FCC Form 481 Updates to the Form and Filing System Program Year 2016 High Cost Program FCC Form 481 1
Welcome Housekeeping Use the Audio section of your control panel to select an audio source and connect to sound. Turn on your computer s speaker, or Use the call-in instructions in your confirmation e- mail. All participants are on mute. Submit questions at any time using the Questions box. Where to find presentation slides. High Cost Program FCC Form 481 2
Welcome Today s Speakers Elizabeth Pertsevoi Senior Program Analyst Brandon Ruffley Senior Program Analyst High Cost Program FCC Form 481 3
Agenda In this presentation, we will cover: New requirements for the FCC Form 481 for Program Year 2016 System enhancements for the new filing period Changes for the following components of the FCC Form 481: dynamic tables, Data Collection Form, 100, 710, 800, 1100, 2005, 3005, and the certification process High Cost Program FCC Form 481 4
Updates to FCC Form 481 Background High Cost Program FCC Form 481 5
Background Filing Date Information Due Date: July 1, 2015 (Program Year 2016) File with USAC: online in E-File File a copy of the form with the FCC, state commissions, and other relevant entities on or before 7/1/15 High Cost Program FCC Form 481 6
Updates to FCC Form 481 Dynamic Tables High Cost Program FCC Form 481 7
Dynamic Tables What are Dynamic Tables? Used to collect data in the form Located in the following sections of FCC Form 481: 200 (outages) 700 (voice pricing) 710 (broadband pricing), and 800 (operating companies) Data can be populated before even accessing the E-File system through use of Excel templates which are available on USAC s website (Forms page). High Cost Program FCC Form 481 8
Using the Templates Ensure that all fields are completed in the Excel template before uploading. To assure successful template upload: Carriers cannot modify the columns. The first row must remain as column headers. Dynamic Tables Data should be entered on the second row and each row thereafter. Each row of data must be in the proper sequence matching the column titles and compliant with formats outlined in the FCC Form 481 instructions. High Cost Program FCC Form 481 9
Dynamic Tables Using the Templates Two versions available Excel 2007 and Excel 2010 Ensure the correct version is used Do not attempt to use templates from a prior year filing as the fields may have changed. If you need help, email us: questions@hcli.universalservice.org Providing the template as an attachment will assist USAC in troubleshooting any errors you may be receiving. High Cost Program FCC Form 481 10
Dynamic Tables High Cost Program FCC Form 481 11
Dynamic Tables Templates permit upload of up to 10,000 lines Row numbers were added to the table to help track your location within the tables and to specify the location of error messages that need to be addressed High Cost Program FCC Form 481 12
Updates to FCC Form 481 Data Collection Form High Cost Program FCC Form 481 13
Data Collection Form High Cost Program FCC Form 481 14
Data Collection Form *This view unique to CETC filers (excluding broadband elements) High Cost Program FCC Form 481 15
Data Collection Form For CETC Filers System changes have removed lines that used to be visible to CETC filers in prior year filings. CETCs will no longer see certain broadband reporting lines as they are not required to report this information: Lines 320 and 330 Unfulfilled broadband requests and resolution Lines 430, 440, and 450 Number of complaints per 1000 customers (fixed and mobile broadband) Section 710 Broadband service price offerings High Cost Program FCC Form 481 16
Data Collection Form Line 1000 Voice Service Rate Comparability Certification High Cost Program FCC Form 481 17
Data Collection Form For All Filers Line 1000 now has a mandatory drop-down box to allow for a clear answer regarding whether the filer is compliant with voice service rate comparability Options include Yes, No, and Not Applicable High Cost Program FCC Form 481 18
Data Collection Form For All Filers Yes: Indicates carrier s base rate plus federal Subscriber Line Charge (SLC) does not exceed the reasonable comparability benchmark as determined by the FCC through their most recent survey (If a new rate is identified, USAC will make it available on our website) No: Indicates carrier s base rate plus federal SLC is not below FCC designated benchmark (If selected, FCC or USAC may ask you to explain the unique circumstances that preclude you from offering service at a rate meeting the requisite benchmark (FCC 14-190, paragraph 157)) Not Applicable: Indicates carrier was not required to submit this certification (for example, wireless carriers for the 2015 program year filing) High Cost Program FCC Form 481 19
Updates to FCC Form 481 (100) Service Quality Improvement High Cost Program FCC Form 481 20
(100) Service Quality Improvement High Cost Program FCC Form 481 21
(100) Service Quality Improvement Details on the carrier s five-year plan High Cost Program FCC Form 481 22
(100) Service Quality Improvement Five Year Plans & Progress Reports Price cap carriers are not required to file an initial five-year plan this year Rate-of-Return carriers who filed an initial five-year plan last year will now be required to submit a progress report (attached to Line 112) Carriers are not required to submit a new five-year plan if they previously filed a five-year plan Progress reports should address the current calendar year (2015) up to the FCC Form 481 filing date Progress reports need to be in compliance with 47 C.F.R. 54.313(a)(1) High Cost Program FCC Form 481 23
