and 466 submitted with expired LOAs or TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests.

• Download a Sample TPA or Sample LOA
• For more information about submitting LOAs, please see the submission guide.

Service Provider FY2017 Voluntary Price Reductions per FCC 17-164

In December 2017, the FCC issued a waiver allowing, but not requiring, service providers to lower the cost of service on a one-time basis for HCPs which requested Telecom and/or HCF program support in FY2017. Under this order, the amount of RHC Program funding committed would not change, but service providers may voluntarily reduce the cost of service for HCPs up to the amount by which their RHC Program support was impacted by proration in FY2017.

This order does not affect FY2018 funding requests or funding determinations in any way. HCPs and service providers should determine on their own whether they want to participate. If a service provider reduces its rate downward, that change will not affect the original FCL or any of the language or dollar amounts located therein.

If you decide to take advantage of this waiver, you must notify USAC within 90 days of receiving your FY2017 FCL. Documentation should be emailed to RHC-Assist@usac.org. The email should include the following subject line: “FY17 Service Provider Voluntary Price Reductions [include FRN no.]”

Please include the following information in your email:

A statement signed by the service provider and the HCP detailing the reduction in cost of service. Specifically, this statement must include:

• Date
• HCP name
• HCP number
• Funding Request Number (FRN)
• Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN)
• Total cost to be remitted by HCP to the service provider
• Affirmative statement detailing the nature and impact regarding a reduction in the cost of service

A record or documentation from the service provider to the HCP that memorializes the reduction in the cost of service, to include:

• Type of Service
• Cost of Service
• Dates of Service

4/4/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: Sunday, April 8

4/2/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - April 2

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 6:00-8:30 PM EDT on Monday, April 2 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

4/2/2018 – Lifeline Benefit Transfers - Subscriber Consent & Eligibility Checks

The Lifeline benefit port freeze was lifted on March 19, 2018, which now gives subscribers the option to change Lifeline providers without restriction. Following this rule change, USAC has seen an increase in Lifeline benefit transfer requests in NLAD.          

As a refresher, before performing a benefit transfer, a service provider must:

• Obtain the subscriber's consent,  
• Verify the subscriber's Lifeline eligibility by performing a database check or reviewing eligibility documents, and  
• Collect initialed Lifeline certifications from the subscriber.          

Once the service provider has completed these steps with the subscriber, they can perform the benefit transfer in NLAD.        

Questions about Lifeline?        

If you have questions about benefit transfers or other Lifeline program issues, contact us at LifelineProgram@usac.org.

3/31/2018 – 2017 USAC Annual Report Now Available

3/30/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: Saturday, March 31

3/30/2018 – News Brief Issued

3/29/2018 – Watch the FY2017 Funding and Proration Information Webinar

In this webinar, RHC Program and FCC leadership discuss FY2017 funding and proration information, as well as tips for reading your FCL and helpful resources for applying in FY2018.

Recording and slides are available here. 

3/27/2018 – System Maintenance Rescheduled to Wednesday, March 28

System maintenance will not occur as scheduled tonight (March 27, 2018) The system maintenance is rescheduled for tomorrow, March 28 from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

The NLAD and LCS production and pre-production environments will not be available for use during this time.

Questions about NLAD?

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

3/23/2018 – News Brief Issued

3/23/2018 – FY2018 Filing Window Extended through Friday, June 29, 2018

The FY2018 filing window has been extended through June 29, 2018, giving applicants additional time to submit their FY2018 funding requests. To be considered eligible for funding, you must submit your funding requests (FCC Forms 462 for the HCF Program and FCC Forms 466 in the Telecom Program) by the close of the window on June 29, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Funding requests submitted after June 29, 2018 will be automatically denied.

