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)Â 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.
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.
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.Â
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 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.
