Glossary of Terms

Terms	Program	Definitions
Consultant Registration Number (CRN)	E-Rate, Rural Health Care	A unique eight-digit identification number assigned by USAC to a consulting firm or individual consultant.
Contract Review	Rural Health Care	The process of reviewing a contract obtained through competitive bidding in the current funding year for an “evergreen” endorsement. Evergreen contracts allow HCPs to bypass competitive bidding for the life of the contract and up to five years of voluntary extensions. Applicants may request a contract review when they submit the contract with an FCC Form 462 or 466. Learn more about evergreen status on the RHC program’s Evergreen Contracts page.
Corrective SPIN Change	E-Rate, Rural Health Care	A change to the SPIN featured on one or more FRNs that corrects a data entry error, reflects a merger or acquisition, or fixes some other type of error. It is not the result of a change to the actual service provider by the applicant.
COVID‑19 Telehealth Program	Rural Health Care	A program that provided funding to eligible HCPs to support the telecommunications services, information services, and connected devices needed to provide critical connected care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, was administered by USAC but was not a USF program. The final deadline for submitting invoices for reimbursement was October 31, 2023.
De‑commitment and de‑obligation	Rural Health Care	Terms referring to USF monies that are recovered from an applicant or redirected. The two terms may be used interchangeably. In the RHC program, funds will be de-obligated 60 days after the invoice filing deadline.
Demand Payment Letter (DPL) [Rural Health Care]	Rural Health Care	A request for payment sent to an applicant or responsible party whose COMAD has not been appealed within 60 days of being sent a COMAD letter. The DPL notifies the applicant that the outstanding balance detailed in the COMAD letter must be returned within 30 days of the date of the DPL.
Demarcation Point or Demarc	E-Rate, Rural Health Care	The point at which a service provider’s network ends and a customer’s local area network (LAN) begins.
Denied	Rural Health Care, Lifeline	The status that USAC designates to an FCC form that has been reviewed and found not to be compliant with FCC program rules and/or USAC standards.
E‑Certification (E‑Cert)	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers	A process that allows universal service support applicants to certify and submit forms online, eliminating the need for paper copies of forms (and original signatures) and facilitating simpler record-keeping.
E‑File	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers	USAC’s online forms submission tool. Allows universal service support applicants, contributors, and service providers to register with USAC, submit forms, view invoices, add or remove authorized users, update account information, and more. Accessible at https://forms.universalservice.org/.
Eligible Health Care Provider	Rural Health Care	An HCP that meets the requirements for eligibility to participate in the RHC program. Visit USAC’s Determine the Eligibility of Your Site page for more information.
Eligible Services	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers	Equipment and services that are eligible for universal service support. In the E-Rate program, eligible services include data transmission services and/or internet access, internal connections, the maintenance of internal connections, and managed internal broadband services. In the High Cost program, eligible services include the costs of deploying rural voice service (legacy funds) or rural broadband service (modernized funds). In the RHC program, eligible services include broadband connectivity and telecommunications services.
Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC)	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers	A designation given to telecommunications service providers by their state public utility commissions or the FCC, enabling them to participate in universal service programs.
Evergreen Contract	Rural Health Care	A contract for service that does not need to be re-competed annually and whose only annual requirement is the filing of the FCC Form 462 (in the RHC program’s HCF Program) or the FCC Form 466 (in RHC program’s Telecom Program). Non-evergreen contracts are considered to have month-to-month status and require the annual posting of the FCC Form 461 or 465 (under the HCF and Telecom Programs, respectively) and the annual selection of the most cost-effective service based on a fair and open competitive bidding process. Learn more about the requirements for evergreen contracts on the RHC program’s Evergreen Contracts page.
Evidence for Rural Rate	Rural Health Care	The requirement that service providers or HCPs provide information and supporting documentation for their rural-rate calculations and method used to calculate the rural rate when completing the FCC Form 466. See also Rural Rate.
FCC Form 460 (Eligibility and Registration Form)	Rural Health Care	The form HCPs use to establish their eligibility for the HCF and Telecom Programs. Visit the program’s eligibility determination page for information about RHC program requirements.
FCC Form 461 (Request for Services Form)	Rural Health Care	The form HCF Program applicants use to provide information about requested services to enable a fair and open competitive bidding process. The FCC Form 461 must be posted to USAC’s website for a minimum of 28 days before the applicant can select a service provider.
FCC Form 462 (Funding Request Form)	Rural Health Care	The form HCF Program applicants use to identify key information about services or equipment for which they are seeking universal service support. Each individual or consortium applicant must submit a single FCC Form 462 for each service provider detailing their requested service(s), equipment, facilities, rates, service provider name, and date(s) of service provider selection.
FCC Form 463 (Invoice and Request for Disbursement Form)	Rural Health Care	The form used to invoice committed funds that are on an approved FCC Form 462. The FCC Form 463 serves as a request to USAC for the disbursement of funding under the HCF Program for the services, equipment, and/or facilities set forth in an applicant’s FCL. The filing of the FCC Form 463 is a joint process between the applicant and the vendor (service provider). The applicant initiates the filing of the FCC Form 463, and the vendor reviews and, if needed, revises it before it is submitted to USAC for processing and payment.
FCC Form 465 (Description of Services Requested and Certification Form)	Rural Health Care	The form Telecom Program applicants use to provide information about requested services to enable a fair and open competitive bidding process. The FCC Form 465 must be posted to USAC’s website for a minimum of 28 days before the applicant can select a service provider.
FCC Form 466 (Funding Request and Certification Form)	Rural Health Care	The form Telecom Program applicants use to identify their requested service(s), rates, service provider, and date(s) of service provider selection. Each individual applicant must submit a single form for each service requested.
FCC Form 469 (Invoice and Request for Disbursement Form)	Rural Health Care	The form used to invoice committed funds that are on an approved FCC Form 466. The FCC Form 469 serves as a request to USAC for the disbursement of funding under the Telecom Program for the services, set forth in an applicant’s FCL. The filing of the FCC Form 469 is a joint process between the applicant and the vendor (service provider). The service provider initiates the filing of the FCC Form 469, and the applicant reviews and, if needed, revises it before it is submitted to USAC for processing and payment.
FCC Form 498	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers	The FCC form that telecommunications service providers must submit to participate in any of the universal service programs. The form collects contact, remittance, and payment information. Upon completion, the service provider is assigned a nine-digit unique identifier referred to as a 498 ID/Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN). Note: Applicants to the E-Rate program who choose the FCC Form 472 (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form) payment method must also have filed the FCC Form 498.
FCC Form 498 Company Officer	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers	See 498 Company Officer.
FCC Form 498 Delegated Users	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers	See Authorized Users.

