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.

Update your Form 498 with electronic banking information to ensure continued timely USF disbursements!

REMINDER! Beginning August 31, USAC will withhold support payments to any entity that has not provided electronic banking information. If your company does not have electronic banking information on its FCC Form 498 for each of the programs in which it participates, you may not receive your USF disbursements! Banking information must be received in advance of August 31^st, so make Form 498 updates using USAC's E-File System right away!

Note: E-File updates your information immediately, while paper forms take longer to process.  Forms mailed too close to August 31st may not be processed by the deadline. USAC suggests using E-File.

USAC encourages all applicants to verify with their Service Providers that the necessary information has been provided to USAC to ensure prompt payment. USAC also encourages Service Providers who have provided banking information in the past to log onto E-file regularly to confirm that information is accurate and up to date.

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). If you have any questions, or need help logging in to E-File, please contact USAC Customer Operations at (888) 641-8722 or customersupport@usac.org.

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.

The Contribution Factor for the 3rd Quarter of 2010 will be 13.6%

Public Notice On June 10, 2010: The Federal Communications Commission released the attached Public Notice announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the Third Quarter (July-September) Quarter will decrease to 0.136 or 13.6 percent. (Dkt. No. CC 96-45:DA10-1055 ).

New Form 499-Q Interface Launched

USAC is pleased to announce the launch of a new, user-friendly online version of the Form 499-Q, the quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet. The online form, available through the E-File System, is now a Web form rather than a fill-able PDF. Note: none of the information has changed from the paper version of the form.

The new online Form 499-Q web form allows filers improvements such as a roomier layout and drop-down options for various fields.  Upon completion of data entry, the form preview, which looks exactly like the OMB-approved paper form, allows you to review the data entered in the web form before you submit and certify. From the form preview window, you can go back and edit data in the web form or you can click the submit or certify buttons.

Although no other form changes have been made at this time, USAC looks forward to using this new format with the Form 499-A and Form 498 in the future. The format allows for more flexibility in user feedback during data entry and validation before form submission or certification. Call USAC Customer Operations at 888-641-8722 or email customersupport@usac.org for help.

The FCC released the attached Public Notice On March 12, 2010

The Federal Communications Commission released the attached Public Notice announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the Second Quarter of 2010 (April-June) will increase to 0.153 or 15.3 percent. (Dkt. No. CC 96-45: DA 10-427).

USAC to Issue Schools & Libraries BEAR Payments Electronically in 2010

The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau announced that all federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support payments must be made by electronic funds transfer (See Public Notice DA 09-2126, released September 28, 2009). Currently, USAC still issues Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) payments by check.

Beginning in 2010, USAC will issue BEAR payments electronically where there is banking information provided in Block 11 (Schools and Libraries Remittance Information) on the Service Provider's FCC Form 498.  When a BEAR payment is issued electronically, an e-mail will be sent to the remittance contact in Block 11 of the Service Provider's FCC Form 498 to inform them of the payment. Remittance statements, which precede BEAR payments by approximately 2 weeks, will continue to be sent by either e-mail or hardcopy as requested on the Service Provider's FCC Form 498. 

For now, USAC continues to issue checks for both Service Provider Invoice (SPI) FCC Form 474 and Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) FCC Form 472 payments to companies who have not provided electronic banking information.  However, USAC reminds all Service Providers that the FCC's Public Notice indicates that, at some future date, payments will be held in the absence of electronic banking information.  Again, USAC will provide more details once the FCC sets that specific date.

All newly filed Forms 498 now require Service Providers to provide electronic banking information to USAC.  USAC encourages all service providers to update their Form 498 information using USAC's E-File System.

If you have any questions, please contact USAC Customer Operations at (888) 641-8722 or customerservice@bcd.universalservice.org. You may also visit us at www.usac.org.

The FCC released the attached Public Notice announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor

Public Notice On December 11, 2009: The Federal Communications Commission released the attached Public Notice announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the First Quarter will increase to 0.141 or 14.1 percent. (Dkt. No. CC 96-45: DA 09-2588).

• DA-09-2588

FCC Releases Revised 2009 FCC Form 498 and Instructions

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a revised FCC Form 498 and instructions November 5. This form replaces the current FCC Form 498. Major changes include that only a company officer can certify new or revised Forms 498, all service providers must provide electronic banking (ACH) information to receive USF payments, and all service providers must provide their Dunn & Bradstreet number. Information about the updated form can be found on the Obtain a SPIN page.

USAC Address Change for USF Contributor Invoice Payments

Effective October 22, 2009, the addresses for companies to send Universal Service Fund (USF) contributor invoice payments have changed. The Collections Payment Instructions page has the new addresses.

PLEASE NOTE: This is only an address change for check payments and all information pertaining to ACH and Wire payments are unchanged. 

Payments made via the previous address will be accepted and forwarded for at least 30 days, but extra delays to application of payments to your USAC balance should be expected. USAC will not offer any credits for any late payment fees incurred for continued use of the previous address. 

Contact USAC Customer Support at 888-641-8722 if you have any questions or need help.

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.

The FCC announces the contribution factor for the fourth quarter of 2009 (October-December) will decrease to 12.3 percent.

Public Notice On September 14, 2009: The Federal Communications Commission released the attached Public Notice announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the second quarter will decrease to 0.123 or 12.3 percent. (Dkt. No. CC 96-45: DA 09-2042).

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2042A1.pdf

The FCC annouces the contribution factor for the third quarter of 2009 (July-September) will increase to 12.9 percent.

Public Notice: On June 12,2009 the Federal Communications Comission released the attached Public Notice announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the second quarter will increase to 0.129 or 12.9 percent. (Dkt. No. CC 96-45: DA 09-1322).

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1322A1.pdf

USAC Website Scheduled Outage - Saturday, June 13 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

USAC's website [ www.usac.org | www.universalservice.org | www.lifelinesupport.org ] will be unavailable Saturday, June 13th from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. due to scheduled maintenance.