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DATA Act

DATA Act

The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 or DATA Act, requires federal agencies to publish standardized spending data on https://usaspending.gov. To comply with the DATA Act, USAC updated the FCC Form 498 to include a section for DATA Act business types.

Two groups are required to update their FCC Form 498 with their organization’s business type.

  • Service providers
  • E-Rate participants

All service providers and E-Rate participants must update this field on each FCC Form 498 that they file.

Service Providers

Service providers can log in to E-File to update their FCC Form 498 and select the business type(s) that best describe their company. From the list of DATA Act business types, service providers can select up to three business types ranked in order of importance to the company’s business. Service providers will also need to include their Dun and Bradstreet number. If you do not know your company’s Dun and Bradstreet Number, you can look it up online. If you do not have a Dun and Bradstreet number, and you are U.S. government contractor or grantee, you can request one without charge.

Once the service provider updates the business type field an Officer will need to certify and approve the FCC Form 498 before this process is complete and shared with USAC.

To update your business type(s) and Dun and Bradstreet number:

  1. Log in to E-File
  2. Select the “Service Provider” tab
  3. Under “Action”, click “Manage”
  4. Accept the “Terms and Conditions”
  5. Choose “File a Revision to Existing FCC Form 498 Information”
  6. Scroll down the page to “Program Netting and HCF Program Certification and Business Types” and select “Edit”
  7. Under “Service Identification”, select the DATA Act business type(s) (up to three) in order of importance from the list
  8. Click “Save and Return to Summary” to submit the change
  9. To update your company’s DUN and Bradstreet number, select the “Company and General Contact Information” section and select “Edit”
  10. Scroll down to the “Federal Fein, DUNS, and FCC Registration Number” (CORES ID) section
  11. Enter your Dun and Bradstreet Number
  12. Click “Save and Return to Summary” to submit the change

Once the service provider updates the business type field an Officer will need to certify and approve the FCC Form 498 before this process is complete and shared with USAC.

Process to Certify the FCC Form 498 in E-File
  • Service Provider(s) goes into E-File to update “business type” field and submit the 498
  • If General Contact is making the updates, the Officer will get a notification to certify the 498
  • Officer will go into E-File and certify the 498
  • Officer certifies and approves the 498
  • If Officer is making the updates, the officer can submit and certify the 498
  • Officer then certifies and approves the 498

For questions about the DATA Act or your FCC Form 498, service providers can call USAC at (888) 641-8722 or email FINOPS-Processing@usac.org.

E-Rate Participants

E-Rate participants can log in to EPC to update their FCC Form 498 and select the business type(s) that best describe their organization. From the list of DATA Act business types, participants can select up to three business types ranked in order of importance to the organization’s business. If you do not know your organization’s Dun and Bradstreet number, you can look it up online. If you do not have a Dun and Bradstreet number, and you are U.S. government contractor or grantee, you can request one without charge.

Once the participant updates the business type field and Dun and Bradstreet number, a School or Library Official will need to certify and approve the FCC Form 498 before this process is complete and shared with USAC. Only participants who file an FCC Form 498 need to update these fields.

To update your business type(s) and Dun and Bradstreet number:

  1. Log in to EPC
  2. Select the “Records” tab, then “FCC Forms 498”, select your Form FCC 498, and click “Modify FCC Form 498”
  3. Select business type(s) (up to three) in order of importance from the drop-down menu
  4. Click “Save and Continue” to the “Further Details” page
  5. Add your organization’s Dun and Bradstreet number and click “Save and Continue” to the certification page
  6. Review the data and select “Certify” to submit the updated FCC Form 498

For questions about the DATA Act or your FCC Form 498, E-Rate participants can call the Client Service Bureau at (888) 203-8100.