USAC Launches its Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) Program

In August 2010, USAC rolled out its Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) Program. The PQA Program enables USAC to provide accurate, timely information about improper payments to the FCC, as required by the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (IPIA). Under this program, USAC assesses specific payments made to beneficiaries in all four USF programs (Schools and Libraries, High Cost, Low Income, and Rural Health Care)  to determine if these payments were made in accordance with program rules. Using results of these assessments, USAC calculates estimates of improper payment rates across entire USF programs and provides this information to the FCC.

For more information about the PQA Program and to obtain specific PQA document requirements, please click here. For a list of FAQs that provide information about the program, what to do if you are selected, and how/when to submit documents, click here.

The FCC released the attached order, DA 10-752, on April 30, 2010, ruling on the US TelePacific case.

DA-10-752A1

The FCC released a Public Notice announcing USAC must issue all payments electronically beginning August 31, 2010, so update your Form 498 today!

On June 2, 2010 the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau announced that all federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support payments must be made by electronic funds transfer starting August 31 (See Public Notice DA 10-270).  Beginning August 31, USAC will withhold support payments to any entity that has not provided electronic banking information. 

Service providers that do not have electronic banking information on file for one or more of the support mechanisms in which they participate will not receive payments for those mechanisms. To avoid non-payment, service providers must update their banking information in advance of the August 31 date. USAC encourages all service providers to update their Form 498 information using USAC's E-File System.

For assistance E-filing your FCC Form 498, please view USAC's online video tutorials.

If you have any questions, please contact USAC Customer Operations at (888) 641-8722 or customersupport@usac.org.

RHC Funding Year 2009 ends on June 30, 2010

Health Care Providers who submitted a Form 465 for Funding Year 2009 must submit the Forms 466 and/or 466-A by June 30, 2010.

Evergreen contracts: If you did not submit a Form 465 to enable e-certification, you must mail a paper Form 466 or 466-A by June 30, 2010.

Forms may be e-certified until 11:59pm EDT on June 30th on https://forms.usac.org.

All forms submitted by mail must be postmarked on or before June 30th. Mail to:

Rural Health Care Program
30 Lanidex Plaza West, P.O. Box 685
Parsippany, NJ 07054-0685

Incomplete applications will not be processed.

For assistance, contact the RHC Help Desk at RHC-admin@usac.org or 1-800-229-5476.

FCC Announces Mandatory Electronic Disbursement of USF Support Payments

The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau announced September 28 that all federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support payments must be made by electronic funds transfer (See Public Notice DA 09-2126).

The notice states that recipients of USF support payments shall provide their financial institution information and other relevant information on FCC Form 498, which is being updated to reflect these requirements.  USAC encourages all service providers to update their Form 498 information using USAC's E-File System. Once the updated 498 form is processed, all following support payments will be made electronically.

The Wireline Competition Bureau will issue a further public notice announcing the effective date of the electronic payment requirement. After the effective date, USAC will not make USF support payments to any entity that has not provided financial institution information sufficient to enable payment through electronic funds transfer.

Please note: Service providers in the Schools and Libraries Program that currently use the Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR Form 472) form will continue to receive check payments even if they provide electronic banking information until further notice.

If you have any questions, please contact USAC at (888) 641-8722 or customerservice@bcd.universalservice.org.