Announcements
January 20, 2023
Webinar Training for the 2023 Annual Form (FCC Form 499-A) Posted
FCC rules require all telecommunications service providers to file the FCC Form 499-A to report historical revenue data for your company. The 2023 FCC Form 499-A is used to report revenue data for the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. The deadline to file the 2023 FCC Form 499-A is Monday, April 3, 2023.
USAC will host several webinars in February covering how to complete the 2023 FCC Form 499-A.
All webinars are scheduled from 2-3 p.m. ET
- Thursday, February 2 – What’s New on the 2023 FCC Form 499-A – Register Here
- Tuesday, February 7 – 2023 FCC Form 499-A: Getting Started – Register Here
- Wednesday, February 8 – 2023 FCC Form 499-A: Wireline and Wireless Carriers – Register Here
- Thursday, February 9 – 2023 FCC Form 499-A: VoIP Providers and Resellers – Register Here
These webinars are free, but you must register to attend. Webinars will be recorded and available on the Service Provider’s Webinar webpage.
December 23, 2022
USAC Customer Service Centers (CSC) Closed – Christmas Holiday
In observance of the Christmas holiday, the USAC Customer Service Centers will be closed on Sunday, December 25 (per usual weekend closure), and Monday, December 26.
The Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Customer Service Centers will be closed on Sunday, December 25, and will reopen on Monday, December 26.
To find CSC contact information, weekly hours, and the annual holiday closure schedule, visit our Contact Us webpage.
December 13, 2022
FCC Announces 1Q 2023 Contribution Factor is 32.6%
The FCC released a Public Notice, DA 22-1286, announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the first quarter of 2023 (January – March) will be .326 or 32.6 percent.
November 22, 2022
USAC Customer Service Centers Closed – November 24-25, 2022
In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the USAC Customer Service Centers will be closed Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25.
The Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Customer Service Centers will remain open on Friday, November 25.
November 16, 2022
UEI Now Required on FCC Form 498
USAC updated the FCC Form 498 for all service providers on November 16, 2022 to require entities to have an active UEI in order to submit or modify their FCC Form 498. The update of the FCC Form 498 only affects entities that must submit a new FCC Form 498 or revise their current FCC Form 498. To learn more, read our latest bulletin and watch the new Register for a New 498 ID and Update SAM.gov Unique Entity ID on the FCC Form 498 videos.
October 14, 2022
Reminder: UEI Required on FCC Form 498 in November
On April 6, 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice (DA-22-371) announcing that the General Services Administration’s SAM.gov will transition from the use of the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to the SAM.gov assigned Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). To prepare for this transition, USAC will update the FCC Form 498 for all service providers on November 16, 2022 to require entities to have an active UEI in order to submit or modify their FCC Form 498. Read our latest bulletin to learn more.
October 4, 2022
FCC Releases Hurricane Ian Relief Order
On October 4, 2022, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order (DA 22-1063) that waives certain E-Rate, Emergency Connectivity Fund, Rural Health Care, COVID-19 Telehealth, Lifeline, Affordable Connectivity Program, and High Cost rules and deadlines to assist participants and service providers located in the areas affected by Hurricane Ian, which struck Florida on September 28, 2022 and the states of North Carolina and South Carolina on September 29, 2022. For detailed information, please refer to the Order.
September 22, 2022
FCC Releases Hurricane Fiona Relief Order
On September 22, 2022, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order (DA 22-998) that waives certain E-Rate, Emergency Connectivity Fund, Rural Health Care, COVID-19 Telehealth, Lifeline, and Affordable Connectivity Program rules and deadlines to assist participants and service providers, including Universal Service Fund contributors, located in the areas affected by Hurricane Fiona, which struck Puerto Rico on September 18, 2022. For detailed information, please refer to the Order.
September 20, 2022
FCC Announces 4th Quarter Contribution Factor is 28.9%
The FCC released a Public Notice, DA 22-946, announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the fourth quarter of 2022 (October – December) will be .289 or 28.9 percent.
September 12, 2022
Coming Soon: UEI Requirement on FCC Form 498
USAC will update the FCC Form 498 for all service providers in the fourth quarter of 2022 to require entities to have an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in order to submit or modify their FCC Form 498. Beginning in November, USF program recipients who submit a new FCC Form 498 or who want to revise their FCC Form 498 should complete their full entity registration in SAM.gov to obtain a UEI. For more information, read our latest bulletin.
August 18, 2022
USAC One Portal Maintenance – August 26
USAC will perform system updates on One Portal beginning at 8 p.m. ET on August 26 through 2 a.m. ET on August 27.
During this time all applications within One Portal will be unavailable including E-File, the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC), SL Legacy systems, the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD), Lifeline Claims System (LCS), Rural Health Care’s My Portal and the High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal. The Lifeline National Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) WILL NOT be affected during this system update.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
August 3, 2022
USAC Website Maintenance – August 12
USAC’s websites will be temporarily unavailable beginning 11 p.m. ET on Friday, August 12. USAC expects the maintenance to last up to two hours, but users may see intermittent outages beyond the initial window as the updates take effect.
Affected sites include USAC.org, LifelineSupport.org, AffordableConnectivity.gov, and EmergencyConnectivityFund.org.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you!