Program Integrity

Both USAC and service providers have important roles to play in safeguarding the integrity of universal service program activities. To make sure that universal service funds go to the right people in the right amounts for the right purposes, everyone involved in making and receiving disbursements has important responsibilities to fulfill. USAC must take in, process, and evaluate information received from program participants in an accurate, timely fashion. Service providers must provide USAC with full, correct information and handle payments in accordance with program rules.

As is the case with any administrative decision, parties affected by decisions made by USAC on billing, collection, or disbursement matters can seek an appeal of those decisions from the USAC program responsible for the support in question, or directly with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). USAC, for its part, operates the Beneficiary and Contributor Audit Program (BCAP) and the Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) Program.

To learn more about appeals, BCAP audits, and PQA assessments in specific program areas, select from the links below.

• Schools and Libraries
• Rural Health Care
• High Cost
• Lifeline
• Contributors