Looking Ahead to the New Administration -
With the election behind us, this month we will preview some of the possible changes Universal Service could see in the Biden administration. First, and most significantly, we...more
Recent News -
Contributions -
On October 9, 2020, the FCC released an Order (FCC-20-142) further addressing the treatment of private line revenues under the USF program. The FCC affirmed the 2017 Private Line Order, in...more
Recent News -
General -
On September 14, 2020, the FCC’s Office of Managing Director (OMD) issued a Public Notice (DA 20-1075) announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the fourth quarter...more
Commentary -
As we were finalizing this month’s Tracker, USAC held its quarterly board meeting for July. This is the second quarterly board meeting to be held since the COVID-19 restrictions were implemented and USAC...more
Please be reminded of the upcoming due dates for the Reports listed below:
Note that the below reports are due on August 1 but, because the filing date falls on a weekend, the reports will be due on the next business day...more
COMMENTARY -
On March 10, Kelley Drye held its Annual webinar on the state of the Universal Service Fund. We gave an overview of trends in the Fund, discussed the importance of creating an ethics and compliance plan ahead...more
Please be reminded of the upcoming due date for the Reports listed below:
Form 499-A Annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet -
All intrastate, interstate and international providers of telecommunications within...more
COMMENTARY -
We were tempted to title this edition “RDOF Takes Off,” as this is the biggest USF news of the month. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is the latest in the FCC’s attempts to revamp the High Cost program to...more
COMMENTARY -
Our first USF Tracker of 2020 follows an uptick in FCC activity affecting the Universal Service Fund. In the last quarter of 2019, the FCC released major orders affecting three of the four programs (E-rate,...more
Please be reminded of the upcoming due dates for the Reports listed below:
FCC Form 499-Q: Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet -
Carriers providing interstate and international telecommunications that are...more
COMMENTARY -
For this month, we want to spotlight the significant new oversight tasks assigned to USAC by the FCC. True, there is plenty under the ordinary administrative function of reviewing and approving applications...more
Please be reminded of the upcoming due dates for the Reports listed below:
Form 499-Q: Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet -
Carriers providing interstate and international telecommunications that are...more
COMMENTARY -
Now comes the hard part. We’ve noted that the FCC has been setting the table for changes to all of its beneficiary programs, while contributions reform looms. But now, the FCC needs to start deciding the...more
RECENT NEWS -
Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) -
On July 9, 2019, the FCC released an NPRM that proposes to make the Category Two budget approach permanent, and seeks comment on potential modifications that could simplify...more
Please be reminded of the upcoming due dates for the Reports listed below:
FORM 499-Q: QUARTERLY TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPORTING WORKSHEET -
Carriers providing interstate and international telecommunications that are...more
KELLEY DRYE COMMENTARY -
Much of the activity this month focused on the FCC’s controversial proposal to establish an overall cap to the Universal Service Fund. Stakeholders aligned to oppose the proposal, while...more
KELLEY DRYE COMMENTARY -
In a month with only one minor Commission-level USF item, one of the most significant things to watch may be Commissioner O’Rielly’s questioning of USAC over possible use of USF money to overbuild...more
Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) Lifeline High Cost/Connect America Fund (CAF) Rural Health Care This list covers appeals filed on or after January 1, 2016. Pending appeals filed before January 2016 are not included....more
Please be reminded of the upcoming due dates for the Reports listed below: -
Important – As of the date of this alert, the Federal Communications Commission is closed due to the federal government shutdown. However, the...more
We attended the Audit Committee meeting at USAC’s quarterly business meeting this morning. While much of the discussion concerned internal controls USAC has in place to oversee its functions, the business update portion of...more
Form 499-Q Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet -
Carriers providing interstate and international telecommunications that are required to contribute to federal universal service support mechanisms must report...more
On September 12, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission’s (Commission) Office of the Managing Director (OMD) released a Public Notice proposing a universal service fund (USF) contribution factor of 18.8% for fourth...more
In orders issued last week, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) continues what appears to be a trend of resolving long-pending universal service fund (USF) contribution issues. The Orders, released May 23,...more
By an Order issued late last week, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) provided important insight regarding determining the jurisdictional classification of private line revenues. In ruling on long-pending petitions for...more
Form 499-A Annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet -
All intrastate, interstate and international providers of telecommunications within the United States, including, but not limited to, VoIP providers,...more