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Announcements

Announcements

January 29, 2026
USAC Encourages Carriers to Obtain New Samples for Network Testing ASAP

USAC strongly encourages all carriers that must obtain new random samples of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) for ongoing quarterly network speed and latency testing in 2025 to begin this process as soon as possible so that they have enough time to complete a full week of testing at the new locations before the end of the first quarter in order to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework.

Carriers participating in the Connect America Fund Phase II Auction (CAF II Auction), Alternative Connect America Cost Model II (ACAM II) and Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS) programs funds just finished their fourth full year of network performance measures testing mandated by the FCC – and their eighth and final quarter of testing with their previous random samples of CAF-supported broadband locations with active subscribers – and must therefore obtain new samples for quarterly testing that starts in the first quarter of 2026. The FCC requires carriers to obtain new random samples of subscriber locations after two years of network testing.

The USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM), the USAC system that supports the FCC performance measures compliance framework, is ready to generate new samples for carriers in these funds. USAC strongly urges carriers that have not already done so to begin this process now – starting by updating their broadband deployment data in the High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal to be as complete and accurate as possible – and then uploading their subscriber location data into the PMM and generating new samples. 

Carriers that cannot find five active subscribers to test for a particular Study Area Code (SAC) and speed tier combination must attest to this in the PMM on a quarterly basis, within two weeks of the end of each quarter, and may be subject to verification that more subscribers are not available. (Carriers no longer have to separately notify the FCC and USAC by email within two weeks of the end of the quarter that they could not find five active subscribers to test for a particular SAC and speed tier combination).

Read the full announcement here.

January 29, 2026
USAC Urges Enhanced ACAM Carriers to Obtain Samples for Network Pre-Testing ASAP

USAC reminds carriers participating in the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Enhanced ACAM) program that they must obtain random samples of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) to conduct quarterly network speed and latency pre-testing starting this year, and strongly encourages carriers to do this as soon as possible so that they have enough time to complete a full week of pre-testing at the selected locations before the end of the first quarter in order to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework.

The USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM), the USAC system that supports the FCC performance measures compliance framework, is ready to generate samples for Enhanced ACAM carriers. USAC strongly urges carriers that have not already done so to begin this process now – starting by updating their broadband deployment data in the High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal to be as complete and accurate as possible – and then uploading their subscriber location data into the PMM and generating new samples.

Carriers that cannot find five active subscribers to test for a particular Study Area Code (SAC) and speed tier combination must attest to this in the PMM on a quarterly basis, within two weeks of the end of each quarter, and may be subject to verification that more subscribers are not available. (Carriers no longer have to separately notify the FCC and USAC by email within two weeks of the end of the quarter that they could not find five active subscribers to test for a particular SAC and speed tier combination). 

Read the full announcement here.

January 23, 2026
High Cost Launching New Legacy Data Collection Portal

USAC is launching a new online legacy data collection portal that will enable carriers that participate in the High Cost program to submit key legacy filings required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) through the USAC E-File system.

The new portal will launch on Feb. 2, 2026, and will open for various filings on specific dates over the next several months. 

USAC will host a webinar at 3 p.m. ET on Mon., Feb. 9, 2026, to provide an overview of the new legacy data collection portal, as well as a walkthrough of the system – with a focus on the Form 507 and Form 508 filings. Register here.

Read the full announcement here.

January 21, 2026
Annual HUBB Filing Due March 2, 2026

The annual HUBB filing deadline is coming soon. Carriers participating in modernized Connect America Fund (CAF) programs with defined fixed broadband buildout obligations have until March 2, 2026, to file and certify deployment data with USAC’s High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal showing where they built out mass-market, high-speed Internet service in calendar year 2025 or certify that they have “no locations to upload.”

This includes carriers participating in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), Bringing Puerto Rico Together (Uniendo a Puerto Rico) Fund and the Connect USVI Fund (PR/USVI Funds) and the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model  (Enhanced ACAM) program, which will be reporting deployment data in the HUBB using location IDs from the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (Fabric), a single, standardized dataset of all locations in the U.S. where fixed broadband access service is available or could be installed. 

