Fund Administration
About Fund Administration:
- Fund Adminstration Overview
- Purpose of the Universal Service Fund
- How the Universal Service Fund Works
- Universal Service Fund Program Integrity
- 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.
2009 Changes to FCC Form 498
All service providers participating in a USF program must use the updated November 2009 FCC Form 498 when submitting for a new SPIN or revising existing information about the SPIN.
A summary of changes on the newly revised form include:
- Only the Company Officer can certify new or revised Forms 498,
- All service providers must provide electronic banking information,
- Service providers must provide their Dunn and Bradstreet (DUNS) Number,
- The four uses for the Form 498 now appear together at the beginning of the form, and
- For High Cost and Low Income participants, there is a new page to match Study Area Codes and SPINs or you can check a box if there are no changes.
The November 2009 FCC Form 498 and instructions can be found on the USAC Forms page.
You can also file the FCC Form 498 using USAC's E-File System, but you must send an officer signed copy to USAC the first time. After the first filing, the Company Officer will be able to certify revisions online via the E-File System.
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.
