November 7, 2024
Service Provider Payment System Unavailable 11/16/2024
Service providers will not be able to make payments using E-File on Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. due to maintenance on the Pay.gov system. We apologize for any inconvenience.
October 31, 2024
Service Provider Payment System Unavailable 11/2/2024
Service providers will not be able to make payments using E-File on Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 6 p.m. until midnight due to maintenance on the Pay.gov system. We apologize for any inconvenience.
October 23, 2024
FCC Releases the 2025 FCC Forms 499
On October 22,2024, the FCC released the 2025 FCC Form 499-A and 499-Q along with their accompanying instructions. You can view the public notice on their website.
With this publication, the de minimis threshold for calendar year 2025 will be $39,062 of combined interstate and international telecommunications revenue.
To learn more about the de minimis threshold, please visit our webpage.
October 17, 2024
Payments System Update – Notice for Disbursement Recipients
On October 1, USAC launched a payment system update that will better serve Universal Service Fund (USF) contributors and stakeholders.
While USF program participants who receive disbursements from USAC will not experience significant process changes following this update, we wanted to make you aware of an unintended outcome that we are working to resolve.
Itemized ACH Payments
Previously, when disbursement recipients received electronic payments, USAC aggregated payments for all invoices attached to a single 498 ID and sent a single, aggregated payment. Recipients’ remittance statements have always included itemized details for the payment.
Unfortunately, after the recent update, recipients are currently receiving individual payments for each invoice line. This means that some recipients may receive multiple itemized payments instead of a single aggregated payment. Please note that the total payment amount has not been affected.
USAC is currently working to revert this change and expects to be sending aggregated payments no later than October 25th.
In the future, you will be able to choose whether you’d like to receive itemized or aggregated payments.
For more information on disbursements and remittance statements, please visit our disbursement webpage. If you have questions or encounter differences other than we have noted above, please do not hesitate to reach out to the appropriate program Customer Service Center.
October 3, 2024
FCC Outlines Relief for Service Providers impacted by Hurricane Helene
On October 1, 2024, the FCC released Order DA 24-1025 relating to Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Helene and Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene which struck Florida’s Gulf Coast on September 26, 2024, as a Category 4 storm, and caused widespread damage in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The Order, amongst other things:
- Extends the 45-day revision deadline for FCC Form 499-Q filings made on August 1, 2024, by contributors serving the Affected Disaster Areas, permitting USAC to accept revisions to these filings until January 2, 2025;
- Waives §§54.713(b)-(c) of the Commission’s rules for providers located in the Affected Disaster Areas, directing USAC to refrain from assessing late fees on FCC Form 499-Q filings made by these providers after the upcoming November 1 filing deadline until January 2, 2025;
- Directs USAC to refrain from assessing interest and penalties incurred by affected contributors until after January 2, 2025;
- Waives the Red-Light rule until January 2, 2025, for Contributors in the Affected Disaster Area; and
- Orders USAC not to transfer any debt to treasury for Contributors in the Affected Disaster Area until January 2, 2025.