Read the full announcement here.

January 9, 2026
Carriers Must Submit and Certify Results From Q4 Network Testing by Jan. 15

USAC reminds carriers subject to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) performance measures testing framework that they have until Thurs., Jan. 15, 2026,  to submit and certify results from network speed and latency testing conducted in the fourth quarter of 2025 at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in order to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework.

Carriers that fail to submit and certify all fourth quarter test data for all obligated speed tiers for the full sample of subscriber locations selected for testing in the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) by the Jan. 15 deadline may face a reduction in support that will not be restored. (See FCC DA 25-289).

This requirement applies to carriers in the following funds (as well as ACS):

Carriers that did not conduct network performance measures testing during the fourth quarter for any reason, including lack of active subscribers to test, and therefore do not have test data to submit and certify, must notify the FCC and USAC by Thurs., Jan. 15, 2026, by emailing ConnectAmerica@fcc.gov and hccerts@usac.org.

Read the full announcement here.

January 9, 2026
Carriers Must Submit and Certify Results From Q4 Network Pre-Testing by Jan. 15

USAC reminds carriers participating in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) that they have until Thurs., Jan. 15, 2026, to submit and certify results from network speed and latency pre-testing conducted in the fourth quarter of 2025 at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in order to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework.

RDOF carriers that fail to submit and certify all fourth quarter pre-test data for all obligated speed tiers for the full sample of subscriber locations selected for testing in the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) by the Jan. 15, 2026, deadline will face withholding of support. (See FCC DA 25-289)

RDOF carriers that did not conduct required network performance measures pre-testing during the fourth quarter for any reason, including lack of active subscribers to test, and therefore do not have test data to submit and certify, must notify the FCC and USAC by Thurs., Jan. 15, 2026, by emailing ConnectAmerica@fcc.gov and hccerts@usac.org.

Read the full announcement here.

December 29, 2025
Q4 Performance Measures Testing Must be Complete by Dec. 31

USAC reminds carriers subject to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) performance measures testing framework that they must complete a week of fourth quarter network speed and latency testing at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund  (CAF) by Wed., Dec. 31, 2025, and must submit and certify the results of that testing through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) no later than Thurs., Jan. 15, 2026.

Failure to complete a full week of speed and latency testing at the selected subscriber locations by the end of the fourth quarter, on Dec. 31, 2025, or to submit and certify all test data for all obligated speed tiers for the full sample of selected locations by the Jan. 15, 2026, deadline will impact future CAF support payments. (See FCC DA 25-289)

This requirement applies to carriers in the following funds (as well as ACS):

Carriers that did not conduct all required network performance measures testing during the fourth quarter because they did not have active subscribers to test for a particular Study Area Code (SAC) and speed tier combination must attest to this (and provide an explanation) in the PMM before the end of the quarter and may be subject to verification review that subscribers were not available.

Carriers that did not conduct network performance measures testing during the fourth quarter for any reason, including lack of active subscribers to test, and therefore do not have test data to submit and certify, must notify the FCC and USAC by Jan. 15, 2026, by emailing ConnectAmerica@fcc.gov and hccerts@usac.org.

Read the full announcement here.

December 29, 2025
Q4 Performance Measures Pre-Testing Must be Complete by Dec. 31

USAC reminds carriers participating in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) that they must complete a week of fourth quarter network speed and latency pre-testing at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) by Wed., Dec. 31, 2025, and must submit and certify the results of that pre-testing through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) by Thurs., Jan. 15, 2026, in order to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) performance measures testing framework.

RDOF carriers that fail to complete a full week of pre-testing at the selected subscriber locations by the end of the fourth quarter, on Dec. 31, 2025, or fail to submit and certify all test data for all obligated speed tiers for the full sample of selected locations by the Jan. 15, 2026, deadline will face withholding of support. (See FCC DA 25-289)

Carriers that did not conduct all required network performance measures pre-testing during the fourth quarter because they did not have active subscribers to test for a particular Study Area Code (SAC) and speed tier combination must attest to this (and provide an explanation) in the PMM before the end of the quarter and may be subject to verification review that subscribers were not available.

