Glossary of Terms

Terms	Program	Definitions
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
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)	High Cost, Service Providers	A technology that digitizes analog voice signals and transmits them over the internet. VoIP calls may be placed between VoIP users or sent over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to dial conventional phone numbers.
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 Relay Services (TRS)	Service Providers	A type of telephone service that allows persons with hearing or speech disabilities to place and receive telephone calls. Information collected on the FCC Form 499-A is also used to calculate contributions to the Telecommunications Relay Service administrator.
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)	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.
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.
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.
Public Notice (PN)	E-Rate, High Cost, Service Providers	A notice issued by the FCC alerting the public of an action taken, a change made, or an upcoming event. PNs are used to announce NOIs, NPRMs, and FNPRMs (Further Notices of Proposed Rulemaking).
Preparer	E-Rate, High Cost, Service Providers	The employee of a telecommunications company that filed FCC Form 499-A/Q who has access to submit and modify data in USAC’s E-File system.
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.
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.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)	E-Rate, High Cost, Service Providers	Part of the Executive Office of the President, OMB reviews and approves FCC forms that are used by USF contributors and universal service program participants, contributors, and service providers.
Office of Inspector General (OIG)	High Cost, Service Providers	A division of the FCC that provides independent and objective audits and investigations relating to agency programs and operations. May conduct audits or investigations of universal service support recipients, contributors, or service providers.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)	E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers	An FCC proposal for new rules or changes to existing rules. Following the issuance of an NPRM, the FCC will seek public comments on the proposal.
Notice of Inquiry (NOI)	High Cost, Service Providers	A request made by the FCC to the public to comment on specific questions about an issue. The public’s responses help the FCC to determine if further action by the FCC is warranted.
Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL)	High Cost, Service Providers	An order issued by the FCC advising a party that it has violated an FCC rule or procedure and proposing a penalty. The party has an opportunity to file a response, which the FCC will evaluate.
North American Numbering Plan (NANP)	Service Providers	The integrated telephone numbering plan serving 20 North American countries. Information collected on the FCC Form 499-A is also used to calculate contributions to the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA).
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)	High Cost, Service Providers	Part of the Department of Commerce, the NTIA sets federal telecommunications policy and provides telecommunications grants to various entities. It differs from the FCC in two key respects: 1) the FCC is an independent agency, while the NTIA falls under the executive branch; and 2) the NTIA has jurisdiction over federal government communications, while state and local government communications are within the purview of the FCC.

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

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

High Cost, Service Providers

A technology that digitizes analog voice signals and transmits them over the internet. VoIP calls may be placed between VoIP users or sent over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to dial conventional phone numbers.

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 Relay Services (TRS)

Service Providers

A type of telephone service that allows persons with hearing or speech disabilities to place and receive telephone calls. Information collected on the FCC Form 499-A is also used to calculate contributions to the Telecommunications Relay Service administrator.

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)

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.

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.

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.

Public Notice (PN)

E-Rate, High Cost, Service Providers

A notice issued by the FCC alerting the public of an action taken, a change made, or an upcoming event. PNs are used to announce NOIs, NPRMs, and FNPRMs (Further Notices of Proposed Rulemaking).

Preparer

E-Rate, High Cost, Service Providers

The employee of a telecommunications company that filed FCC Form 499-A/Q who has access to submit and modify data in USAC’s E-File system.

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.

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.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

E-Rate, High Cost, Service Providers

Part of the Executive Office of the President, OMB reviews and approves FCC forms that are used by USF contributors and universal service program participants, contributors, and service providers.

Office of Inspector General (OIG)

High Cost, Service Providers

A division of the FCC that provides independent and objective audits and investigations relating to agency programs and operations. May conduct audits or investigations of universal service support recipients, contributors, or service providers.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)

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

An FCC proposal for new rules or changes to existing rules. Following the issuance of an NPRM, the FCC will seek public comments on the proposal.

Notice of Inquiry (NOI)

High Cost, Service Providers

A request made by the FCC to the public to comment on specific questions about an issue. The public’s responses help the FCC to determine if further action by the FCC is warranted.

Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL)

High Cost, Service Providers

An order issued by the FCC advising a party that it has violated an FCC rule or procedure and proposing a penalty. The party has an opportunity to file a response, which the FCC will evaluate.

North American Numbering Plan (NANP)

Service Providers

The integrated telephone numbering plan serving 20 North American countries. Information collected on the FCC Form 499-A is also used to calculate contributions to the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA).

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

High Cost, Service Providers

Part of the Department of Commerce, the NTIA sets federal telecommunications policy and provides telecommunications grants to various entities. It differs from the FCC in two key respects: 1) the FCC is an independent agency, while the NTIA falls under the executive branch; and 2) the NTIA has jurisdiction over federal government communications, while state and local government communications are within the purview of the FCC.

About

Programs

Companies

Legal