9/21/2012 – FCC Issues Limited Waiver for 54.313 Reporting Requirements
On September 17, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released Order DA 12-1503, granting a limited waiver of the deadlines for new reporting rules established in the USF/ICC Transformation Order.

ETCs that failed to file by the July 2, 2012, deadline, or that made deficient filings, must file their report with USAC, the Commission, and the relevant state commission on or before October 17, 2012, or the company will lose federal high-cost support for the coming year, per the terms of 47 C.F.R. Section 54.313(j).

Additionally, for those states where any ETCs file under this limited waiver, the deadline of October 1, 2012, as required in Section 54.314(d)(1), is also waived. Under these limited circumstances, those states must file a certification pursuant to Section 54.314(a) on or before November 16, 2012.

Please contact the High Cost Program with any questions or to confirm if your company needs to file.

9/5/2012 – Certification Sample Letters for 54.314
On or before October 1, 2012, all carriers must submit Section 54.314 compliance "use" certifications. State commissions can file certifications or companies can self-certify.

Sample certification letters can be found on the High Cost Forms page:

• 54.314(b) Self-Certification Sample Letter
• 54.314(a) State Certification Sample Letter

Note: These sample letters were updated on 9/12/12 to reflect the accurate "preceding calendar year." 

8/24/2012 – Upcoming Deadlines

• October 1, 2012 – Section 54.314: State and Self Use certifications
• July 1, 2013 – All carriers file Section 54.313 requirements
• July 1, 2013 – Rate Floor Data
• October 1, 2013 – Section 54.314: State and Self Use certifications.

For more information, please see FCC 12-52.

Click below for the Rate Floor Form:
Rate Floor Form
Rate Floor Form

6/15/2012 – Connect America Fund ICC Data Filing Information
On May 25, 2012, USAC High Cost posted a list of upcoming deadlines for the Connect America Fund. Connect America Fund ICC data are due July 2, 2012 since June 30 falls on a Saturday this year.

Carriers filing Connect America Fund ICC data directly with USAC are advised that the necessary forms (linked below) appear in the Appendix of FCC 12-575.
 
Price Cap Short Form TRP 
Price Cap Long Form TRP
Rate of Return Form TRP
 
Please email HC Info with any questions, and submit your filings to HC Filings.

5/31/2012 – Rate Floor Form and Certification
On May 14, 2012, the FCC released the Third Order on Reconsideration (FCC 12-52), clarifying certain aspects of the USF/ICC Transformation Order to various petitions for reconsideration and/or clarification. In this Order, the FCC changed the Rate Floor data submission date from April 1, 2012, to July 1, 2012, and the sampling date from January 1, 2012, to June 1, 2012. In addition, the FCC received Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval from the Office of Management and Budget for the Rate Floor data form.

For more information, please reference the Third Order on Reconsideration (FCC 12-52).

Click below for the Rate Floor Form:
Rate Floor Form
Rate Floor Form

Please email HC Info with any questions, and submit your filings to HC Filings.

5/30/2012 – Announcing Lifeline Program Training, presented by the FCC and USAC—Register Today!
Join USAC and the FCC on June 19, 2012, at a training focused on the changes to the Lifeline Program. Register early! This session is limited to 100 participants. Visit the Lifeline Trainings and Outreach page for more information and to register.

5/25/2012 – Upcoming Deadlines
Click here to see upcoming deadlines for the Connect America Fund and Legacy High Cost.

4/13/2012 – New Website Launched
This week, USAC launched its new website, designed to make it easier to find and understand online information and tools for participating in universal service programs. For beneficiaries, contributors, and service providers who rely on USAC’s website for news, program requirements, and resources, all the same content and tools remain available. USAC has streamlined and multiplied the pathways for people to find what they need, clarified language, and de-cluttered the look and feel of the pages. These changes should serve particularly well the needs of newcomers to universal service, trying to make a successful start with contributions or participation in any of the four programs.

Email USAC with any comments or questions. Brief tutorials are available to help users get oriented to the new website.

3/29/2012 – USAC Issues Reminders for April 1, 2012 Filing Requirements
Based on the compliance requirements (formerly found in Section 54.209 and now in Section 54.313) as discussed in the FCC CAF Clarification Order (DA-12-147), USAC issues these reminders to telecommunications carriers as to April 1, 2012 filing requirements. 

3/23/2012 – Updated: Frozen High Cost Support for Price Caps (and Rate-of-Return Affiliates) and CETCs

On November 18, 2011, the FCC released the "Connect America Fund" Order & FNPRM (FCC 11-161), reforming the Universal Service Fund. High Cost support for price cap (and rate-of-return affiliates) and competitive eligible telecommunications carriers was frozen effective January 1, 2012, based on the January 31, 2012 view of their 2011 support.

For more information, please reference the Connect America Fund Order at paragraph 133 for price cap carriers (also Part 54.312(a)) and paragraphs 515 and 519 for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (also Part 54.307(e)).

Update: on February 27, 2012, the FCC issued DA 12-298, which included clarification of High Cost support for Verizon Wireless.

High Cost Frozen Support DA 12-298 
High Cost Frozen Support DA 12-298 

Please note Alaska Non-Remote areas that would have been flagged as AK (State Code 61) are now under state AN (Alaska Non-Remote) with a state code of 98.

2/29/2012 – Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) Receiving IAS Must File Quarterly Line Counts

The next line count filing is due no later than the last business day of the quarter, March 30, 2012, for the number of lines served as of December 31, 2011. Lines must be reported by UNE zone and customer class. (Residential and single line business lines are reported separately from multi-line business lines.)

1Q12_IAS.pdf

2/15/2012 – Frozen High Cost Support for Price Caps (and Rate-of-Return Affiliates) and CETCs

On November 18, 2011, the FCC released the "Connect America Fund" Order & FNPRM (FCC 11-161), reforming the Universal Service Fund. High Cost support for price cap (and rate-of-return affiliates) and competitive eligible telecommunications carriers was frozen effective January 1, 2012, based on the January 31, 2012 view of their 2011 support.

For more information, please reference the Connect America Fund Order at paragraph 133 for price cap carriers (also Part 54.312(a)) and paragraphs 515 and 519 for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (also Part 54.307(e)).

High Cost Frozen Support, February 15, 2012 (PDF)
High Cost Frozen Support, February 15, 2012 (XLS)

Please note Alaska Non-Remote areas that would have been flagged as AK (State Code 61) are now under state AN (Alaska Non-Remote) with a state code of 98.