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Announcements

Announcements

January 2, 2025
USAC Encourages Carriers to Submit and Certify Fourth Quarter Network Testing Results by Jan. 7

USAC encourages carriers to submit and certify results from network speed and latency testing conducted in the fourth quarter of 2024 at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) by Tues., Jan. 7, 2025, so that USAC can produce fourth quarter compliance reports to help carriers track their progress in meeting the requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures compliance framework.

USAC provides quarterly compliance reports to carriers that certify their test results within one week of the end of the quarter – no later than Tues., Jan. 7, 2025, for results from the fourth quarter of 2024 – to help them track their progress in meeting FCC speed and latency metrics, address any shortfalls and submit any missing data. Read the full announcement here.

December 27, 2024
Q4 Performance Measures Testing Must Be Complete by Dec. 31

USAC reminds carriers subject to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework that they must complete a week of fourth quarter network speed and latency testing at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) by Tues., Dec. 31, 2024, and encourages carriers to submit and certify the results of that testing through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) as soon as possible after testing is done.

USAC provides quarterly compliance reports to carriers that certify their test results within one week of the end of the quarter – no later than Tues., Jan. 7, 2025, for fourth quarter results – to help them track their progress in meeting FCC speed and latency metrics and address any shortfalls.

Quarterly testing mandates currently apply to carriers in the following funds (as well as ACS):

 Read the full announcement here.

December 26, 2024
Compliance Reports Now Available for 2023 and Q2, Q3 2024 Network Testing

Carriers subject to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework can now access compliance reports displaying annual results from network performance measures testing conducted in 2023 through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM). These compliance reports include details at the Study Area Code (SAC) level about the percent of upload and download speed tests and latency tests aggregated across all four quarters of 2023 that met the network performance standards established by the FCC performance measures compliance framework. Please see PMM Compliance Calculations for a detailed explanation of how the PMM calculates compliance.

Annual compliance reports for 2023 are now available in the PMM for carriers participating in the following funds (as well as ACS):

Carriers in these funds can also access compliance reports for the second and third quarters of 2024 through the PMM if they submitted and certified their second quarter test results by April 12, 2024, and their third quarter results by Oct. 7, 2024.

Note that USAC is still processing compliance reports for carriers participating in the Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS) program and will make those available as soon as possible. Read the full announcement here.

December 13, 2024
USAC Launches New CAF State Map

USAC has launched a new online map that provides a big-picture, state-level view of the impact of the Connect America Fund (CAF) on broadband expansion in rural America, as well as a new online search tool that displays details about CAF-supported broadband deployment by speed tier.

The new map and tool are the latest additions to a series of online applications that provide public access to broadband deployment and payment information for the Connect America Fund as part of USAC’s Open Data initiative, which makes data about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) available and easily accessible to the general public. 

The new Connect America Fund State Map (CAF State Map) displays total broadband deployment obligations by location count, total cumulative deployment reported so far by location count and total cumulative funding paid out to date – all on a state-by-state basis – by aggregating data for all carriers participating in the Connect America Fund in each state. Read the full announcement here.

November 14, 2024
Annual HUBB Filing Due March 3, 2025

The annual HUBB filing deadline is coming soon. Carriers participating in modernized Connect America Fund (CAF) programs with defined fixed broadband buildout obligations have until March 3, 2025, to file and certify deployment data with USAC’s High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal showing where they built out mass-market, high-speed Internet service in calendar year 2024 or certify that they have “no locations to upload.”

This includes carriers participating in the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Enhanced ACAM) program, which will be filing in the HUBB for the first time and will be reporting deployment data using the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (Fabric), a single, standardized dataset of all locations in the U.S. where fixed broadband access service is available or could be installed. (See details below).

Please join USAC at 2 p.m. ET on Thurs., Jan. 9, 2025, for a webinar overview of the HUBB reporting requirements, a walk-through of the system and an explanation of the HUBB filing process for Enhanced ACAM carriers. Register here.

Read the full announcement here.

November 4, 2024
Performance Measures System Open to Generate Random Samples

Carriers participating in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) may now log into the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) to generate random samples of subscriber locations for quarterly network speed and latency pre-testing starting in 2025 in order to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures compliance framework. USAC strongly encourages PR/USVI carriers to begin this process as soon as possible – starting by updating their broadband deployment data in the High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal to be as complete and accurate as possible – before then uploading their subscriber location data into the PMM and generating their random samples for pre-testing.

