October 2, 2024
Webinar: Avoiding Common Audit Findings
Please join USAC on Wednesday, October 30th from 1:00 PM ET to 2:00 PM ET to learn how to avoid common findings of High Cost beneficiary audits. In this session, USAC’s High Cost and Internal Audit staff will discuss common carrier errors discovered during beneficiary audits. Register Here
October 2, 2024
USAC Encourages Carriers to Submit and Certify Third Quarter Network Testing Results by Oct. 7
USAC encourages carriers to submit and certify results from network speed and latency testing conducted in the third quarter of 2024 at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) by Mon., Oct. 7, 2024, so that USAC can produce third quarter compliance reports to help carriers track their progress in meeting the requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures compliance framework.
USAC provides quarterly compliance reports to carriers that certify their test results within one week of the end of the quarter – no later than Mon., Oct. 7, 2024, for third quarter results – to help them track their progress in meeting FCC speed and latency metrics and address any shortfalls.
Quarterly testing mandates currently apply to carriers in the following funds (as well as ACS):
Carriers in all these funds, as well as ACS, were required to complete a week of third quarter network testing by Mon., Sept. 30, 2024. (The FCC has waived performance measures testing requirements for the fourth quarter of 2024 for carriers located in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene). Read the full announcement here.
August 28, 2024
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 Oct. 1, 2024, to ensure continued carrier participation in the High Cost program. Failure to complete this certification, which must be submitted to both USAC and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 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. Read the full announcement here.
