REGULATORY FEES  
FACT SHEETFederal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554 August 2012
WHAT YOU OWE – INTERSTATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
SERVICE PROVIDERS (ITSP) FOR FY 2012
The Commission’s automated filing and payment system (“Fee Filer”) is now available for filing and 
payment of FY 2012 regulatory fees. Regulatory fee payments must be RECEIVED by the 
Commission no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on September 13, 2012. 
This Fact Sheet provides information for interstate telecommunications service providers (ITSPs) to 
help them prepare and pay their ITSP regulatory fees.  Telecommunications providers that are subject 
to the ITSP fee typically identify themselves on FCC Form 499-A filings using one or more of the 
following categories:1  
All Distance -- provides fixed local exchange services and interstate long distance services to end users 
for a flat rate (may also include intrastate toll).
CAP/CLEC (Competitive Access Provider/Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) -- competes with 
incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) to provide local exchange services, or telecommunications 
services that link customers with interexchange facilities, local exchange networks, or other customers, 
other than coaxial cable providers.
Coaxial Cable -- uses coaxial cable (cable TV) facilities to provide local exchange services or 
telecommunications services that link customers with interexchange facilities, local exchange networks, 
or other customers.
Incumbent LEC -- provides local exchange services.  An incumbent LEC generally is a carrier that 
was at one time franchised as a monopoly service provider.  See 47 U.S.C. §251(h).
Interconnected VoIP provider – provides “interconnected VoIP service” as that term is defined in 47 
CFR §9.3.
Interexchange Carrier (IXC) -- provides long distance telecommunications services substantially 
through switches or circuits that it owns or leases. 
  
1 If you timely filed an FCC 499-A (OMB Control No. 3060-0855) in 2012, information from this form will be used to 
calculate your FY 2012 Interstate Telecommunications Service Provider (ITSP) regulatory fee obligation. 
2Local Reseller -- provides local exchange or fixed telecommunications services by reselling services of 
other carriers.
Operator Service Provider (OSP) -- serves customers needing the assistance of an operator to 
complete calls, or needing alternate billing arrangements such as collect calling.
Payphone Service Provider -- provides customers access to telephone networks through payphone 
equipment, special teleconference rooms, etc.  Payphone service providers also are referred to as 
payphone aggregators.
Prepaid Card -- provides prepaid calling card services by selling prepaid calling cards to the public or 
to retailers.  Prepaid card providers typically resell the toll service of other carriers and determine the 
price of the service by setting the price of the card and controlling the number of minutes that can be 
used by the card.
Private Service Provider -- offers telecommunications to others for a fee on a non-common carrier 
basis.  This would include a company that offers excess capacity on a private system that it uses 
primarily for internal purposes.  This category does not include Specialized Mobile Radio operators.
Shared-Tenant Service Provider /Building LEC -- manages or owns a multi-tenant location that 
provides telecommunications services or facilities to the tenants for a fee.
Toll Reseller -- provides long distance telecommunications services primarily by reselling the long 
distance telecommunications services of other carriers.
Other Local and Other Toll Service Providers -- other providers of local exchange or toll services, 
including private service providers (which offer telecommunications services to others and includes 
companies that offer excess capacity on a private system that is used primarily for internal purposes) and 
VoIP Toll providers, which use IP technology to facilitate calls that originate and terminate on the public 
switched network and which undergo no net protocol conversion.
In its FY 1996 Regulatory Fee Report and Order, the Commission amended its rule regarding the 
Telecommunications Relay Service Fund administrator to permit the National Exchange Carrier 
Association (NECA) to process regulatory fees on behalf of its pooling exchange carriers and to submit 
their consolidated fees to our lockbox bank in a single payment instrument.  However, we remind 
entities subject to regulatory fee payment that the regulatee, not an agent such as NECA, is responsible 
for ensuring that payment is made, and that there is a penalty for not submitting the entire fee in a timely 
manner.  
Fee Payment Amount and Payment Type Code for ITSPs
Fee Payment Amount: $0.00375 per dollar of subject revenue
Payment Type Code: 1272
3Your Regulatory Fee Obligation and FCC Form 499-A
This Fact Sheet provides information for ITSPs providers to help them prepare and pay their ITSP 
regulatory fees.  As in FY 2011, ITSP providers in FY 2012 will not receive a pre-completed 
regulatory fee bill (FCC Form 159-B) in the mail from the Commission.  An ITSP regulatory fee bill 
will be created, but this bill will be available for viewing only by accessing Fee Filer.  ITSP providers 
are also required to make regulatory fee payments for all other fee categories.  The ITSP bill that will 
be accessible in Fee Filer is based on information that was provided on FCC Form 499-A, which was 
due on April 1, 2012, and includes updates processed through July 23, 2012.   
MANDATORY USE OF FEE FILER
For FY 2012, the use of the online system (Fee Filer) for payment of regulatory fees has not changed 
from the process used in FY 2011:  licensees and regulatees must first enter the Commission’s Fee 
Filer system with a valid FRN and password, and follow the online prompts to generate a Form 159-
E voucher to be submitted with the appropriate regulatory fee payment to the designated entity, U.S. 