RDOF carriers that did not conduct network performance measures pre-testing during the fourth quarter for any reason, including lack of active subscribers to test, and therefore do not have test data to submit and certify, must notify the FCC and USAC no later than Jan. 15, 2026, by emailing ConnectAmerica@fcc.gov and hccerts@usac.org. 

Read the full announcement here.

December 18, 2025
Compliance Reports Now Available for Third Quarter Network Testing

Carriers can now access compliance reports displaying results from network performance measures testing conducted in the third quarter of 2025 at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM). These compliance reports include details at the Study Area Code (SAC) level about the percent of upload and download speed tests and latency tests conducted in the third quarter that met the network performance standards established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) performance measures compliance framework. Please see PMM Compliance Calculations for a detailed explanation of how the PMM calculates compliance.

Third quarter compliance reports are now available in the PMM for carriers participating in the following funds (as well as ACS):

First and second quarter compliance reports also remain available in the PMM for carriers in these funds.

USAC encourages carriers to check these quarterly compliance reports to find out if they are at risk of being in the compliance gap for the first, second and/or third quarters of 2025 either because they have not submitted all required test data or because their speed and latency test results did not meet FCC standards. Carriers that have not yet submitted all mandatory test data – that is all test data for each obligated speed tier for the full sample of selected subscriber locations for each of the three quarters – should submit and certify the missing data as soon as possible to reduce the impact on future support payments. And carriers that are at risk of being out of compliance because their speed and latency test results did not meet FCC standards can potentially get back into compliance by submitting passing quarterly results going forward.

Read the full announcement here.

December 18, 2025
Compliance Reports Now Available for Third Quarter Network Pre-Testing

Carriers participating in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) can now access compliance reports displaying results from network performance measures pre-testing conducted in the third quarter of 2025 at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund  (CAF) through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM). These compliance reports include details at the Study Area Code (SAC) level about the percent of upload and download speed tests and latency tests conducted in the third quarter that met the network performance standards established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) performance measures compliance framework.

First and second quarter compliance reports also remain available for RDOF carriers in the PMM.

USAC encourages carriers to check these quarterly compliance reports to confirm that they submitted all required pre-test data for each of the three quarters and to find out if their pre-test results met FCC speed and latency standards. Please see PMM Compliance Calculations for a detailed explanation of how the PMM calculates compliance. Carriers that have not yet submitted all mandatory test pre-data – that is all test data for each obligated speed tier for the full sample of selected subscriber locations for each of the three quarters – should submit and certify the missing pre-data as soon as possible to minimize potential withholding of support.

Read the full announcement here.

November 19, 2025
Webinar: Avoiding Common Audit Findings

Please join USAC on Friday, December 12, 2025, from 2:00 PM ET to 3:00 PM ET to learn how to avoid common findings of High Cost beneficiary audits. Register Here

November 18, 2025
Coming in 2026: Performance Measures Testing

Starting in 2026, carriers participating in the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Enhanced ACAM) program must conduct quarterly network speed and latency pre-testing at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in order to comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) performance measures testing requirements. Enhanced ACAM carriers may now log into the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM), the USAC system that supports the FCC performance measures compliance framework, to generate their random samples of subscriber locations for quarterly pre-testing beginning in the first quarter of 2026.

USAC strongly encourages Enhanced ACAM carriers to begin this process as soon as possible – starting by updating their broadband deployment data in the High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal to be as complete and accurate as possible – before then uploading their subscriber location data into the PMM and generating their random samples for pre-testing.

Read the full announcement here.

November 18, 2025
Performance Measures System Open to Generate New Random Samples

Carriers participating in the Connect America Fund Phase II Auction (CAF II Auction), Alternative Connect America Cost Model II (ACAM II) and Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS) programs must obtain new random samples of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) for ongoing quarterly network speed and latency testing this year in order to comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) performance measures testing requirements. The USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM), the USAC system that supports the FCC performance measures compliance framework, is ready to generate new samples for carriers in these funds.

