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.
February 12, 2025
Service Provider Payment System Unavailable 2/22/2025
Service providers will not be able to make payments using E-File on Saturday, February 22 , 2025 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. due to maintenance on the Pay.gov system. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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.
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.