(100) Service Quality Improvement Five Year Plans & Progress Reports Per the C.F.R. - A progress report on its five-year service quality improvement plan pursuant to 54.202(a), including maps detailing its progress towards meeting its plan targets (Line 113), an explanation of how much universal service support was received (Line 114), how (and how much) support was used to improve service quality (Line 115), improve coverage (Line 116), or improve capacity (Line 117), and an explanation regarding any network improvement targets that have not been fulfilled in the prior calendar year (Line 118). The information shall be submitted at the wire center level or census block as appropriate. High Cost Program FCC Form 481 24
(100) Service Quality Improvement Five-year plan elements of the progress report High Cost Program FCC Form 481 25
(100) Service Quality Improvement Five Year Plans & Progress Reports Progress report elements (Lines 113-118) changed from checkboxes to drop-down boxes Lines 113-118 are mandatory if an attachment is provided on Line 112 Options are Yes, No, and Not Applicable for each item Carriers who filed initial 5-year plans last year should respond Not Applicable on Line 118 since there were no network improvement targets for the prior year (2014) High Cost Program FCC Form 481 26
Updates to FCC Form 481 (710) Broadband Price Offerings High Cost Program FCC Form 481 27
(710) Broadband Price Offerings High Cost Program FCC Form 481 28
(710) Broadband Price Offerings Report broadband service prices for the provision of Internet access to end-user customers Broadband service prices reported as of January 1, 2015 CETCs not required to report this information (will not be visible when they prepare their filings) High Cost Program FCC Form 481 29
(710) Broadband Price Offerings If a broadband service offering does not have a usage allowance, carriers should enter the following: (711d3): enter 999999 as indicated (711d4): choose Other from the drop-down box (711d4) Other Actions: indicate No limit on usage allowance High Cost Program FCC Form 481 30
Updates to FCC Form 481 (800) Operating Companies High Cost Program FCC Form 481 31
(800) Operating Companies High Cost Program FCC Form 481 32
(800) Operating Companies Carrier must: List reporting carrier name (Line 810) and operating company (Line 812) Verify its holding company (Line 811) New changes have been implemented for this screen for the 2016 program year. High Cost Program FCC Form 481 33
(800) Operating Companies Line 811 Holding Company: This line will be auto populated with information contained in the carrier s FCC Form 477 High Cost Program FCC Form 481 34
(800) Operating Companies Carriers will select only one option 811A, 811B, or 811D: 811A Holding company name is correct. 811B Holding company name is NOT correct. You will be prompted to enter the correct name on 811C if this option is selected. 811D No holding company for this study area. High Cost Program FCC Form 481 35
Updates to FCC Form 481 (1100) No Terrestrial Backhaul High Cost Program FCC Form 481 36
(1100) No Terrestrial Backhaul High Cost Program FCC Form 481 37
(1100) No Terrestrial Backhaul Terrestrial backhaul refers to a land-based connection to the broadband backbone network. On the Data Collection Form, if a carrier selects No, that it does not have terrestrial backhaul options, then it must complete the No Terrestrial Backhaul section. High Cost Program FCC Form 481 38
(1100) No Terrestrial Backhaul Lines 1120 and 1130 have drop-down boxes. Line 1120 addresses whether terrestrial backhaul options exist within the supported area. Carriers must select Yes or No and the answer should match the answer indicated on Line 1100 of the Data Collection Form. High Cost Program FCC Form 481 39
(1100) No Terrestrial Backhaul Line 1130 addresses whether the carrier offers broadband service of at least 1 Mbps downstream and 256 kbps upstream within the supported area ( 54.313(g)). Answers include Yes, No, or Not Applicable. High Cost Program FCC Form 481 40
Updates to FCC Form 481 (2005) Price Cap Data High Cost Program FCC Form 481 41
(2005) Price Cap Data High Cost Program FCC Form 481 42
(2005) Price Cap Data Possible Certification Requirement for Price Cap Carriers Price cap carriers may be required to make certain certifications for the 2016 program year. Line 2010 Recipients of Incremental Connect America Phase I support should respond whether they have deployed broadband service to no fewer than two-thirds of the required locations ( 54.313(b)(1)(i)). High Cost Program FCC Form 481 43
(2005) Price Cap Data Possible Certification Requirement for Price Cap Carriers Line 2014 Recipients of Frozen support should respond whether two-thirds of the support received in 2014 was used to build and operate broadband-capable networks to offer broadband in areas substantially unserved by an unsubsidized competitor ( 54.313(c)(3)). The ETC must certify that at least 50% of the locations served are in census blocks shown as unserved on the National Broadband Map (FCC 11-161, paragraph 149, footnote 238). High Cost Program FCC Form 481 44
(2005) Price Cap Data Possible Certification Requirement for Price Cap Carriers Line 2016 (For recipients of Connect America Fund ICC support) Any ETC receiving High Cost Program support to offset access charges pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 54.304 should respond whether all of the support received was used to build and operate broadband-capable networks to offer broadband in areas substantially unserved by an unsubsidized competitor ( 54.313(d)). The ETC must certify that at least 50% of the locations served are in census blocks shown as unserved on the National Broadband Map (FCC 11-161, paragraph 17995, footnote 1820). High Cost Program FCC Form 481 45
