PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 10-289 Release Date: February 22, 2010 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF THE REVISED 2010 FCC FORMS 499-A AND 499-Q AND ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS On February 22, 2010, the Commission released the revised annual and quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheets (FCC Form 499-A and FCC Form 499-Q) and accompanying instructions.1 The revised forms and instructions incorporate non-substantive clarifications to ensure that all contributors are properly reporting revenues and are treating similar revenues uniformly. These non- substantive modifications are listed below. · Years updated throughout. · Figure 1- Table to determine if filer meets the de minimis standard for purposes of universal service contribution (FCC Form 499-A, page 7; FCC Form 499-Q, page 6): Upwardly adjusted estimation factor using a contribution factor of .140, which exceeds the factors for the previous four quarters. Use of this higher factor is necessary to minimize the possibility of a filer mistakenly projecting revenues that are de minimis to its detriment. Also upwardly adjusted corresponding circularity factor. 2 · Figure 2 - Filing schedule (FCC Form 499-A, page 10): Added parenthetical reminder consistent with instructions for Block 2-C: FCC Registration Information: Section III.B (FCC Form 499-A, pages 17-18), that telecommunications carriers and other providers of telecommunications must provide updated registration information on pages 1, 2, 3 and 8 of the FCC Form 499-A to the FCC Form 499 Data Collection Agent within one week of a material change in such information. 1 The information collections included in the forms have received prior approval from the Office of Management and Budget. See List of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Approved Information Collection Requirements, 73 Fed. Reg. 57543 (Oct. 3, 2008) (establishing an expiration date of September 30, 2010 for FCC Forms 499-A and 499-Q, OMB control number 3060-0855). 2 See 47 C.F.R § 54.708 (establishing a de minimis exception for contributors whose obligations are less than $10,000 in a given year); 47 C.F.R. § 54.706(b) (requiring that projected collected revenues are net of projected contributions). The circularity factor used to determine the estimation factor corresponds to the highest contribution factor for the year. 47 C.F.R. § 54.706(b). Proposed First Quarter 2009 Universal Service Contribution Factor, CC Docket No. 96-45, Public Notice, 23 FCC Rcd 17947 (Off. of Man. Dir. 2008); Proposed Second Quarter 2009 Universal Service Contribution Factor, CC Docket No. 96-45, Public Notice, 24 FCC Rcd 3038 (Off. of Man. Dir. 2009); Proposed Third Quarter 2009 Universal Service Contribution Factor, CC Docket No. 96-45, Public Notice, 24 FCC Rcd 7818 (Off. of Man. Dir. 2009); Proposed Fourth Quarter 2009 Universal Service Contribution Factor, CC Docket No. 96-45, Public Notice, 24 FCC Rcd 11842 (Off. of Man. Dir. 2009). 2 · Figure 2 - Filing schedule and Columns (b), (c), (d), and (e) interstate and international - Section III.C.3 (FCC Form 499-A, pages 10, 24); Figure 2 - Filing schedule and Columns (b), (c) - interstate and international - Section III.C.3 (FCC Form 499-Q, pages 9-10, 19): Added more specific language, consistent with the body of the text, to clarify that interconnected voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) providers and commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers relying on traffic studies must file the traffic studies relied on with the FCC Form 499 Data Collection Agent and Chief, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission. · Figure 2 - Filing schedule (FCC Form 499-A, page 10): Internet addresses updated. · Figure 2 - Filing schedule (FCC Form 499-Q, pages 9-10): Edited the due dates to be internally consistent. · Line 105 of the FCC Form 499-A and corresponding instructions (FCC Form 499-A, page 15): The description for Stand-Alone Audio Bridging Provider / Integrated Teleconferencing Service Provider (TSP) has been added to clarify for these providers which category to check on the FCC Form 499-A. Previously, audio bridging providers were instructed to check “Other Toll” and enter “TSP” in the explanation field.3 · Line 106 instructions (FCC Form 499-Q, page 13): Internet addresses updated. · Line 107 instructions (FCC Form 499-A, page 16): Internet addresses updated. · Block 3, Block 4-A and Block 4 - Filer Revenue Information: Section III.C (FCC Form 499-A, page 18): Footnote 33 (previously informing audio bridging service providers how to report revenues for calendar year 2008) has been deleted and information regarding audio bridging providers integrated into instructions for Toll Service Revenue categories. · Block 3, Block 4-A and Block 4 - Filer Revenue Information - Section III.C (FCC Form 499-A, page 19); Block 3 - Contributor Revenue Information - Section III.C (FCC Form 499-Q, page 14): Internet addresses updated. · Columns (b), (c), (d), and (e) interstate and international revenues - Section III.C (FCC Form 499- A, page 24): Footnote 40 amended to correct citation error. · Line 314 and Line 417 (FCC Form 499-A, page 29): Added footnote 47 citing the InterCall Order.4 · Figure 3 - Which telecommunications carriers and telecommunications providers must contribute for which purposes (FCC Form 499-A, page 35): Added 4 rows to provide overview information to stand-alone audio bridging providers about their obligations to the different regulatory funding mechanisms, consistent with existing precedent.5 3 See FCC Form 499-A Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499-A, http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form499-A/499a-2009.pdf. 4 Request for Review by InterCall, Inc. of Decision of Universal Service Administrator, CC Docket No. 96-45, Order, 23 FCC Rcd 10731 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2008). 5 See id. 3 People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty). For further information, please contact Cindy Spiers, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484. - FCC -