• Carriers that maintain tariffs on file with the California Public Utilities Commission (CA PUC) are required to file complete versions of those tariffs that were on file as of January 1, 2013 by February 1, 2013, on CD-ROM. This is an annual requirement. Carriers that have detariffed their services completely are not required to file anything. More information about this filing, and the formatting requirements for the CD-ROM, may be found here.
  • Due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) has extended the filing deadlines for FCC Form 486, the Receipt of Service Confirmation Form for the Schools and Libraries fund, for Funding Year 2011 recurring services invoice submissions until January 28, 2013. This is the same deadline for non-recurring services, which means all invoices for Funding Year 2011 now are due at the same time.

In addition, USAC announced that the FCC Form 486 for Funding Year 2012 will also be due on January 28, 2013.

More information regarding these filings can be found here.

  • Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) that provide Lifeline service are required to recertify the eligibility of their base customers as of June 1, 2012 by December 31, 2012. Each ETC is then required to report the results to the FCC, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), and the applicable state regulatory commission or Tribal government. The recertification process can take place in one of two ways: either through review of databases to confirm eligibility, if there are databases available; or by obtaining a signed certification from the subscriber confirming eligibility to receive Lifeline service. Each ETC must report its results on FCC Form 555 by January 31, 2013. FCC Form 555 can be found here.

In the alternative, companies that electronically file with USAC may log-in to their accounts and file FCC Form 555 via USAC’s Electronic Filing System. More information can be found in the Public Notice found here. (DA 12-1626).

  • Form 499-Q is due February 1, 2013, for all filers that are not considered de minimis for Universal Service filing purposes. This filing encompasses historical revenues from the fourth quarter of 2012 and projected revenues for the second quarter of 2013. A copy of the current FCC Form 499-Q can be found here.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers and Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers who rely on traffic studies to report interstate revenues on FCC Form 499-Q must have submit these studies by February 1, 2013, to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and the Chief, Industry Analysis and Technology Division of the FCC.

  • Carriers that have obtained telephone numbers from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), other carriers, or a pooling administrator in 2012, are required to file their FCC Form 502 – Numbering Resource Utilization/Forecast (NURF) by February 1, 2013. Carriers can file FCC Form 502 electronically here. A guide to assist filers can be found here.
  • The Universal Service contribution factor for the first quarter of 2013 is 16.1%. A copy of the Public Notice announcing the rate can be found here. (DA 12-2014)