CAF II Auction, ACAM II and CAF BLS carriers just finished their fourth full year of network performance measures testing mandated by the FCC – and just completed their eighth and final quarter of testing with their previous random samples of CAF-supported broadband locations with active subscribers – and must therefore obtain new samples for quarterly testing that starts in the first quarter of 2026. The FCC requires carriers to obtain new random samples of subscriber locations after two years of network testing.

USAC strongly encourages carriers to begin this process as soon as possible – starting by updating their broadband deployment data in the High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal to be as complete and accurate as possible and then uploading their subscriber location data into the PMM and generating new samples. 

Read the full announcement here.

October 8, 2025
Carriers Must Submit and Certify Results from Q3 Network Testing by Oct. 15

USAC reminds carriers that they have until Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, to submit and certify results from network speed and latency testing conducted in the third quarter of 2025 at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in order to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework.

Carriers that fail to submit and certify all third quarter test data for all obligated speed tiers for the full sample of subscriber locations selected for testing in the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) by the Oct. 15, 2025, deadline will face a reduction in support that will not be restored. (See FCC DA 25-289).

This requirement applies to carriers in the following funds (as well as ACS):

Carriers that did not conduct network performance measures testing during the third quarter for any reason, including lack of active subscribers to test, and therefore do not have test data to submit and certify, must notify the FCC and USAC by Oct. 15, 2025, by emailing ConnectAmerica@fcc.gov and hccerts@usac.org.

Read the full announcement here.

October 8, 2025
Carriers Must Submit and Certify Results from Q3 Network Pre-Testing by Oct. 15

USAC reminds carriers participating in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) that they have until Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, to submit and certify results from network speed and latency pre-testing conducted in the third quarter of 2025 at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in order to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework.

Carriers that fail to submit and certify all third quarter pre-test data for all obligated speed tiers for the full sample of subscriber locations selected for testing in the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) by the Oct. 15, 2025, deadline will face withholding of support. (See FCC DA 25-289) RDOF carriers that did not conduct required network performance measures pre-testing during the third quarter for any reason, including lack of active subscribers to test, and therefore do not have test data to submit and certify, must notify the FCC and USAC by Wed., Oct. 15, 2025, by emailing ConnectAmerica@fcc.gov and hccerts@usac.org.

Read the full announcement here.

September 23, 2025
Q3 Performance Measures Testing Must Be Complete by Sept. 30

USAC reminds carriers subject to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework that they must complete a week of third quarter network speed and latency testing at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) by Tues., Sept. 30, 2025, and must submit and certify the results of that testing through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) no later than Wed., Oct. 15, 2025.

Failure to complete a full week of speed and latency testing at the selected subscriber locations by the end of the third quarter – which is Tues., Sept. 30, 2025 – or to submit and certify all test data for all obligated speed tiers for the full sample of selected locations by the Oct. 15, 2025, deadline will impact future CAF support payments. (See FCC DA 25-289)

This requirement applies to carriers in the following funds (as well as ACS):

Carriers that did not conduct all required network performance measures testing during the third quarter because they did not have active subscribers to test for a particular Study Area Code (SAC) and speed tier combination must attest to this (and provide an explanation) in the PMM and may be subject to verification review that subscribers were not available.

Carriers that did not conduct network performance measures testing during the third quarter for any reason, including lack of active subscribers to test, and therefore do not have test data to submit and certify, must notify the FCC and USAC by Oct. 15, 2025, by emailing ConnectAmerica@fcc.gov and hccerts@usac.org.

Read the full announcement here.

September 23, 2025
Q3 Performance Measures Pre-Testing Must Be Complete by Sept. 30

USAC reminds carriers participating in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) that they must complete a week of third quarter network speed and latency testing at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) by Tues., Sept. 30, 2025, and must submit and certify the results of that testing through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) by Wed., Oct. 15, 2025, in order to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework.

RDOF carriers that fail to complete a full week of pre-testing at the selected subscriber locations by the end of the third quarter – which is Tues., Sept. 30, 2025 – or fail to submit and certify all test data for all obligated speed tiers for the full sample of selected locations by the Oct. 15, 2025, deadline will face withholding of support. (See FCC DA 25-289)

Carriers that did not conduct all required network performance measures pre-testing during the third quarter because they did not have active subscribers to test for a particular Study Area Code (SAC) and speed tier combination must attest to this (and provide an explanation) in the PMM and may be subject to verification review that subscribers were not available.