View our how-to guides and tip sheets to assist you during the submission process:

• Funding request summary
• Funding Request Best Practices webinar recording, slides, and FAQ
• Guide for FY2017 applicants  
• Urban and rural rate guidance (Telecom Program only)
• FY2018 Recommended Submission Dates

Read more about funding requests:

• Individual HCPs applying in the HCF Program
• Consortia applying in the HCF Program
• HCPs applying in the Telecom Program

3/23/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - March 23-24

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 8:00 PM EDT on Friday, March 23 through 2:00 AM EDT on Saturday, March 24 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

3/23/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Friday, March 23, 2018 through Saturday March 24, 2018

3/21/2018 – Scheduled System Maintenance on Friday, March 23 & Tuesday, March 27

Scheduled System Maintenance on Friday, March 23        

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) will be unavailable due to scheduled system maintenance starting Friday, March 23 at 10 p.m. until Saturday, March 24 at 7 a.m. ET. Please note, the maintenance window is longer this month.        

The NLAD and LCS production and pre-production environments will not be available for use during this time. 

Additional Scheduled System Maintenance on Tuesday, March 27

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) will be unavailable due to additional scheduled system maintenance Tuesday, March 27 from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.        

The NLAD and LCS production and pre-production environments will not be available for use during this time.      

For a full calendar list of the updated scheduled maintenance, visit the Maintenance Schedule page on the Lifeline Program website.

Questions about NLAD?

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325. 

3/20/2018 – March 2018 Contributor Invoice Summary Now Available Online

The March 2018 invoice summary for contributors is now online and available for filers to view in eFile.  

Watch this quick video to learn how to access your online invoice summary.

3/20/2018 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - March 2018

The March 2018 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center.  

March Headlines:

• New Requirement on July 1: Lifeline Universal Consumer Forms      
• Port Freeze Eliminated 
• Change Service Types in NLAD for Subscribers Receiving “Premium Wi-Fi,” Hot-Spots, and Mesh Network Service 
• Items Sent to the Lifeline Support Center Will Not be Processed or Returned 
• Send USAC Your Company’s Service Areas by ZIP Code 
• Notable Updates to USAC’s Website 
• Reminder: Keep NLAD Up-To-Date 
• Webinar on April 11: Eligibility Checking
   

3/19/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance March 21, 2018

3/19/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) *TRAINING SITE* Outage Due to System Maintenance: March 19

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) *TRAINING SITE* will be unavailable from 3:30-4:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 19 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use the training site. We apologize for any inconvenience.

3/19/2018 – NLAD 3.14.0 Production Release

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) version 3.14.0 was released into the production environment Sunday, March 18.

This release eliminated the port freeze for voice and broadband services previously required in section 54.411 of the program's rules. NLAD users will no longer see port freeze errors when enrolling or transferring subscribers. Port freeze information is no longer available in the Detail Subscriber Lookup tool or in any NLAD reports.          

The service initiation date is no longer an editable field, even when there is a change in service type. Updates to the service initiation date will require first de-enrolling then re-enrolling the subscriber.    

One New API Error Code Added:  

• INVALID_RESOLUTION_REQUEST: Cannot submit Port Freeze Exception Codes.    

One API Error Code Description Updated:  

• CANNOT_UPDATE_SVCINITDATE: Service initialization date cannot be updated. The service initialization date must be mm/dd/yyyy.    

Five API Error Codes Removed:  

• CANNOT_ENROLL_WITHIN_12_MONTHS: Enrolls within 12 months of the previous service-initiation date are prohibited. Date eligible for enroll: xx/xx/xxxx  
• CANNOT_ENROLL_WITHIN_60_DAYS: Enrolls within 60 days of the previous service-initiation date are prohibited. Date eligible for enroll: xx/xx/xxxx  
• CANNOT_TRANSFER_WITHIN_60_DAYS: Transfers within 60 days of the previous service-initiation date are prohibited. Date eligible for transfer: xx/xx/xxxx  
• CANNOT_TRANSFER_WITHIN_12_MONTHS: Transfers within 12 months of the previous service-initiation date are prohibited. Date eligible for transfer: xx/xx/xxxx  
• PRIMARY_ADDRESS_MATCH: The primary address of the subscriber matches the previously entered primary address of the subscriber. An “R-code” port freeze exception request cannot be submitted.

