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Withdrawn	Rural Health Care, Lifeline	The status that USAC designates to an FCC form that has been removed or pulled out of the review queue at the request of the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
Vendor Selection Date	Rural Health Care	The date on which an agreement is awarded to a service provider, or the service provider is selected by the RHC applicant. RHC program rules state that an applicant must wait a minimum of 28 days after posting the FCC Forms 461 or 465 on USAC’s website before selecting a service provider.
Urban Rate	Rural Health Care	The urban rate shall be a rate no higher than the highest tariffed or publicly available rate charged to a commercial customer for a functionally similar service provided within any city with a population of 50,0000 or more in that state. For an overview of the urban and rural rate-calculation process for FY2026, use RHC’s Urban and Rural Rates Tip Sheet.
Upfront Payments	Rural Health Care	All non-recurring costs, other than reasonable and customary installation charges, that exceed $5,000. Upfront payments are only eligible for consortium applicants in HCF. (See 47 CFR§ 54.638 Upfront payments).
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.
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.
Standard Improper Payment	Rural Health Care	Any improper payment in the RHC program identified through a BCAP or OIG audit or PQA review.
Service Substitution	E-Rate, Rural Health Care	A change in the equipment or services originally requested for an FRN. For additional detail on service substitutions in E-Rate, visit the program’s Service Substitutions page.
Service Start Date	E-Rate, Rural Health Care	The date that services will commence for an FRN. USAC may adjust this date if it identifies a program violation or a missed deadline.
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.
Service Level Agreement (SLA)	Rural Health Care	Minimum criteria for telecommunications service as indicated in a contract submitted with an RHC program funding request form (FCC Form 462 or 466). Contracts may include SLAs for service elements like latency and reliability but are not required to for the receipt of RHC program support.
Service Installation Date	Rural Health Care	The date that services were or will be installed for an FRN in the RHC program. USAC may adjust this date if a program violation is identified, or a deadline is missed.
Service End Date	E-Rate, Rural Health Care	The date that services will end for an FRN. Also referred to as Service Delivery Deadline, this date aligns with the end of the funding year (June 30) for which support is sought. USAC may adjust this date if it identifies a program violation or a missed deadline.
Rural Rate	Rural Health Care	The rate charged by a telecommunications carrier for services in the rural area where an HCP is located. The rural rate, used to calculate RHC program support, is established using one of three methods. For an overview of those methods and the rate-calculation process for FY2026, browse RHC’s Urban and Rural Rates Tip Sheet.
Rural Health Care Program	Rural Health Care	One of the four universal service programs administered by USAC. RHC includes two programs: the Telecommunications (Telecom) Program and the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program. These programs provide reduced rates for telecommunications services and broadband services to eligible health care providers (HCPs).
RHC Connect	Rural Health Care	The web-based system that hosts RHC forms in the RHC program. Post-commitment change requests (e.g., SPIN changes) also take place in RHC Connect. All RHC activities will eventually migrate to RHC Connect, at which time the legacy web-based system My Portal will be phased out.
Request for Proposal (RFP)	E-Rate, Rural Health Care	A formal bidding document describing a project and/or requested services in sufficient detail so that potential bidders understand the scope, location, and any other requirements. In the E-Rate and RHC programs, applicants are required to submit an RFP with their universal service support applications under certain conditions. Visit the E-Rate program’s Competitive Bidding page for additional detail.
Request for Additional Information	Rural Health Care	A notification USAC sends to an RHC applicant if their response to a USAC Information Request is insufficient or incomplete. Through the Request for Additional Information, USAC seeks further clarification or documentation. See also Information Request.
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.

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

Vendor Selection Date

Rural Health Care

The date on which an agreement is awarded to a service provider, or the service provider is selected by the RHC applicant. RHC program rules state that an applicant must wait a minimum of 28 days after posting the FCC Forms 461 or 465 on USAC’s website before selecting a service provider.

Urban Rate

Rural Health Care

The urban rate shall be a rate no higher than the highest tariffed or publicly available rate charged to a commercial customer for a functionally similar service provided within any city with a population of 50,0000 or more in that state. For an overview of the urban and rural rate-calculation process for FY2026, use RHC’s Urban and Rural Rates Tip Sheet.

Upfront Payments

Rural Health Care

All non-recurring costs, other than reasonable and customary installation charges, that exceed $5,000. Upfront payments are only eligible for consortium applicants in HCF. (See 47 CFR§ 54.638 Upfront payments).

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.

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.

Standard Improper Payment

Rural Health Care

Any improper payment in the RHC program identified through a BCAP or OIG audit or PQA review.

Service Substitution

E-Rate, Rural Health Care

A change in the equipment or services originally requested for an FRN. For additional detail on service substitutions in E-Rate, visit the program’s Service Substitutions page.

Service Start Date

E-Rate, Rural Health Care

The date that services will commence for an FRN. USAC may adjust this date if it identifies a program violation or a missed deadline.

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.

Service Level Agreement (SLA)

Rural Health Care

Minimum criteria for telecommunications service as indicated in a contract submitted with an RHC program funding request form (FCC Form 462 or 466). Contracts may include SLAs for service elements like latency and reliability but are not required to for the receipt of RHC program support.

Service Installation Date

Rural Health Care

The date that services were or will be installed for an FRN in the RHC program. USAC may adjust this date if a program violation is identified, or a deadline is missed.

Service End Date

E-Rate, Rural Health Care

The date that services will end for an FRN. Also referred to as Service Delivery Deadline, this date aligns with the end of the funding year (June 30) for which support is sought. USAC may adjust this date if it identifies a program violation or a missed deadline.

Rural Rate

Rural Health Care

The rate charged by a telecommunications carrier for services in the rural area where an HCP is located. The rural rate, used to calculate RHC program support, is established using one of three methods. For an overview of those methods and the rate-calculation process for FY2026, browse RHC’s Urban and Rural Rates Tip Sheet.

Rural Health Care Program

Rural Health Care

One of the four universal service programs administered by USAC. RHC includes two programs: the Telecommunications (Telecom) Program and the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program. These programs provide reduced rates for telecommunications services and broadband services to eligible health care providers (HCPs).

RHC Connect

Rural Health Care

The web-based system that hosts RHC forms in the RHC program. Post-commitment change requests (e.g., SPIN changes) also take place in RHC Connect. All RHC activities will eventually migrate to RHC Connect, at which time the legacy web-based system My Portal will be phased out.

Request for Proposal (RFP)

E-Rate, Rural Health Care

A formal bidding document describing a project and/or requested services in sufficient detail so that potential bidders understand the scope, location, and any other requirements. In the E-Rate and RHC programs, applicants are required to submit an RFP with their universal service support applications under certain conditions. Visit the E-Rate program’s Competitive Bidding page for additional detail.

Request for Additional Information

Rural Health Care

A notification USAC sends to an RHC applicant if their response to a USAC Information Request is insufficient or incomplete. Through the Request for Additional Information, USAC seeks further clarification or documentation. See also Information Request.

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.

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