FCC Appoints Eight USAC Board Members: USAC Board Appoints Board Members to Committees (12/18/01)

Michael Powell, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has appointed eight individuals to the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). USAC administers the Universal Service Fund (USF), which provides communities across the country with access to affordable telecommunications services. USAC is a private, not-for-profit company directed by the FCC to administer the USF. USAC administers the four universal service programs (the High Cost Program, Low Income Program, Rural Health Care Program, and Schools and Libraries Program).

The appointments are a result of a FCC public notice soliciting nominations to fill the vacancies that would be created when the terms of six current members expire on December 31, 2001, and to fill two vacant positions on the board. The USAC Board represents the diverse stakeholders that participate in the universal service programs. The terms are staggered and six expire each year.

The eight nominees appointed by the Chairman of the FCC, the stakeholder group represented, and the USAC Board Committee assignments are:

(1) Anne Bryant, Executive Director, National School Board Association - Schools that are eligible to receive support (re-appointed) - Schools and Libraries Committee
(2) Anne Leslie Campbell, Director, National City Public Library - Libraries that are eligible to receive support - Schools and Libraries Committee
(3) James R. Coltharp, Senior Director of Public Policy, Comcast Corporation - Cable operators - Schools and Libraries Committee
(4) Diane Cornell, Vice President for Regulatory Policy, Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association - Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers - High Cost and Low Income Committee
(5) Daniel Gonzalez, Vice President, External and Regulatory Affairs, XO Communications - Competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) - High Cost and Low Income Committee
(6) Billy Jack Gregg, Director, Consumer Advocate Division, West Virginia Public Service Commission - Consumer advocates - High Cost and Low Income Committee and Rural Health Care Committee
(7) Frank Gumper, Public Policy Consultant, Verizon Communications - Bell Operating Companies (re-appointed) - High Cost and Low Income Committee
(8) Camie J. Swanson-Hull, Commissioner, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission - State utility regulators - High Cost and Low Income Committee and Rural Health Care Committee

The new Board members will be welcomed at the January 2002 USAC Board meeting.

Billing & Disbursement Contact Center Holiday Announcement

To enable our employees to enjoy the holiday season with their families and friends, the B&D Contact Center will be closed Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25, resuming normal operations on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 at 9:30 a.m., EST.

The B&D Contact Center will also be closed Monday, December 31, 2001 and Tuesday, January 1, 2002, resuming normal operations on Wednesday, January 2, 2002 at 9:30 a.m., EST.

You can leave questions on our voice mail system when the Contact Center is closed. We will return your call promptly when we are back in the office. Happy Holidays!

Please Include Filer Information with Payment

Please remember that when paying by check for a single filer 499 ID, you should return the top portion of your billing statement with your payment. When paying by ACH or wire for a single filer 499 ID, you should include your filer 499 ID with the ACH or wire. When paying by check, wire or ACH for multiple filer 499 IDs, you should complete and return the payment table on the back of your billing statement or the enclosed Payment Identification Worksheet. (Additional worksheets may be downloaded from the USAC web site in the Forms Section.)

Please also note that all payments should be sent to 135 S. LaSalle, Department 1259, Chicago, IL, 60674-1259. Electronic payments should be submitted to LaSalle Bank in CCD+ format to ABA #071000505, account #5590045653. Payments sent to other addresses will be returned.

Contributors who do not follow these procedures will be responsible for any resulting late payment fees.

Billing & Disbursement Contact Center Holiday Announcement (11/16/01)

The Billing & Disbursement Contact Center (888-641-8722) will be closed on Thursday, November 22nd and Friday, Novemeber 23rd. The Contact Center will resume normal operations on Monday, November 25th at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Happy Thanksgiving!

USAC Billing Helpdesk

Please review the following information if you have questions about your USAC billing statement.

The Billing Cheat Sheet explains how to read your USAC bill.

