Fund Administration
About Fund Administration:
- Fund Adminstration Overview
- Purpose of the Universal Service Fund
- How the Universal Service Fund Works
- Universal Service Fund Program Integrity
- Understanding Audits
Fund Administration Tools:
Who Must File
FCC Form 499A (Due April 1)
All intrastate, interstate and international providers of telecommunications within the United States, with very limited exceptions, must file the FCC Form 499-A Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet (See "Instructions to the Telecommunications Worksheet,Form 499-A" for further explanations).
The Form 499-A is used to "true up" universal service billings. The data from the form is also shared with the administrators of the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), the Local Number Portability fund (LNP), the North American Numbering Plan Administrator fund (NANPA), and the FCC for assessment of other fees and obligations.
FCC Form 499Q (Due February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1)
All telecommunications providers that are non-de minimis and required to directly contribute to universal service must file the four Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheets (Form 499-Q). (See “Instructions to the Telecommunications Worksheet, Form 499-Q” for further explanations).
The Form 499-Q is used to assess monthly universal service contribution obligations for the upcoming quarter.
Telecommunications
For purposes of determining whether an entity provides telecommunications, please note that the term "telecommunications" means 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. For the purpose of filing, the term "interstate telecommunications" includes, but is not limited to, the following types of services: wireless telephony, including cellular and personal communications services (PCS); paging and messaging services; dispatch services; mobile radio services; operator services; access to interexchange service; special access; wide area telecommunications services (WATS); subscriber toll-free services; 900 services; message telephone services (MTS); private line; telex; telegraph; video services; satellite services; resale services; frame relay and ATM services; and interconnected VoIP services. Note, for example, that all incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers provide access services and, therefore, provide interstate telecommunications. There are no exemptions for data or non-voice services.
Interconnected Voice-over-Internet Protocol Providers
The FCC extended universal service obligations to providers of interconnected VoIP service in an order released June 27, 2006 (FCC 06-94). The Commission defines “interconnected VoIP service” as ”a service that: (1) Enables real-time, two-way voice communications; (2) Requires a broadband connection from the user’s location; (3) Requires Internet protocol-compatible customer premises equipment (CPE); and (4) Permits users generally to receive calls from the public switched telephone network and to terminate calls to the public switched telephone network.” The obligations established by the FCC apply to all VoIP communications made using an interconnected VoIP service, even those that do not involve the PSTN and regardless of how the interconnected VoIP provider facilitates access to and from the PSTN, whether directly or by making arrangements with a third party. The Commission has not yet classified interconnected VoIP services as “telecommunications services” or “information services,” as those terms are defined in the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (47 U.S.C. §§ 151 et seq.).
Audio Bridging Services
On June 30, 2008, the FCC released the InterCall Order (FCC-08-160), determining that InterCall, Inc., and all stand-alone audio bridging service providers and integrated teleconferencing service providers, must contribute directly to the USF based on their interstate and international end user revenues derived from providing audio bridging services. These entities must begin filing their FCC Forms 499-Q as of the August 1, 2008 filing deadline as outlined in the order. (See the FCC Public Notice DA-08-1689).
New Filers
If a company is new to the Form 499, it is required to file all prior periods of revenue that have not yet been reported to be compliant with FCC rules. It is not appropriate to only file the most current Form 499 if your company has generated revenue in prior periods.
Estimates
In the absence of any form filing, USAC will estimate revenue for the period in question.
If you have any questions, please contact USAC Customer Service Bureau at (888) 641-8722 or Form499@universalservice.org.