Please join USAC from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST on Thurs., Dec. 12, 2024, for a webinar overview of the new sample generation process for performance measures testing. Register here. 

Read the full announcement here.

October 29, 2024
Performance Measures System Open to Generate New Random Samples

Carriers participating in the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Original ACAM), Revised Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Revised ACAM), Rural Broadband Experiments (RBE) and Alaska Plan fundsmay now log into the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) to generate new random samples of subscriber locations for ongoing quarterly network speed and latency testing next year.

Original and Revised ACAM, RBE and Alaska Plan carriers are nearing the end of their fourth full year of network performance measures testing mandated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – and are now in their eighth and final quarter of testing with their current random samples of CAF-supported broadband locations with active subscribers – and must therefore obtain new samples for quarterly testing that starts in the first quarter of 2025. The FCC requires carriers to obtain new random samples of subscriber locations after two years of network testing.

USAC strongly encourages carriers to begin this process as soon as possible – starting by updating their broadband deployment data in the High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal to be as complete and accurate as possible and then uploading their subscriber location data into the PMM and generating new samples.

Please join USAC from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST on Thurs., Dec. 12, 2024, for a webinar overview of the new sample generation process for performance measures testing. Register here. Read the full announcement here.

October 16, 2024
USAC Encourages Carriers to Update HUBB Data to Prepare for New PMM Sample Generation

USAC encourages all carriers participating in the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Original ACAM), Revised Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Revised ACAM), Rural Broadband Experiments (RBE) and Alaska Plan programs to be sure that their broadband deployment data in the High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal – showing where they offer broadband service with Connect America Fund (CAF) support – is as up-to-date, complete and accurate as possible in order to prepare for the generation of new random samples of active subscriber locations for ongoing quarterly network speed and latency testing in 2025.

Original and Revised ACAM, RBE and Alaska Plan carriers are nearing the end of their fourth full year of network performance measures testing mandated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – and are now in their eighth and final quarter of testing with their current random samples of CAF-supported broadband locations with active subscribers – and must therefore obtain new samples for quarterly testing that starts in the first quarter of 2025. The FCC requires carriers to obtain new random samples of subscriber locations after two years of network testing.

USAC will inform Original and Revised ACAM, RBE and Alaska Plan carriers when it is ready to generate new random samples. In the meantime, carriers should update their broadband build-out data in the HUBB as soon as possible to add any new locations that they have built out but not yet submitted to the system. While carriers have until March 3, 2025, to report deployment completed in 2024 in the HUBB, USAC encourages carriers to file their 2024 deployments as soon as possible so that those locations can potentially be included in their new random samples for testing starting in the first quarter of next year.

In addition, carriers should update speed tier data for existing locations already in the HUBB by Oct. 24, 2024, if they want those network upgrades reflected in their new random samples. Carriers should also begin the process of determining which locations reported in the HUBB have active subscribers for potential inclusion in the new samples since this process can take time. Read the full announcement here.

October 16, 2024
Coming in 2025: Performance Measures Testing

Starting in 2025, carriers participating in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) must conduct quarterly network speed and latency testing at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in order to comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) performance measures testing requirements. To prepare for this process, USAC encourages RDOF carriers to be sure that their broadband deployment data in the High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal – showing where they offer broadband service with CAF support – is as up-to-date, complete and accurate as possible.

USAC will inform RDOF carriers when it is ready to generate their first random samples of CAF-supported locations with active subscribers for network testing beginning in the first quarter of 2025.

In the meantime, carriers should update their broadband build-out data in the HUBB as soon as possible to add any new locations that they have built out but not yet submitted to the system. While carriers have until March 3, 2025, to report deployment completed in 2024 in the HUBB, USAC encourages carriers to file their 2024 deployments as soon as possible so that those locations can potentially be included in their new random samples for testing starting in the first quarter of next year.

In addition, carriers should update speed tier data for existing locations already in the HUBB by the end of October if they want those network upgrades reflected in their new random samples. Carriers should also begin the process of determining which locations reported in the HUBB have active subscribers for potential inclusion in the new samples since this process can take time. Read the full announcement here.