Questions about NLAD?

If you have questions about NLAD, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

3/16/2018 – News Brief Issued

3/16/2018 – Lifeline Program Webinar Recording & Slides Available - March 2018

3/15/2018 – FY2017 Funding and Proration Information Available Now

3/15/2018 – Consortia Rurality Percentage - New Tip Sheet Available

3/15/2018 – NLAD Outage Scheduled for Sunday, 3/18

 NLAD 3.14.0 Production Release

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) will be unavailable due to a scheduled deployment starting Sunday, March 18 at 3 p.m. ET. The deployment will take approximately 3 hours to complete and both the pre-production and production environments will not be available during this time.          

During this release, all existing port freeze errors will be removed from NLAD. Users will no longer see error message indicating that the subscriber is in a 60-day or 12-month port freeze or that they do not qualify for an "R"- code exception.         

The service initiation date will no longer be an editable field, even when there is a change in service type. Updates to the service initiation date will require first de-enrolling then re-enrolling the subscriber.        

One new API Error Code Added:  

• INVALID_RESOLUTION_REQUEST: Cannot submit Port Freeze Exception Codes.    

One API Error Code Description Updated:    

• CANNOT_UPDATE_SVCINITDATE: Service initialization date cannot be updated. The service initialization date must be mm/dd/yyyy.    

Five API Error Codes Removed:  

• CANNOT_ENROLL_WITHIN_12_MONTHS: Enrolls within 12 months of the previous service-initiation date are prohibited. Date eligible for enroll: xx/xx/xxxx  
• CANNOT_ENROLL_WITHIN_60_DAYS: Enrolls within 60 days of the previous service-initiation date are prohibited. Date eligible for enroll: xx/xx/xxxx  
• CANNOT_TRANSFER_WITHIN_60_DAYS: Transfers within 60 days of the previous service-initiation date are prohibited. Date eligible for transfer: xx/xx/xxxx  
• CANNOT_TRANSFER_WITHIN_12_MONTHS: Transfers within 12 months of the previous service-initiation date are prohibited. Date eligible for transfer: xx/xx/xxxx  
• PRIMARY_ADDRESS_MATCH: The primary address of the subscriber matches the previously entered primary address of the subscriber. An “R-code” port freeze exception request cannot be submitted.        

Port freeze information will be removed from all reports and from the Detail Active Subscriber lookup. Users will receive an error if they attempt to submit an exception request that includes a port freeze related error after the release.        

Prior to the release, USAC will review and approve (as applicable) as many port freeze resolution requests as possible. Any port freeze resolution requests that are not approved prior to the release will be "closed-rejected".         

If you notice resolution requests that were closed rejected after the release, and you did not expect that outcome, please review if they included a port freeze resolution. If so, please attempt to enroll, transfer, or update the subscriber again to generate a new resolution ID, and then submit the new resolution ID.

Questions about NLAD?

If you have questions, contact us NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

3/13/2018 – Port Freeze Will Be Eliminated on March 19

The Lifeline Program's port freeze rule will be eliminated effective March 19, 2018. 

On that date, port freezes will be eliminated from NLAD processes and any customers in a port freeze will have the restrictions removed. USAC will release a notice to NLAD users via the NLAD Bulletin once the restrictions have been removed. USAC will not implement any administrative port freeze.

3/13/2018 – Webinar Topics for April and May 2018: Eligibility Checking and Universal Consumer Forms

The Lifeline Program's webinar topics for April and May are now available. Join us at a webinar session to hear updates and receive training about the Lifeline Program. You can receive invitations to upcoming webinar sessions via email by subscribing to the Lifeline Program Newsletter.

Lifeline Program Webinar (April): Eligibility Checking
This session will provide an overview of the process to verify a customer's eligibility for Lifeline before providing the discount. This includes the qualifying eligibility programs, household income, acceptable proof-of-eligibility documentation, and requirements for the application form.

