Federal Communications Commission	DA 26-561



DA 26-561
Released:  June 5, 2026

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU REMINDS ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS OF NEED TO FILE FCC FORM 481 TO RECEIVE LIFELINE SUPPORT 
WC Docket No. 11-42


The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) issues this Public Notice to remind eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that the information required pursuant to section 54.422 of the Commission’s rules must be filed by July 1, 2026, using FCC Form 481, in order to receive low-income support under the Lifeline program. See 47 CFR § 54.422.  Although the Commission recently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to request comment on potentially making changes to FCC Form 481, requirements related to the FCC Form 481 remain unchanged at this time.  See Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization et al., WC Docket No. 11-42 et al., Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 26-8, 2026 WL 607836, at *23–24, paras. 71–77 (Feb. 23, 2026).  The guidance herein applies to all ETCs, including those operating pursuant to compliance plans.
  

Pursuant to section 54.422(a), all ETCs must report information related to company names and ownership, and also the terms and conditions of offered Lifeline plans. See 47 CFR § 54.422(a).
  Pursuant to section 54.422(b), all ETCs designated under section 214(e)(6) of the Communications Act who do not receive high-cost support must also make additional submissions, including information on outages and complaints, and make certifications regarding compliance with relevant Commission rules. See 47 CFR § 54.422(b) (stating that “[i]n order to receive support under this subpart, a common carrier that is designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier under section 214(e)(6) of the Act and does not receive support under subpart D of this part must annually provide” the required information).
  ETCs provide this information on the FCC Form 481. See FCC, FCC Form 481 and Instructions, https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-form-481-and-instructions (last visited May 8, 2026); USAC, Forms, https://www.usac.org/lifeline/rules-and-requirements/forms/ (last visited May 8, 2026).


The window for filing FCC Form 481 opened on April 1, 2026, and service providers can log into https://forms.universalservice.org/portal/login to access, certify, and file FCC Form 481 by the July 1, 2026 deadline.  Pursuant to section 54.422, all outstanding and future Lifeline reimbursements will be withheld from ETCs who do not file FCC Form 481 by July 1, 2026, until such time that the ETC files the required form. See 47 CFR § 54.422.  However, reimbursements being withheld for additional or unrelated reasons will remain withheld, even after the filing of FCC Form 481.
  Even if an ETC does not currently intend to seek Lifeline support, it must file FCC Form 481 to receive outstanding or future reimbursements. ETCs who have no expectation of receiving future Lifeline reimbursements may seek to relinquish their ETC designation.  See 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(4); 47 CFR § 54.205.


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 and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530.

For further information, please contact Michael Alonso, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-7452, or e-mail: Michael.Alonso@fcc.gov.
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