(2005) Price Cap Data High Cost Program FCC Form 481 46
(2005) Price Cap Data For these certifications: All fields require a response using drop-down boxes Options are Yes, No, and Not Applicable If a carrier is able to respond affirmatively to the required certification, it should choose Yes from the drop-down menu If a carrier is unable to comply with a required certification, it should choose No and be prepared to respond to further inquiry from USAC or the FCC If a carrier does not receive one or more of the support types, they should choose Not Applicable High Cost Program FCC Form 481 47
Updates to FCC Form 481 (3005) Rate of Return Data High Cost Program FCC Form 481 48
(3005) Rate of Return Data High Cost Program FCC Form 481 49
(3005) Rate of Return Data NEW: Lines 3010, 3011, and 3012 If your answer to Line 3013 is No, these items will complete section 3005 for you. Further questions will appear if your answer is Yes. High Cost Program FCC Form 481 50
(3005) Rate of Return Data Rate of Return carriers are required to address new requirements for the 2016 program year: Line 3010 Carriers must certify they have taken reasonable steps to provide upon reasonable request broadband service at actual speeds of 4 Mbps downstream/1 Mbps upstream, with latency suitable for real-time applications, including Voice over Internet Protocol, and usage capacity that is reasonably comparable to reasonably comparable offerings in urban areas, and that requests for such service are met within a reasonable amount of time ( 54.313(f)(1)(i)). Note that although the FCC recently adopted 10/1 speeds, the correct speeds for this certification are 4/1 Mbps. Line 3011 Carriers must confirm that the attachment on Line 3012 contains the required information pursuant to 54.313(f)(1)(ii) including the number, names, and addresses of community anchor institutions to which the ETC began offering broadband service in the preceding calendar year. Line 3012 Attachment of community anchor institution data referenced in Line 3011 ( 54.313(f)(1)(ii)). High Cost Program FCC Form 481 51
(3005) Rate of Return Data Lines 3013 3026: same as last year, with the exception of Line 3021 Identify whether audited financial statements attached to Line 3026 contain a management letter and audit opinion issued by the independent certified public accountant that performed the audit High Cost Program FCC Form 481 52
(3005) Rate of Return Data NEW: Lines 3027 3034 Carriers must enter the specified financial data located on your RUS Report (attached on Line 3017) or your reviewed/audited financial statements (attached on Line 3026) High Cost Program FCC Form 481 53
Updates to FCC Form 481 Accuracy Certification High Cost Program FCC Form 481 54
Accuracy Certification Signature of Authorized Officer will stay blank until the filing is electronically certified After certification, the officer s name will appear on the PDF High Cost Program FCC Form 481 55
Accuracy Certification Option added to print confirmation page after successful certification (USAC Recommended!) Option only appears once after certification If an email is not received, contact USAC: questions@hcli.universalservice.org High Cost Program FCC Form 481 56
Updates to FCC Form 481 Certification Status High Cost Program FCC Form 481 57
Certification Status New Status: Ready for Certification When filing is complete and validated, but for which an officer has not yet completed the accuracy certification section Employee of the carrier or agent may prepare a filing up through the validation section, but an officer will need to certify Used to identify filings that are available for bulk certification High Cost Program FCC Form 481 58
Updates to FCC Form 481 Bulk Certification High Cost Program FCC Form 481 59
Bulk Certification For officers who want to certify multiple filings together Option appears when an officer signs in (Carrier staff or agents will not see this option) Selecting Bulk Certify will pull all filings for which the officer is authorized to certify High Cost Program FCC Form 481 60
Bulk Certification Use View PDF icon to view individual submissions SAC, SPIN, and Carrier Name columns can be sorted and filtered Click the box(es) to select a submission for certification and then click Certify Selected SACs High Cost Program FCC Form 481 61
Bulk Certification Next screen indicates SACs chosen for certification Check the box to indicate that all data has been reviewed Enter officer name, position, and telephone number, and click the Certify button High Cost Program FCC Form 481 62
Bulk Certification Filings by agents appear in a separate table Enter the name of the agent who prepared the filings If several agents were involved, you can change the name of the agent by clicking within the Name of Agent column for each SAC High Cost Program FCC Form 481 63
Bulk Certification The screen above will appear and a confirmation email will be sent to you Print button is available to generate evidence of your certification completion screen (USAC Recommended!) High Cost Program FCC Form 481 64
Questions? High Cost Program FCC Form 481 65
Updates to FCC Form 481 More Information Questions about FCC Form 481: Contact questions@hcli.universalservice.org Questions about FCC Form 498, entitlements, or the E-File system: Please confirm the contact information on your FCC Form 498 is up-todate. Contact Customer Operations at (888) 641-8722 FCC Form 481 templates, FAQs, and instructions for filing online: See http://www.usac.org/hc/tools/forms.aspx High Cost Program FCC Form 481 66
Thank you! High Cost Program FCC Form 481 67