Lifeline Program Webinar (May): Universal Consumer Forms 
This month's session will discuss the Lifeline Program's universal consumer forms - FCC Forms 5629, 5630, and 5631 - which all service providers are required to use in all states and territories by July 1, 2018. If you have questions about the universal consumer forms that you would like us to address during the webinar, please enter them on the webinar registration form or submit them via email.

We hope you can join us for tomorrow's webinar session, NLAD 101: Introduction to the National Lifeline Accountability Database. Recordings of past webinars, including last month's topic, "Lifeline 101," are available on the Learn: Webinars page of our website.

3/12/2018 – FCC Announces 2nd Quarter 2018 Contribution Factor Derease to 18.4 Percent

3/12/2018 – CSB Hours During the Last Week of the Filing Window

While we encourage applicants to complete and certify their FCC Form 471 early, we realize that last-minute questions can arise. This year, we are publishing the extra hours the Client Service Bureau (CSB) will be open during the last week of the window to allow applicants to take advantage of the opportunity to get answers to those last-minute questions.

Generally, CSB has the highest call volumes during the following hours:

• Weekday mornings from 11:00 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. ET
• Weekday afternoons from 2:30 p.m. through 4:00 p.m. ET

If an agent is not able to answer when you call, please leave your telephone number at the prompt, and we will return your call as soon as possible. 

3/9/2018 – News Brief Issued

3/8/2018 – Newsletter for March 2018

FY2017 Funding Requests: Update Coming Soon

In upcoming weeks, you will receive an update about your FY2017 funding commitment from the RHC Program. To ensure you receive all communications regarding your FY2017 funding request, please check your spam folders and make sure that your email inbox allows messages from the RHC Program. RHC will communicate any updates via the email addresses the applicant has submitted in My Portal. FY2017 funding commitment decisions and letters have not yet been released; funding requests are still in review. This page will be updated when more information is available.

Recommended Submission Milestones Approaching

To ensure that you stay on track with your forms and are able to submit your funding request before the FY2018 filing window closes, USAC has developed recommended submission milestones for all HCF and Telecom program forms. These milestones account for both the minimum competitive bidding time required under RHC Program rules and time for USAC review:

• For individual HCPs and consortia in the HCF Program using an RFP: we recommend submitting your FCC Form 460 by March 14 and your FCC Form 461 by April 1.
• For individual HCPs and consortia in the HCF Program NOT using an RFP: we recommend submitting your FCC Form 460 by March 14 and your FCC Form 461 by April 15. 
• For HCPs in the Telecom Program: we recommend submitting your FCC Form 465 by April 15.

Please note that these are suggested submission dates and not deadlines enforced by RHC Program rules. View all the recommended submission milestones for FY2018.

FY2018 Filing Window Closes May 31, 2018

The FY2018 filing window opened February 1, 2018. To be considered eligible for funding, you must submit your funding requests (FCC Forms 462 for the HCF Program and FCC Forms 466 in the Telecom Program) by the close of the window on May 31, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Funding requests submitted after May 31, 2018 will be automatically denied. View our how-to guides and tip sheets to assist you during the submission process:

• Funding request summary
• Funding Request Best Practices webinar recording, slides, and FAQs
• Guide for FY2017 applicants
• Urban and rural rate guidance (Telecom Program only)

Read more about funding requests:

• Individual HCPs applying in the HCF Program
• Consortia applying in the HCF Program
• HCPs applying in the Telecom Program

Important Reminders for FY2018

New to the program? Watch RHC 101: Are you a new applicant getting ready to apply to the RHC Program? Watch our webinar “RHC 101: An Introduction to the Rural Health Care Program” to learn the basics of the HCF and Telecom programs, eligibility requirements, and how to get started. 

New Tip Sheet! Consortium Rurality Percentage Compliance: According to HCF Program rules, a consortium must be greater than 50% rural three years after the submission of the consortium’s first FCC Form 462 (funding request form). To make sure you are in compliance with program rules as your consortium’s three year deadline approaches, download this tip sheet.