Consultant Registration Number (CRN)

E-Rate, Rural Health Care

A unique eight-digit identification number assigned by USAC to a consulting firm or individual consultant.

Contract Review

Rural Health Care

The process of reviewing a contract obtained through competitive bidding in the current funding year for an “evergreen” endorsement. Evergreen contracts allow HCPs to bypass competitive bidding for the life of the contract and up to five years of voluntary extensions. Applicants may request a contract review when they submit the contract with an FCC Form 462 or 466. Learn more about evergreen status on the RHC program’s Evergreen Contracts page.

Corrective SPIN Change

E-Rate, Rural Health Care

A change to the SPIN featured on one or more FRNs that corrects a data entry error, reflects a merger or acquisition, or fixes some other type of error. It is not the result of a change to the actual service provider by the applicant.

COVID‑19 Telehealth Program

Rural Health Care

A program that provided funding to eligible HCPs to support the telecommunications services, information services, and connected devices needed to provide critical connected care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, was administered by USAC but was not a USF program. The final deadline for submitting invoices for reimbursement was October 31, 2023.

De‑commitment and de‑obligation

Rural Health Care

Terms referring to USF monies that are recovered from an applicant or redirected. The two terms may be used interchangeably. In the RHC program, funds will be de-obligated 60 days after the invoice filing deadline.

Demand Payment Letter (DPL) [Rural Health Care]

Rural Health Care

A request for payment sent to an applicant or responsible party whose COMAD has not been appealed within 60 days of being sent a COMAD letter. The DPL notifies the applicant that the outstanding balance detailed in the COMAD letter must be returned within 30 days of the date of the DPL.

Demarcation Point or Demarc

E-Rate, Rural Health Care

The point at which a service provider’s network ends and a customer’s local area network (LAN) begins.

Denied

Rural Health Care, Lifeline

The status that USAC designates to an FCC form that has been reviewed and found not to be compliant with FCC program rules and/or USAC standards.

E‑Certification (E‑Cert)

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

A process that allows universal service support applicants to certify and submit forms online, eliminating the need for paper copies of forms (and original signatures) and facilitating simpler record-keeping.

