Glossary of Terms

Terms	Program	Definitions
Withdrawn	Rural Health Care, Lifeline	The status that USAC designates to an FCC form that has been removed or pulled out of the review queue at the request of the applicant.
Whistleblower Alert	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	A hotline allowing members of the public to anonymously report suspected violations of universal service program rules to USAC. These reports can be made anonymously via the USAC Whistleblower Alert Form, by emailing WhistleblowerReports@usac.org, by calling (888) 203-8100, or by U.S. mail to: Attn: Fraud Risk Group Universal Service Administrative Co. 700 12th Street, NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20005
Universal Service Fund (USF)	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	Money collected from telecommunications companies and allocated to the objective of achieving universal service, per the 1996 Telecommunications Act. All interstate and international voice carriers operating in the U.S. must make contributions to the USF equal to a percentage of their interstate end-user revenues. The FCC updates this percentage, known as the contribution factor, quarterly. USAC’s role is to collect and disburse the USF.
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	The independent not-for-profit organization designated by the FCC as the neutral, third-party administrator of the USF and its four programs. Collectively, the fund disbursed more than $8.5 billion in universal service support in 2024.
Universal Service	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	The principle that all people in the United States should have access to telecommunications (voice and internet) services at reasonable rates. The USF, and later USAC, were established by the FCC to achieve this objective.
Tribal Partners	Lifeline, Tribal Nations	Tribal governments, government agencies, advocates, and nonprofits serving Tribal communities who partner with Lifeline to generate awareness about the Lifeline program and support consumers with applying for and managing the Lifeline benefit.
Telecommunications Carrier	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	See Common Carrier.
Telecommunications	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	The transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.
Study Area Code (SAC)	E-Rate, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	A unique number that USAC assigns to ETCs identifying the company by its service area. Companies must have at least one SAC per state in which they operate, but can have more than one SAC within a state if they have more than one service area.
State and Federal Partners	Lifeline	State and federal government agencies who partner with Lifeline to increase program awareness, build and maintain database connections to qualify consumers for the Lifeline program, and support consumers in completing program processes.
Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN)	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	See 498 ID/Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN).
Service Provider	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	A telecommunications company that participates in at least one of the four universal service programs and provides voice or internet services, equipment, hardware, or software. Types of companies include but are not limited to: competitive access/competitive local exchange carriers (cellular, personal communications, or specialized mobile radio providers), incumbent local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, internet service providers, interconnected VoIP providers, local resellers (coaxial cable, non-traditional, operator, paging, messaging, payphone, prepaid card, private, and satellite service providers), shared-tenant service providers or building local exchange carriers, SMR (dispatch), toll resellers, or wireless data providers.
Safe Connections Act (SCA)	Lifeline	A 2022 federal law that makes it easier for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, or related crimes to sever ties with their abusers by separating themselves from a shared wireless telephone plan. Under the SCA, survivors experiencing financial hardship may also receive up to six months of support from the Lifeline program. For more information about the Lifeline application process for survivors, visit the program’s SCA page.
Representative Accountability Database (RAD)	Lifeline	A registration system that validates the identities of Lifeline service provider representatives performing transactions in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and National Verifier. To create an account in RAD, visit USAC’s How to Register page.
Red Light Status	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	The status of an entity deemed to have violated the Red Light Rule. USAC will not make any disbursements until the entity’s delinquency is satisfied, payment arrangements are made, or the Red Light Status is otherwise resolved. See also Red Light Rule.
Red Light Rule	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	A requirement that the FCC withhold action on a universal service support application, payment, and/or other requests for benefits when the universal service program participant is delinquent in non-tax debts owed to the FCC or other federal agencies. This rule requires that USAC suspend support to any entity that shares a Tax Identification Number with a company that has a delinquent debt. See also Red Light Status.
Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) Program	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	A USAC program that assesses payments made to universal service support recipients to determine if the payments were made in accordance with FCC rules. Following these assessments, USAC estimates improper payment rates and provides this information to the FCC.
Past Due Letter (PDL)	Rural Health Care, Lifeline	A letter USAC sends to a universal service support applicant who has received a DPL but has not returned the funds owed within the stipulated 30 days. The PDL notifies the applicant that they are past due and that failure to pay the outstanding funds will be reported to Treasury if payment is not made within 30 days of the date on the PDL.
Open Data	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	A web portal with datasets and tools available for universal service program data. Users can view, search, filter, and manipulate the data in each dataset and extract that data in a variety of formats. Users can also extract data via API calls. Accessible at https://opendata.usac.org/.
One Portal	USAC General, E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	USAC’s single sign-on online dashboard for accessing systems such as EPC, the National Verifier, NLAD, LCS, and RAD, as well as the E-File forms submission tool and many invoicing functions. Certain payment processes are also handled through One Portal. Accessible at https://forms.universalservice.org/portal/login.
Notice of Resolved Issue (NORI)	Rural Health Care, Lifeline	A sub-category of ADL that is issued if USAC’s Appeals team identifies that the USAC decision made during operational review was not compliant with FCC rules and requirements.
National Verifier	Lifeline	An online application system that facilitates the determination of consumer eligibility for the Lifeline benefit and is also used to complete annual recertification for existing subscribers.
National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD)	Lifeline	A system used by service providers to enroll qualifying consumers in the Lifeline program and to manage their Lifeline subscribers, including the detection and elimination of duplicative support.
LifelineSupport.org	Lifeline	USAC’s official consumer-facing Lifeline website that provides information about the Lifeline benefit, how to apply, manage the benefit once enrolled, and access support resources. The site includes downloadable handouts for consumer advocates and providers to support outreach and awareness efforts.
Lifeline Support Center	Lifeline	Helps consumers with applying for Lifeline, understanding eligibility requirements, and the annual recertification process. The Lifeline Support Center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and may be reached by calling (800) 234-9473 or emailing LifelineSupport@usac.org.