The Sample Calculation will explain how your USAC bill was calculated.

The Billing FAQs are also on the reverse side of your USAC bill.

Mellon Bank Forwarding Discontinued

Starting November 1, 2001, our former lockbox at Mellon Bank will no longer be forwarding information to our current bank. Please be certain that all checks are sent to LaSalle Bank at this address:

Universal Service Administrative Company
135 S. LaSalle
Department 1259
Chicago, Illinois 60674-1259

Please do not send correspondence or other materials to this address. Please overnight payments to:

Universal Service Administrative Company
Department 1259
200 W. Monroe
Suite 200
Chicago, Illinois 60606
312-904-4200

Please send all ACH transfers to:

ABA: 071000505
Account #: 5590045653

Please return a Payment ID Form to the Billing and Disbursement Center for all ACH payments.

FCC Announces Quarterly Contribution Factor

October marked the beginning of a new USAC billing quarter. USAC will be using a new set of 499Q revenue data and a new contribution factor to determine your monthly contribution.

Your total monthly contribution is determined by taking one-third of your second quarter 2001 interstate and international revenue data (Lines 116b plus 116c from the August 1 Form 499Q) multiplied by the fourth quarter FCC contribution factor, 0.069187.

(116B + 116C)/3 x .069187 = Total Monthly Contribution

For more information regarding the contribution factor, please visit the FCC web site.

Web Site Maintenance to Occur

Please be advised, due to server maintenance the Schools and Libraries and Rural Health Care sites will be inaccessible between the hours of 12 A.M. - 5 A.M. Eastern Time on October 11 and October 12.

Access to the site will be completely inaccessible and may result in a PAGE or SERVER not found error message. This maintenance will not affect the main USAC web site and other division sites. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Billing and Disbursement Newsletter

Please read the latest B&D newsletter. We hope to use the newsletter to answer frequently asked questions and to share news. View the newsletter

September Payment Deadline

Due to the disruption and cancelation of mail and air courier service throughout the United States during the week of September 10 - 14, 2001 the deadline for Universal Service Fund payments has been extended three business days from September 14, 2001 to September 19, 2001.

USAC Billing and Disbursement Updates

The USAC Billing & Disbursement Department is making changes to the USAC support mechanisms that may affect service providers over the next several months.

These changes are limited to the USAC financial operations, the billing, collection, and disbursement operations. The only visible changes that you will see relate to contact information (e.g., a new account number to route the electronic payment for your universal service obligation). All other operations will continue according to the same familiar routine that you are currently using. The new banking information is detailed below.

If you would like to send an ACH or a wire please send it to:

LaSalle ABA Number: 071000505
LaSalle Bank Account Number: 5590045653

Please also include the following information in your ACH or wire:

• Company Name
• Filer 499 ID

• Invoice Number

If you are paying for multiple Filer 499 ID's, please complete the following payment form and fax or email it to the contact numbers listed on the form.

• View the Payment Identification Form

If you would like to send a check please send it to:

Universal Service Administrative Company
135 S. LaSalle, Dept. 1259
Chicago, IL 60674-1259

If you would like to send a check overnight please address the package as follows:

Your Company Name, Dept. 1259
200 W. Monroe, Ste. 200
Chicago, IL 60606
312-904-4200

If you have questions about these changes, we encourage you to contact us via Email.

USAC Taps George McDonald to Head SLD (9/14/2001)

The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is pleased to announce that, after a nationwide search, George McDonald has been appointed USAC Vice President with overall responsibility for the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD). Mr. McDonald has been serving as acting head of that Division until the search was completed.
Read more

USAC Billing & Disbursements

The USAC Billing & Disbursement Department is making changes to the USAC support mechanisms that may affect service providers over the next several months.

These changes are limited to the USAC financial operations, the billing, collection, and disbursement operations. The only visible changes that you will see relate to contact information (e.g., a new account number to route the electronic payment for your universal service obligation). All other operations will continue according to the same familiar routine that you are currently using. The new banking information is detailed below.

