PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 15-1140
October 7, 2015 
Enforcement Advisory No. 2015-04
FORM 477 RULES
PROVIDERS MUST FILE A COMPLETE AND ACCURATE FORM 477 REPORT EVERY SIX
MONTHS
The Enforcement Bureau reminds providers of voice and broadband Internet services of their 
continued duty to file timely, complete, and accurate FCC Form 477 reports.
1
This Advisory is 
intended to highlight the Form 477 submission requirements and the importance of telephone and 
broadband subscription and deployment data to the Commission’s ongoing mission of increasing 
Internet availability.
The data reported on Form 477 is used by the Commission to assess and promote nationwide 
broadband deployment, to appropriately target universal service funds, to ensure access to 
emergency communications in disaster scenarios, and to help meet other public service goals.
2
In 
rural and underserved areas, data from providers is especially helpful to the Commission’s ability to 
assess local competition and broadband availability.
Entities Required to File Form 477.
3
  The following entities are required to file Form 477 reports:
? Common carriers and their affiliates providing telephone exchange or exchange access 
service;
                                                     
1
47 C.F.R. § 1.7001; 43.11.
2
See Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data Program, 28 FCC Rcd 9887, 9893-9896, paras. 15-19 (2013); see also 47 U.S.C. 
§ 1302(b).
3
47 C.F.R. § 1.7001; 43.11(a).
FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY
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? Facilities-based Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers offering mobile phone 
service;
? Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers;
? Facilities-based broadband Internet service providers (including, but not limited to Wireless 
Internet Service Providers (WISPs)).
Form 477 filing requirements apply to providers regardless of size.
4
  
Enforcement Activities.  The Bureau is prepared to take enforcement action against providers 
who violate this reporting requirement.
5
Today, the Bureau released a consent decree with Rio 
Verde Wireless, LLC (Rio Verde), resolving an investigation into Rio Verde’s repeated failures to file 
Form 477 reports.
6
  As part of the settlement, Rio Verde will pay a $10,500 penalty and designate a 
compliance officer, develop a compliance plan, and provide compliance training to staff to ensure 
appropriate reporting in the future.  Providers, including WISPs and other rural entities, are on 
notice that failure to timely file Form 477 reports may result in enforcement action, including 
monetary penalties.
7
  
How to File Form 477. Form 477 must be filed twice each year, by March 1 (reporting data 
collected as of December 31 of the previous year), and September 1 (reporting data collected as of 
June 30 of the current year).
8
  Forms must be submitted electronically through the FCC website.  
The Form and Instructions, as well as additional information for filers, are available at the Form 477 
Resources page (www.fcc.gov/form477).  For Form 477 filing assistance, please call 1-877-480-3201 
or 1-717-338-2824 (TTY), or submit a request online via e-support.
                                                     
4
See Development of Nationwide Broadband Data to Evaluate Reasonable and Timely Deployment of Advanced Services 
to All Americans, Improvement of Wireless Broadband and Subscribership Data, and Development of Data on 
Interconnected Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Subscribership, 23 FCC Rcd 9691, 9708, para. 32 (2008).
5
See, e.g., Rio Verde Wireless, LLC, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, 30 FCC Rcd 2196 (Investigations & 
Hearings Div., Enf. Bur. 2015); Marseilles Telephone Co., Metamora Telephone Co. and MTCO Communications, Inc., 
Order, 29 FCC Rcd 2603 (Enf. Bur. 2014).
6
Rio Verde Wireless, LLC, Consent Decree, DA 15-1014 (Enf. Bur. Oct. 7, 2015).
7
See 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(2); 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(b); Amendment of Section 1.80(b) of the Commission’s Rules, Adjustment of 
civil Monetary Penalties to Reflect Inflation, Order, 28 FCC Rcd 10785 (Enf. Bur. 2013).
8
C.F.R. § 1.7002; 43.01(d).
Page 3 of 3
Need more information? For further information on how to fill out Form 477, email 
477INFO@fcc.gov, or contact the Form 477 staff at the Industry Analysis & Technology Division,
Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418-0940. 
Media inquiries should be directed to Will Wiquist, 202-418-0509.
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). You may also contact the Enforcement 
Bureau on its TTY line at (202) 418-1148 for further information about this Enforcement Advisory.