What to Do If You Receive and Information Request: As you submit your FCC Form 462 or 466, please upload all required documentation with your forms. Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation cannot be reviewed, and RHC analysts will reach out to account holders with a request for additional information (an “Information Request”). RHC will also reach out with Information Requests to clarify specific items related to an application. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. Once you respond, the analysts will be happy to work with you to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation to complete their review. Failure to respond in some fashion within the 14 calendar day time frame results in an automatic denial, so be sure to meet that deadline! 

LOA/TPAs Must Be Up to Date

In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2018, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through a minimum of Funding Year 2018. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, a consortium leader, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium leader. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date.

FCC Forms 462 and 466 submitted with expired LOAs or TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests.

• Download a Sample TPA or Sample LOA

3/7/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outages Due to System Maintenance: Sunday, March 11

3/7/2018 – UPDATE - NLAD Intermittent Connectivity Issues

USAC has implemented fixes intended to improve system performance since notifying carriers of the intermittent connectivity issues last week. Response times have returned to normal, but we are continuing to monitor the system.    

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Questions about NLAD?

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

3/7/2018 – 2018 FCC Form 499-A Now Available in E-File

The 2018 FCC Form 499-A (Annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is now available in E-File, USAC's online filing system. The form is due Monday, April 2, 2018.

FCC rules require all providers of telecommunications, including universal service fund de minimis exempt companies, to file 2018 FCC Form 499-A to report revenue data for the period of January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017.

Visit our What and How to File page to learn more or view the FCC Form 499-A online user guide .

3/2/2018 – NLAD Intermittent Connectivity Issues

3/2/2018 – News Brief Issued

3/1/2018 – Reminder on March 5, 2018 Invoice Deadline for Program Participants Impacted by the Hurricanes

In order DA 17-984, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provided certain relief from program deadlines for program participants impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria (Hurricanes).

Specifically, schools and libraries located in areas of Texas, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands that have been designated as Major Disaster Areas eligible for Individual Assistance for the purposes of federal disaster relief by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have a deadline of Monday, March 5, 2018 to submit invoices if they missed or will miss their regular invoice deadline due to damage or disruption caused by the Hurricanes.

While other program forms and requests are subject to this deadline as well, applicants are reminded that they need a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to file the FCC Form 472, Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form. If you do not have a PIN, we will create and email you a PIN in time to file your invoice as long as we receive your request by noon EST tomorrow, March 2, 2018.

To request a PIN:
• Open a customer service case in EPC.
• Download the PIN Template from the PIN page on the USAC website, even if you only need one PIN.
• Complete a line on the template for each PIN you are requesting. Avoid adding a space at the beginning or end of each of your entries, and double-check your entries for accuracy.
• Attach the completed template to your customer service case and click Submit.

You can also call the Client Service Bureau (CSB) at 888-203-8100 for assistance.

3/1/2018 – RESOLVED - NLAD is Now Available

RESOLVED - The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) is back online and available for use.          

USAC took NLAD offline for one hour today from 1:00 PM ET to 2:00 PM ET to resolve intermittent issues.      

We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your patience.

Questions about NLAD?

If you have any questions, contact us at NLADSupport@usac.org or (877) 524-1325.

2/28/2018 – NLAD Intermittent Login Disruptions

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) is experiencing intermittent login disruptions.    

USAC is working to resolve the issue, and we will communicate as soon as it has been resolved.

In the meantime, users should close any open NLAD pages and clear their browser's cache before attempting to log in to NLAD again.

If you are still unable to login, please email NLADSupport@usac.org and provide your browser and its version. Please also include if your browser uses a default setting for NLAD, if the cookies are disabled, or if any specific settings or plugins for NLAD exist.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

2/28/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Monday, March 5 2018

2/26/2018 – FY2016 Extended Invoice Deadline is February 27

2/26/2018 – My Portal Outage Due To System Maintenance Tuesday, February 27, 2018