About USAC

Board of Directors

The business affairs of USAC are managed under the direction of a 19-member Board of Directors. The Board members represent the diverse interest groups that are interested in and affected by the Universal Service Fund. USAC's Board does not make policy or interpret statutes or rules or the intent of Congress, the FCC, or any state or federal agency. Board members do not receive compensation for service on the Board, but are entitled to reimbursement for expenses directly incurred as a result of participation on the USAC Board.

All meetings of USAC's Board are open to the public and are held in Washington, D.C.

Board Composition
USAC's board of directors consists of 19 directors representing the telecommunications and information services industry, state telecommunications regulators, state consumer advocates, low-income consumers, the education and library community, and the USAC CEO.

3 directors represent incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) made up from the following:

  • one for Bell Operating Companies (BOCs),
  • one for ILECs other than BOCs with annual operating revenues over $40 million, and
  • one for ILECs other than BOCs with annual operating revenues less than $40 million.

2 directors represent interexchange carriers (IXCs) (i.e., long distance companies) made up from the following:

  • one for IXCs with over $3 billion in annual operating revenues, and
  • one for IXCs with less than $3 billion in annual operating revenues.

3 directors represent schools that are eligible to receive discounts.

1 director represents libraries that are eligible to receive discounts.

2 directors represent rural health care providers that are eligible to receive discounts.

7 directors, each representing one the following:

  • wireless providers
  • competitive local exchange carriers
  • cable operators
  • information service providers
  • low-income consumers
  • state telecommunications regulators
  • state consumer advocates.

USAC's chief executive officer is also a Board member.

Selection Process for the Board of Directors
USAC's Board members, excluding the CEO, are appointed for three-year terms. Board members may be reappointed for subsequent terms pursuant to the initial nomination and appointment process described below. If a Board member vacates a seat prior to the completion of the term, USAC must notify the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau and a successor will be chosen pursuant to the nomination and appointment process.

Sixty days before the expiration of a Board member's term, the industry or non-industry group that is represented by that member nominates, by consensus, a new candidate. The industry or non-industry group submits the name of its nominee, along with relevant professional and biographical information, to the Chairman of the FCC. Only members of the industry or non-industry group that a Board member will represent may submit a nomination for that position.

The Chairman of the FCC reviews the nominations submitted by industry and non-industry groups and selects each member of USAC's Board. If an industry or non-industry group does not reach consensus on a nominee or fails to submit a nomination for a position on the Board, the Chairman of the FCC can select the representative for the group.


Last modified on 11/6/2007