RDOF carriers that did not conduct network performance measures pre-testing during the third quarter for any reason, including lack of active subscribers to test, and therefore do not have test data to submit and certify, must notify the FCC and USAC no later than Oct. 15, 2025, by emailing ConnectAmerica@fcc.gov and hccerts@usac.org.

Read the full announcement here.

September 9, 2025
Annual ETC Certification Due by Oct. 1

State utility commissions and carriers that self certify must complete the annual certification of eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) receiving High Cost support by Wed., Oct. 1, 2025, to ensure continued carrier participation in the High Cost program. Failure to complete this certification by the Oct. 1 deadline may result in loss of High Cost funding for carriers to provide voice and broadband service in rural communities.

The annual ETC certification, mandated under 47 CFR Section 54.314 , requires state utility commissions to certify that carriers under their jurisdiction are eligible to receive High Cost support in their states and used all support collected in the proceeding calendar year only to provide, maintain and upgrade the facilities for which the support was intended and will do the same in the coming calendar year. Carriers that self certify (ETCs not subject to state jurisdiction) must certify that they used all High Cost support collected in the proceeding calendar year only to provide, maintain and upgrade the facilities for which the support was intended and will do the same in the coming calendar year.

States may submit the annual ETC certification to USAC through the 54.314 system, which is accessible through USAC’s E-File system, or by email, fax or mail. Carriers that self certify must  submit the annual ETC certification to USAC using the 54.314 system. States and carriers that self certify are no longer required to also submit the annual ETC certification separately to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). (See  FCC 23-87, para. 134)

Read the full announcement here.

August 20, 2025
Compliance Reports Now Available for 2024 and Q2 2025 Network Testing

Carriers subject to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework can now access compliance reports displaying annual results from network performance measures testing conducted in 2024 through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM).  These compliance reports include details at the Study Area Code (SAC) level about the percent of upload and download speed tests and latency tests aggregated across all four quarters of 2024 that met the network performance standards established by the FCC performance measures compliance framework. Please see PMM Compliance Calculations for a detailed explanation of how the PMM calculates compliance.

Annual compliance reports for 2024 – in addition to separate quarterly compliance reports for each of the four quarters of last year – are now available in the PMM for carriers participating in the following funds (as well as ACS):

Carriers in these funds, as well as carriers participating in the Bringing Puerto Rico Together (Uniendo a Puerto Rico) Fund and the Connect USVI Funds (PR/USVI Funds), can also now access compliance reports for the second quarter of 2025 through the PMM.

Read the full announcement here.

August 20, 2025
Compliance Reports Now Available for Second Quarter Network Pre-Testing

Carriers participating in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) can now access compliance reports displaying results from network performance measures pre-testing conducted in the second quarter of 2025 at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM). These compliance reports include details at the Study Area Code (SAC) level about the percent of upload and download speed tests and latency tests conducted in the second quarter that met the network performance standards established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) performance measures compliance framework.

USAC encourages carriers to check these compliance reports to confirm that they submitted all required pre-test data for the second quarter and to find out if their pre-test results met FCC speed and latency standards. Please see PMM Compliance Calculations for a detailed explanation of how the PMM calculates compliance.

USAC also reminds RDOF carriers that they have until Tues., Sept. 30, 2025, to complete a week of third quarter network pre-testing at a random sample of CAF-supported broadband locations with active subscribers, and must submit and certify all third quarter pre-test results for each obligated speed tier for the full sample of subscriber locations selected for testing in the PMM no later than Wed., Oct. 15, 2025. RDOF carriers that fail to submit and certify all third quarter pre-test data for all obligated speed tiers for the full sample of selected locations in the PMM by the Oct. 15, 2025, deadline will face withholding of support. (See FCC DA 25-289)

Read the full announcement here.

All announcements can be found in the Announcements Archive.

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