Getting Started

Contributions to the universal service fund are calculated using certain interstate and international revenues reported on the FCC Form 499-A (Annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) and FCC Form 499-Q (Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet). All intrastate, interstate, and international providers of telecommunications within the United States, with very limited exceptions, must file the FCC Form 499-A. The FCC Form 499-Q is used to project revenue quarterly and the FCC Form 499-A is used to report actual annual revenue.

Contributors receive an invoice each month from USAC containing information about their USF contribution obligation. The invoice is due by the 15th of the month, and should be paid on time to avoid late payment fee – any questions or disputes should be address after the invoice is paid in full.

USAC's Role

USAC’s responsibility is to administer the universal service fund, which is the money collected from telecommunications companies and dedicated to promoting availability of telecommunications services at just, reasonable rates. USAC allocates money from the USF to fund the four universal service programs–High Cost, Lifeline, Rural Health Care, and Schools and Libraries. Entities eligible for support from these four programs submit information to USAC for processing and evaluation, leading to disbursement of USF support to those who are approved for funding.

Find Out More

Whether you are a contributor, a de minimis company, or are unsure of your status, to get started, check out the online resources we have made available to you.

You may find our Glossary of Acronyms and Terms helpful to explain some of the confusing acronyms we use on a regular basis. We have also provided a helpful Revenue Reporting Schedule that you can reference. Lastly, we have developed an FAQs page to provide answers to some commonly asked questions.