E‑File

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

USAC’s online forms submission tool. Allows universal service support applicants, contributors, and service providers to register with USAC, submit forms, view invoices, add or remove authorized users, update account information, and more. Accessible at https://forms.universalservice.org/.

Eligible Health Care Provider

Rural Health Care

An HCP that meets the requirements for eligibility to participate in the RHC program. Visit USAC’s Determine the Eligibility of Your Site page for more information.

Eligible Services

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

Equipment and services that are eligible for universal service support. In the E-Rate program, eligible services include data transmission services and/or internet access, internal connections, the maintenance of internal connections, and managed internal broadband services. In the High Cost program, eligible services include the costs of deploying rural voice service (legacy funds) or rural broadband service (modernized funds). In the RHC program, eligible services include broadband connectivity and telecommunications services.

Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC)

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

A designation given to telecommunications service providers by their state public utility commissions or the FCC, enabling them to participate in universal service programs.

Evergreen Contract

Rural Health Care

A contract for service that does not need to be re-competed annually and whose only annual requirement is the filing of the FCC Form 462 (in the RHC program’s HCF Program) or the FCC Form 466 (in RHC program’s Telecom Program). Non-evergreen contracts are considered to have month-to-month status and require the annual posting of the FCC Form 461 or 465 (under the HCF and Telecom Programs, respectively) and the annual selection of the most cost-effective service based on a fair and open competitive bidding process. Learn more about the requirements for evergreen contracts on the RHC program’s Evergreen Contracts page.

Evidence for Rural Rate

Rural Health Care

The requirement that service providers or HCPs provide information and supporting documentation for their rural-rate calculations and method used to calculate the rural rate when completing the FCC Form 466. See also Rural Rate.

FCC Form 460 (Eligibility and Registration Form)

Rural Health Care

The form HCPs use to establish their eligibility for the HCF and Telecom Programs. Visit the program’s eligibility determination page for information about RHC program requirements.

FCC Form 461 (Request for Services Form)

Rural Health Care

The form HCF Program applicants use to provide information about requested services to enable a fair and open competitive bidding process. The FCC Form 461 must be posted to USAC’s website for a minimum of 28 days before the applicant can select a service provider.

FCC Form 462 (Funding Request Form)

Rural Health Care

The form HCF Program applicants use to identify key information about services or equipment for which they are seeking universal service support. Each individual or consortium applicant must submit a single FCC Form 462 for each service provider detailing their requested service(s), equipment, facilities, rates, service provider name, and date(s) of service provider selection.

FCC Form 463 (Invoice and Request for Disbursement Form)

Rural Health Care

The form used to invoice committed funds that are on an approved FCC Form 462. The FCC Form 463 serves as a request to USAC for the disbursement of funding under the HCF Program for the services, equipment, and/or facilities set forth in an applicant’s FCL. The filing of the FCC Form 463 is a joint process between the applicant and the vendor (service provider). The applicant initiates the filing of the FCC Form 463, and the vendor reviews and, if needed, revises it before it is submitted to USAC for processing and payment.

FCC Form 465 (Description of Services Requested and Certification Form)

Rural Health Care

The form Telecom Program applicants use to provide information about requested services to enable a fair and open competitive bidding process. The FCC Form 465 must be posted to USAC’s website for a minimum of 28 days before the applicant can select a service provider.

FCC Form 466 (Funding Request and Certification Form)

Rural Health Care

The form Telecom Program applicants use to identify their requested service(s), rates, service provider, and date(s) of service provider selection. Each individual applicant must submit a single form for each service requested.

FCC Form 469 (Invoice and Request for Disbursement Form)

Rural Health Care

The form used to invoice committed funds that are on an approved FCC Form 466. The FCC Form 469 serves as a request to USAC for the disbursement of funding under the Telecom Program for the services, set forth in an applicant’s FCL. The filing of the FCC Form 469 is a joint process between the applicant and the vendor (service provider). The service provider initiates the filing of the FCC Form 469, and the applicant reviews and, if needed, revises it before it is submitted to USAC for processing and payment.

FCC Form 498

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

The FCC form that telecommunications service providers must submit to participate in any of the universal service programs. The form collects contact, remittance, and payment information. Upon completion, the service provider is assigned a nine-digit unique identifier referred to as a 498 ID/Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN). Note: Applicants to the E-Rate program who choose the FCC Form 472 (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form) payment method must also have filed the FCC Form 498.

FCC Form 498 Company Officer

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

See 498 Company Officer.

FCC Form 498 Delegated Users

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

See Authorized Users.

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