Announcements
March 14, 2025
FCC Announces 2Q 2025 Contribution Factor 36.6%
The FCC released a Public Notice, DA 25-223, announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the second quarter of 2025 (April – June) will be .366 or 36.6 percent.
February 19, 2025
Payments System Update
Last October, USAC launched a payment system update to better service Universal Service Fund (USF) contributors and stakeholders.
One result of this system update was a change in how USF disbursement recipients receive electronic payments. Previously, USAC aggregated payments for all invoices attached to a single 498 ID (or SPIN) and sent a single payment.
Initially following the launch, recipients began receiving individual payments for each invoice line. This outcome was unintended, and USAC worked to address the issue as soon as we became aware of the change in payment aggregation.
Current Status (February 2025): Clarification to Payment Aggregation Method
By the end of October 2024, USAC resumed sending aggregated payments. However, the configuration for E-Rate and Rural Health Care (RHC) program recipients is slightly different from what it was prior to October.
Previously, each service provider or applicant received only one payment per cycle to aggregate all authorized invoices. USAC now aggregates payments for invoices based on the service provider/applicant combination.
If a single service provider has payments for multiple applicants authorized on the same day, the service provider will receive one aggregated payment per applicant. In the E-Rate program, if a single applicant paid through the BEAR method has payments for multiple service providers authorized on the same day, the applicant will receive one aggregated payment per service provider.
In practical terms, disbursement recipients may continue to receive slightly more individual payments than before October. The total payment amount remains unaffected, and recipients’ remittance statements continue to include itemized details for each payment.
This payment aggregation method is the standard configuration USAC will continue to use for all recipients.
December 16, 2024
FCC Announces 1Q 2025 Contribution Factor 36.3%
The FCC released a Public Notice, DA 24-1245, announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the first quarter of 2025 (January – March) will be .363 or 36.3 percent.
December 12, 2024
1Q25 Contributor Webinars Posted
The webinars for the 1st quarter of 2025 have been posted on the Webinars page. Registration links can be found there as well.
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
(Update: This issue has since been resolved. Please see more recent announcements for additional details.)
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.
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.