Withdrawn

Rural Health Care, Lifeline

The status that USAC designates to an FCC form that has been removed or pulled out of the review queue at the request of the applicant.

Whistleblower Alert

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

A hotline allowing members of the public to anonymously report suspected violations of universal service program rules to USAC. These reports can be made anonymously via the USAC Whistleblower Alert Form, by emailing WhistleblowerReports@usac.org, by calling (888) 203-8100, or by U.S. mail to:

Attn: Fraud Risk Group
Universal Service Administrative Co.
700 12th Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005

Universal Service Fund (USF)

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

Money collected from telecommunications companies and allocated to the objective of achieving universal service, per the 1996 Telecommunications Act. All interstate and international voice carriers operating in the U.S. must make contributions to the USF equal to a percentage of their interstate end-user revenues. The FCC updates this percentage, known as the contribution factor, quarterly. USAC’s role is to collect and disburse the USF.

Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

The independent not-for-profit organization designated by the FCC as the neutral, third-party administrator of the USF and its four programs. Collectively, the fund disbursed more than $8.5 billion in universal service support in 2024.

Universal Service

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

The principle that all people in the United States should have access to telecommunications (voice and internet) services at reasonable rates. The USF, and later USAC, were established by the FCC to achieve this objective.

Tribal Partners

Lifeline, Tribal Nations

Tribal governments, government agencies, advocates, and nonprofits serving Tribal communities who partner with Lifeline to generate awareness about the Lifeline program and support consumers with applying for and managing the Lifeline benefit.

Telecommunications Carrier

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

See Common Carrier.

Telecommunications

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

The transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.

Study Area Code (SAC)

E-Rate, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

A unique number that USAC assigns to ETCs identifying the company by its service area. Companies must have at least one SAC per state in which they operate, but can have more than one SAC within a state if they have more than one service area.

State and Federal Partners

Lifeline

State and federal government agencies who partner with Lifeline to increase program awareness, build and maintain database connections to qualify consumers for the Lifeline program, and support consumers in completing program processes.

Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN)

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

See 498 ID/Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN).

Service Provider

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

A telecommunications company that participates in at least one of the four universal service programs and provides voice or internet services, equipment, hardware, or software. Types of companies include but are not limited to: competitive access/competitive local exchange carriers (cellular, personal communications, or specialized mobile radio providers), incumbent local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, internet service providers, interconnected VoIP providers, local resellers (coaxial cable, non-traditional, operator, paging, messaging, payphone, prepaid card, private, and satellite service providers), shared-tenant service providers or building local exchange carriers, SMR (dispatch), toll resellers, or wireless data providers.

Safe Connections Act (SCA)

Lifeline

A 2022 federal law that makes it easier for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, or related crimes to sever ties with their abusers by separating themselves from a shared wireless telephone plan. Under the SCA, survivors experiencing financial hardship may also receive up to six months of support from the Lifeline program. For more information about the Lifeline application process for survivors, visit the program’s SCA page.

Representative Accountability Database (RAD)

Lifeline

A registration system that validates the identities of Lifeline service provider representatives performing transactions in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and National Verifier. To create an account in RAD, visit USAC’s How to Register page.

Red Light Status

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

The status of an entity deemed to have violated the Red Light Rule. USAC will not make any disbursements until the entity’s delinquency is satisfied, payment arrangements are made, or the Red Light Status is otherwise resolved. See also Red Light Rule.

Red Light Rule

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

A requirement that the FCC withhold action on a universal service support application, payment, and/or other requests for benefits when the universal service program participant is delinquent in non-tax debts owed to the FCC or other federal agencies. This rule requires that USAC suspend support to any entity that shares a Tax Identification Number with a company that has a delinquent debt. See also Red Light Status.

Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) Program

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

A USAC program that assesses payments made to universal service support recipients to determine if the payments were made in accordance with FCC rules. Following these assessments, USAC estimates improper payment rates and provides this information to the FCC.

Past Due Letter (PDL)

Rural Health Care, Lifeline

A letter USAC sends to a universal service support applicant who has received a DPL but has not returned the funds owed within the stipulated 30 days. The PDL notifies the applicant that they are past due and that failure to pay the outstanding funds will be reported to Treasury if payment is not made within 30 days of the date on the PDL.

Open Data

E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

A web portal with datasets and tools available for universal service program data. Users can view, search, filter, and manipulate the data in each dataset and extract that data in a variety of formats. Users can also extract data via API calls. Accessible at https://opendata.usac.org/.

One Portal

USAC General, E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers

USAC’s single sign-on online dashboard for accessing systems such as EPC, the National Verifier, NLAD, LCS, and RAD, as well as the E-File forms submission tool and many invoicing functions. Certain payment processes are also handled through One Portal. Accessible at https://forms.universalservice.org/portal/login.

Notice of Resolved Issue (NORI)

Rural Health Care, Lifeline

A sub-category of ADL that is issued if USAC’s Appeals team identifies that the USAC decision made during operational review was not compliant with FCC rules and requirements.

National Verifier

Lifeline

An online application system that facilitates the determination of consumer eligibility for the Lifeline benefit and is also used to complete annual recertification for existing subscribers.

National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD)

Lifeline

A system used by service providers to enroll qualifying consumers in the Lifeline program and to manage their Lifeline subscribers, including the detection and elimination of duplicative support.

LifelineSupport.org

Lifeline

USAC’s official consumer-facing Lifeline website that provides information about the Lifeline benefit, how to apply, manage the benefit once enrolled, and access support resources. The site includes downloadable handouts for consumer advocates and providers to support outreach and awareness efforts.

Lifeline Support Center

Lifeline

Helps consumers with applying for Lifeline, understanding eligibility requirements, and the annual recertification process. The Lifeline Support Center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and may be reached by calling (800) 234-9473 or emailing LifelineSupport@usac.org.

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