Fund Administration
About Fund Administration:
- Fund Adminstration Overview
- How the Universal Service Fund Works
- Purpose of the Universal Service Fund
- Understanding Audits
Fund Administration Tools:
Obtaining a USAC Service Provider ID Number
Information on obtaining a USAC Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN).
The Service Provider Identification Number and Contact Information (FCC Form 498) form is used to collect contact, remittance, and payment information for service providers that receive support from the federal Universal Service Fund programs - "High Cost", "Low Income", "Rural Health Care", and "Schools and Libraries" - administered by USAC.
Who Should File the Form 498?
All service providers that participate in the High Cost, Low Income, Rural Health
Care, or Schools and Libraries USF programs must file Form 498 to receive disbursement payments.
Service providers should complete a Form 498 in order to:
- Apply for a new SPIN.
- Revise an existing Form 498.
- Consolidate, merge, or deactivate existing SPINs due to a merger, acquisition, or consolidation of companies.
- End participation in the federal Universal Service Fund programs. High Cost and Low Income recipients must comply with 47 C.F.R. § 54.205 if relinquishing High Cost or Low Income support.
Form 498 provides the official record for a company's participation in the Universal Service Fund programs. USAC requires certain information to identify the company for the purpose of either mailing checks or wiring funds to its account. USAC collects this information to ensure payment to the company. Form 498 allows service providers to use the same general contact information for all program and remittance data collected for each of the four support programs or multiple remittance addresses.