If you would like to send an ACH or a wire originate it with your bank in a CCD+ format and please send it to:

LaSalle ABA Number: 071000505
LaSalle Bank Account Number: 5590045653

Please also include the following information in your ACH or wire:

Company Name
Filer 499 ID
Invoice Number

If you would like to send a check please send it to:

Universal Service Administrative Company
135 S. LaSalle, Dept. 1259
Chicago, IL 60674-1259

If you would like to send a check overnight please address the package as follows:

Universal Service Administrative Company, Dept. 1259
200 W. Monroe, Ste. 200
Chicago, IL 60606

If you have questions about these changes, we encourage you to contact us.

USAC Billing and Disbursements

The USAC Billing & Disbursement Department is making minor changes to the USAC support mechanisms that may affect service providers over the next several months.

These changes are limited to the USAC financial operations, the billing, collection, and disbursement operations. The only visible changes that you will see relate to contact information (e.g., a new account number to route the electronic payment for your universal service obligation). All other operations will continue according to the same familiar routine that you are currently using.

No action is required at this time. USAC will send additional information to you in the near future.

If you have questions about these changes, we encourage you to contact us.

2000 Annual Report Now Available

The Universal Service Administrative Company 2000 Annual Report is now available for viewing on our web site. If you have a question or comment about the 2000 Annual Report, please contact us!

View 2000 Annual Report!

New Contribution Methodology and Carrier Reporting Requirements

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently modified the Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution methodology to reduce the interval between the accrual of revenues and the assessment of universal service contributions based on those revenues. Currently, contributions to the USF are based on a carrier's interstate and international end-user revenue generated 12 months prior. The new methodology shortens the lag from 12 months to six months.

In order to administer this change, the Order modifies reporting requirements for USF contributors. Going forward, the FCC eliminated the semi-annual September 1 FCC Form 499-S. However, in addition to the annual FCC Form 499-A due each April, four quarterly FCC Form 499-Q worksheets will be filed throughout the year. Form due dates, revenue data reported and invoicing time period are summarized below:

*For subsequent years, the first quarter revenue reporting will be due on May 1.

Telecommunications providers qualifying for the USF De Minimis Exemption (using process outlined on page 5 of the Form 499-Q instructions) do not need to complete the Form 499-Q. However, for all other USF contributors, the first Form 499-Q must be submitted to USAC by Friday May 11, 2001. We advise each carrier to review the instructions prior to completing the form. The FCC has made significant changes in the format and content of customer information reported.

View 2000 Annual Report!

Job Opening

USAC is currently seeking an Assistant General Counsel, who will provide legal counsel to USAC management on issues concerning the administration of the Universal Service Support Mechanisms. This position provides a unique opportunity to do challenging, public-spirited work in a small and collegial working environment.
Click here to view job description.

Notice of Opportunity to Bid for Billing, Disbursement, and Treasury Support Services to Administrator of $5 Billion Federal Universal Service Support Mechanisms

USAC has issued a Request for Proposals to obtain financial and operational support services for administering the federally established Universal Service Support Mechanisms. USAC may choose to contract with a firm that is capable of providing financial and operational support services for the complex mechanisms for an initial term of five years beginning July 1, 2001. The services sought require mastery of the FCC program rules and development and implementation of cost effective customer service, management, processing, and analytical skills. Among many critical functions, the contractor must have sufficient resources to support the processing, analysis and individual scrutiny of no less than 20,000 payments annually that vary widely in complexity at the highest level of quality. USAC issued the Request for Proposals on December 26, 2000. Responses are due no later than February 28, 2001. If your company has sufficient resources and may be interested in submitting a proposal, or if you have any other questions concerning the RFP process, please contact D. Scott Barash, Vice President and General Counsel of USAC by telephone at (202) 776-0200.