Reminder to clients, the deadline for filing FCC Form 499-Q with the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) for the Second Quarter is August 1st.
All non de minimis providers of telecommunications services and interconnected VoIP services are required to complete Form 499-Q and report actual revenue data for the Second Quarter of this year (April 1st – June 30th) and projected revenue for the Fourth Quarter of this year (October 1st – December 31st).
De minimis providers are not required to remit Form 499-Q, but must nevertheless complete and retain a “Quarterly de minimis Worksheet” in their files. The applicable document retention period for records related to the Universal Service Fund program is five (5) years.
Additional information on FCC Form 499s, including the most recent Form 499-Q and instructions, can be found on USAC’s website at:
https://www.universalservice.org/fund%2Dadministration/forms/
CLIENT ACTION ITEMS:
Clients subscribed to Compliance & Reporting Services (“C&R Services”) will be contacted by our firm’s regulatory consulting affiliate, The Commpliance Group, regarding the timely submission of revenue and other required data. Clients not currently subscribed to the firm’s C&R Services, but who require assistance preparing and filing the Form 499-Q, should contact us at your earliest convenience to ensure timely filing. Failure to remit required data in a timely manner may result in delinquent remittance and imposition of penalties. See FCC Form 499 Late Filing Policy.
C&R Services Subscribers: Clients currently subscribed to C&R Services through our firm’s regulatory consulting affiliate, The Commpliance Group, may remit revenue information and other required data to Chris Canter directly at ccanter@commpliancegroup.com no later than July 27th.
Non-Subscribers: Clients not currently subscribed to C&R Services through The Commpliance Group, but who require assistance with the preparation and filing of the Form 499-Q, may contact either Jonathan Marashlian at jsm@commlawgroup.com or Chris Canter directly at ccanter@commpliancegroup.com to make appropriate arrangements and ensure timely filing.
If you have already sent us your revenue information, you may disregard this notice.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
E-File System and Electronic Officer Certification Information
Electronically-filed Form 499s are not complete until the “Officer Certification” is submitted, either by filing a hard copy or conducting the certification through USAC‘s E-File System. All clients wishing to perform officer certifications electronically must have access to their individual USAC E-file account.
Clients who do not have the correct E-file account information or whose information has changed since the last submission may encounter significant delays when filing and certifying Form 499s. Therefore, all clients with an existing account with USAC should locate and confirm the functionality of their USAC E-file System Username and Password as soon as possible in anticipation of the upcoming 499.
Clients who are unable to locate their current E-File System log-in information should contact USAC‘s Help Desk at (888) 641-8722.
FCC Form 499 Late Filing Policy
Form 499s received by after the due date will be subject to a late filing fee. USAC and the FCC strictly enforce applicable filing deadlines and rarely make exceptions for late-filed Forms The failure to timely file and accurately report revenue in a Form 499 is a violation of FCC rules and may result in a USAC audit, FCC investigation, or both. Examples of FCC enforcement actions are available on the FCC‘s website: https://www.fcc.gov/eb/usfc/
Clients who have specific questions about how to report revenue on the Form 499-Q can contact Jonathan Marashlian at The Commlaw Group directly at jsm@commlawgroup.com or The Commpliance Group’s FCC consultant, Chris Canter, at cacanter@commpliancegroup.com.
