About High Cost:

• Overview of the Program
• Overview of the Process
• USAC FCC Filings
•  
• HCLI Training Events
• Individual Outreach
• Video Tutorials
•  
• Filing Appeals
• Red Light Status (FCC site)
• Requesting Confidential Information
• Understanding Audits
• Understanding Disaggregation

High Cost Tools:

• Required Forms
• Filing Requirements and Deadlines
• Form 525 Online
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• Wire Center – UNE Zone Mapping
• IAS Maps
• HCM CLLI Tool
• Disaggregation Maps
• Disaggregation Checklist
•  
• Disbursement Data Search
• Certification Search
•  
• Latest News
• Submitting A Complaint
• Program Compliance - Whistleblower Hotline

Step 5: File Line Count Data

All eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) are required to submit line count data needed for USAC to calculate support amounts for both incumbent carriers and competitive carriers.

Competitive ETCs (CETCs) file line count data with USAC quarterly as indicated in the table below.

Component	Line Counts Due	For Period Covering
HCL SNA SVS LSS HCM ICLS	March 30	Quarterly line counts as of September 30 of the previous year
	July 31	Quarterly line counts as of December 31 of the previous year
	September 30	Quarterly line counts as of March 31 of the same year
	December 30	Quarterly line counts as of June 30 of the same year
IAS Due on last business day	March	Quarterly line counts as of December 31 of the previous year
	June	Quarterly line counts as of March 31 of the same year
	September	Quarterly line counts as of June 30 of the same year
	December	Quarterly line counts as of September 30 of the same year

 

Submitting Line Counts
Line count information for rural carriers
With the exception of Interstate Access Support (IAS), CETCs serving in rural incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) areas must submit line count information at the ILEC study area level or consistent with the ILEC's Disaggregation Plan adopted pursuant to the FCC's Rural Task Force Order.

Line count information for non-rural carriers
CETCs serving in non-rural ILEC areas are required to submit updated line count data at the wire center level on a quarterly basis. High Cost Model support is calculated and distributed at the wire center level.

Line count information for competitive carriers
Competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (CETCs) must file line count data in the same manner as the ILEC in whose service area the CETC competes.

IAS line count information
A carrier must file the number of lines served within each price-cap local exchange carrier study area in which it serves. The line counts must be submitted at the unbundled network element (UNE) zone level if UNE zones have been established within the study area. Residential/single-line business and multi-line business line counts must be shown separately.

ICLS line count information
CETCs must file line count information for each ILEC study area by customer class (residential/single-line business and multi-line business) on a quarterly basis. CETCs must file line counts as of September 30 of the preceding year on March 30, as of March 31 of the present year on September 30, as of June 30 of the present year on December 30, and as of December 31 on July 31.

Line Count Forms
For submissions to USAC, use the High Cost Filing Requirements and Deadlines Tool. Competitive carriers must use the Competitive Carrier Line Count Report (Form 525). The Part 54 data filings can be sent by mail, email, or fax to:

Universal Service Administrative Company
Customer Operations
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036

 

Toll-Free:  (877) 877-4925
Fax:  (866) 873-4666
E-Mail:  hcfilings@hcli.universalservice.org

Common Form 525 Issues

File Form 525 Online

Line Count Documentation

In FCC Report and Order 07-150, the Commission clarified document retention requirements for High Cost beneficiaries, requiring "recipients of universal service support for high-cost providers [and their agents] to retain all records that they may require to demonstrate to auditors that the support they received was consistent with the Act and the Commission's rules, assuming that the audits are conducted within five years of disbursement of such support.  These records should include without limitation the following:  data supporting line count filings; historical customer records; fixed asset property accounting records; general ledgers; invoice copies for the purchase and maintenance of equipment; maintenance contracts for the upgrade or equipment; and any other relevant documentation. 

"Beneficiaries must make available all such documents and records that pertain to them, including those of NECA, contractors, and consultants working on behalf of the beneficiaries to the Commission's OIG, to the USF Administrator, and to their auditors." 

Please note that "to the extent other rules or any other law require or necessitate documents be kept for longer periods of time (e.g., to support the account balances in the Part 32 Uniform System of Accounts, continuing property records, pole attachment calculations, plant equipment age, cost, or useful life, depreciation rates)," the Commission "[did] not alter, amend, or supplant such rule or law.  High cost program recipients must keep documents for such longer periods of time as required or necessary under such other rules or law and make such documents available to the Commission and USAC." 

This Report and Order became effective 30 days after it was published in the Federal Register, January 31, 2008, pp. 5843-5.