FCC Record, Volume 26, No. 19, Pages 14991 to 15893, October 24 - November 10, 2011 Page: 15,465
viii, 14991-15893 p. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
preservation and advancement of universal service."5 To this end, the Commission has determined that
any entity that provides interstate telecommunications to the public for a fee must contribute to the Fund.6
The Commission further directed that contributions should be based on contributors' interstate and
international end-user telecommunications revenues.'
3. Although the Commission has declined to exempt from contribution any broad classes of
telecommunications providers, not all providers of interstate telecommunications contribute directly to the
Fund under the current end-user system.8 The Commission generally does not require wholesale carriers
to contribute directly to the Fund because these carriers do not earn revenues directly from end users.9
Instead, the reseller that provides the service to the end user, and thereby earns end-user revenues,
contributes directly to the USF.
4. In the Universal Service Second Order on Reconsideration, the Commission set forth the
specific methodology for contributors to use to compute their USF contributions." In the instructions to
the Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet adopted in that order, the Commission provided additional
details to contributors to promote compliance with the USF contribution requirements.'2 Over the years,
as the Commission has made changes and further clarified contribution obligations, the Form 499
instructions have been revised to reflect those decisions,'3 as well as other administratively necessary
changes.14 Consistent with these periodic updates, in 2002 the FCC Form 499-A and 499-Q instructions
s Id. Pursuant to section 254(d) of the Act, the Commission has determined that the public interest requires certain
other providers of interstate telecommunications to contribute to the USF. 47 U.S.C. 254(d); see, e.g., Universal
Service Contribution Methodology et al., WC Docket Nos. 06-122, 04-36, CC Docket Nos. 96-45, 98-171, 90-571,
92-237, 99-200, 95-116, 98-170, Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 21 FCC Rcd 7518 (2006)
(2006 Contribution Methodology Order) (requiring interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VolP) providers to
contribute to the universal service fund because they are providers of interstate telecommunications).
6 See Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96-45, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 8776,
9179, para. 787 (1997) (Universal Service First Report and Order) (subsequent history omitted).
7 Id. at 9171, para. 772; 47 C.F.R. 54.706.
8 Universal Service First Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd at 9179, para. 787.
9 Id. at 9207, para. 846.
S0d.
"1 See Changes to the Board of Directors of the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc., Federal-State Joint
Board on Universal Service, CC Docket Nos. 97-21, 96-45, Report and Order and Second Order on
Reconsideration, 12 FCC Rcd 18400 (1997) (Universal Service Second Order on Reconsideration).
'2 Id. at 18498-513 (Appendix A, Universal Service Worksheet FCC Form 457). The FCC Form 457 was the
precursor to the FCC Form 499. See 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review--Streamlined Contributor Reporting
Requirements Associated with Administration of Telecommunications Relay Services. North American Numbering
Plan, Local Number Portability, and Universal Service Support Mechanisms, CC Docket No. 98-171, Report and
Order, 14 FCC Rcd 16602 (1999) (consolidating the requirements of the FCC Form 457 with other regulatory forms
and creating the Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499). Entities report their revenues for USF
contribution purposes using the Telecommunications Reporting Worksheets (FCC Form 499-A and Form 499-Q).
The FCC Form 499-A is filed annually, and the FCC Form 499-Q is filed quarterly.
13 For example, in 2002, the Commission revised the interim wireless safe harbor to increase the contribution
requirement from 15 to 28.5 percent of a wireless carrier's end-user telecommunications services revenues and
amended the instructions to reflect this increase. See Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, CC Docket
Nos. 96-45, 98-171, 90-571, 92-237, 99-200, 95-116, 98-170, Report and Order and Second Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, 17 FCC Red 24952, 24965, para. 21 (2002); 2003 FCC Form 499-A Instructions at 18.
4 The Wireline Competition Bureau, formerly the Common Carrier Bureau (Bureau), has delegated authority to
revise the Forms 499 and accompanying instructions to ensure "sound and efficient administration of the universal
service programs." See Universal Senrvice Second Order on Reconsideration, 12 FCC Rcd at 18442, para. 81("Because it is difficult to determine in advance precisely the information that will be needed to administer the new
15465Federal Communications Commission
DA 11-1841
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
United States. Federal Communications Commission. FCC Record, Volume 26, No. 19, Pages 14991 to 15893, October 24 - November 10, 2011, book, November 2011; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc133013/m1/489/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.