October 2, 2024
Webinar: Avoiding Common Audit Findings

Please join USAC on Wednesday, October 30th from 1:00 PM ET to 2:00 PM ET to learn how to avoid common findings of High Cost beneficiary audits. In this session, USAC’s High Cost and Internal Audit staff will discuss common carrier errors discovered during beneficiary audits. Register Here

October 2, 2024
USAC Encourages Carriers to Submit and Certify Third Quarter Network Testing Results by Oct. 7

USAC encourages carriers to submit and certify results from network speed and latency testing conducted in the third quarter of 2024 at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) by Mon., Oct. 7, 2024, so that USAC can produce third quarter compliance reports to help carriers track their progress in meeting the requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures compliance framework.

USAC provides quarterly compliance reports to carriers that certify their test results within one week of the end of the quarter – no later than Mon., Oct. 7, 2024, for third quarter results – to help them track their progress in meeting FCC speed and latency metrics and address any shortfalls.

Quarterly testing mandates currently apply to carriers in the following funds (as well as ACS):

Carriers in all these funds, as well as ACS, were required to complete a week of third quarter network testing by Mon., Sept. 30, 2024.  (The FCC has waived performance measures testing requirements for the fourth quarter of 2024 for carriers located in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene). Read the full announcement here.

September 30, 2024
Q3 Performance Measures Testing Must Be Complete by Sept. 30

USAC reminds carriers subject to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Performance Measures testing framework that they must complete a week of third quarter network speed and latency testing at a random sample of broadband subscriber locations supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) by Mon., Sept. 30, 2024, and encourages carriers to submit and certify the results of that testing through the USAC Performance Measures Module (PMM) as soon as possible after testing is done.

USAC provides quarterly compliance reports to carriers that certify their test results within one week of the end of the quarter – no later than Mon., Oct. 7, 2024, for third quarter results – to help them track their progress in meeting FCC speed and latency metrics and address any shortfalls.

Quarterly testing mandates currently apply to carriers in the following funds (as well as ACS):

Read the full announcement here.

August 28, 2024
Annual ETC Certification Due by Oct. 1

State utility commissions and carriers that self certify must complete the annual certification of eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) receiving High Cost support by Oct. 1, 2024, to ensure continued carrier participation in the High Cost program. Failure to complete this certification, which must be submitted to both USAC and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), may result in loss of High Cost funding for carriers to provide voice and broadband service in rural communities.

The annual ETC certification, mandated under 47 CFR Section 54.314 , requires state utility commissions to certify that carriers under their jurisdiction are eligible to receive High Cost support in their states and used all support collected in the proceeding calendar year only to provide, maintain and upgrade the facilities for which the support was intended and will do the same in the coming calendar year. Carriers that self certify (ETCs not subject to state jurisdiction) must certify that they used all High Cost support collected in the proceeding calendar year only to provide, maintain and upgrade the facilities for which the support was intended and will do the same in the coming calendar year.

States may submit the annual ETC certification to USAC through the 54.314 system, which is accessible through USAC’s E-File system, or by email, fax or mail. Carriers that self certify must submit the annual ETC certification to USAC using the 54.314 system. Read the full announcement here.

August 13, 2024
Form 481 and Broadband Deployment Data Now Available to State Officials

State utility commissions may now access the most recent FCC Form 481 filings for carriers under their jurisdiction that receive High Cost support through the 54.314 certification filing system in E-File, and deployment data for broadband service supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in their states through the Connect America Fund Broadband Map, or CAF Map.

The annual Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) certification, mandated under 47 CFR Section 54.314, requires state utility commissions to certify that carriers under their jurisdiction are eligible to receive High Cost support in their states and used all support received in the proceeding calendar year only to provide, maintain and upgrade the facilities for which the support was intended and will do the same in the coming calendar year. State regulators must complete the annual ETC certification for all carriers under their jurisdiction, and submit the certification to USAC and the FCC by Oct. 1 every year. Read the full announcement here.

August 13, 2024
Form 481 and Broadband Deployment Data Now Available to Tribal Officials

Tribal governments may now access the most recent FCC Form 481 filings submitted by telecommunications carriers that serve Native American communities with financing from the High Cost program through the 54.314 certification filing system in  E-File, as well as deployment data for broadband networks supported by the Connect America Fund (CAF) in Indian Country through the Connect America Fund Broadband Map, or CAF Map.

Part of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF), High Cost distributes billions of dollars to carriers each year to deliver essential telecommunications services in rural areas where the market alone cannot support the substantial cost of deploying network infrastructure and providing connectivity. Carriers must offer service at rates reasonably comparable to those available in urban areas. Read the full announcement here.

All announcements can be found in the Announcements Archive.

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