Bank.  Only Form 159-E vouchers generated from Fee Filer will be permitted to be submitted with 
regulatory fee payments to U.S. Bank.  Instructions on the use and submission of Form 159-E 
payments are available on the Commission’s website at the industry-appropriate section under the 
heading, Who Owes Fees & What is My Fee FY2012 (http://transition.fcc.gov/fees/regfees.html).  
Please note that the use of the online Fee Filer system is mandatory, and filers are reminded that 
hardcopy/paper bills will no longer be mailed by the FCC.  However, these bills are available for 
viewing in the Regulatory Fee link of Fee Filer.  For additional information, please contact the 
Financial Operations Help Desk at 877-480-3201, Option 4.  
There are many benefits to licensees and regulatees in using the Commission’s Fee Filer system:  1) 
expeditious submission of payment; 2) no postage or courier costs (when paid electronically through 
Fee Filer); 3) fewer errors caused by illegible handwriting or payments submitted without an FRN 
number or the appropriate data attributes (e.g., payers will avoid receiving delinquency notices 
because of payment submission errors); 4) improved recordkeeping and payment reconciliation; 5) 
reduced administrative burden on both licensees and regulatees on Commission staff in processing 
regulatory fee payments; 6) less expensive than a wire transfer; and 7) a reduced burden of preparing, 
mailing, and storing paper documents.
To Begin the Process:
To begin the process of filing your FY 2012 ITSP regulatory fee, please access the FCC’s Fee Filer web 
application located at:  www.fcc.gov/feefiler.  
You may incorporate within a single payment your ITSP fee and any other regulatory fee that you owe.  
If you log in with the FRN associated with your ITSP regulatory fee, you will be automatically presented 
with a pre-completed worksheet resembling a Form 159-W.  Adjustments or corrections may be made 
electronically to this pre-completed worksheet, if necessary.
Payment methods for electronic filings:
· Online Credit Card via Fee Filer (see paragraph below on limits to credit card transactions) 
· Online ACH Debit from Bank Account, via Fee Filer
· Check, money order, or credit card payment (mailed with a Fee Filer-produced Remittance 
Voucher Form 159-E)
4· Wire Transfer (preceded by a faxed (314-418-4232) copy of a Fee Filer-generated Remittance 
Voucher Form 159-E – see http://www.fcc.gov/fees/wiretran.html for full instructions.)
LIMITATIONS ON CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS
The U.S Treasury is rejecting the processing of Credit Card transactions greater than 
$49,999.99. The U.S. Treasury has published Treasury Financial Manual (TFM) No. A-2012-
02 (http://fms.treas.gov/tfm/vol1/announc.html) of February 2012 in which agencies are 
directed to limit Credit Card collections amounts not to exceed $49,999.99.
The revised policy, effective June 30, 2012, lowers the maximum dollar amount allowed for a 
Credit Card transaction (previously at $99,999.99) and eliminates the maximum dollar limit 
for a debit card transaction. This new limit now applies to Credit Card transactions only.
In addition, the U.S. Treasury will reject multiple Credit Card transactions from a single 
credit card in a single day that accumulate to more than $49,999.99. Transactions that cause 
the total of the transactions charged to the credit card on that day to exceed the total daily 
dollar-value limit of $49,999.00 will reject, the transactions that are below the limit will 
process.
The FCC will institute policies that will conform to the U.S. Treasury policy. Entities needing 
to remit amounts of $50,000.00 or greater need to use alternative methods of payment: check, 
debit card, ACH or FedWire.  Additional information can be found at 
http://transition.fcc.gov/fees/regfees.html.
The FCC will post warnings on various FCC websites to remind entities making payments to 
the FCC of the U.S. Treasury policy of rejecting credit card transactions that exceed this 
single day limit of $49,999.99 per Credit Card per day.
Regulatory Fee payments that violate the U.S. Treasury limit and are rejected by Treasury 
causing a payment not to meet the specified payment window requirements will be subjected 
to interest, fees, and a 25% Late Payment Penalty.
Corrections to ITSP Worksheet
After logging into Fee Filer, you will have an opportunity to edit your pre-completed ITSP 
worksheet.  Upon completion of your edits, you will have an opportunity to pay electronically or 
generate a Form 159-E “Remittance Advice” voucher which you can use to mail in along with your 
payment.  PLEASE NOTE:  Please note that if you revise your Form 159-W worksheet, it is your 
responsibility to file a revised 499-A form with USAC.  Until this revised 499-A form is filed with 
USAC, the Commission will continue to use the 499-A form upon which the regulatory fee bill was 
created as the official regulatory fee amount due.    
5De Minimis Fee Exemption (Less Than $10): If your ITSP regulatory fee amount due is under 
$10, you may not be required to pay.  Please review your information on the 159-W worksheet to 
ensure that the data used to calculate the fee amount is correct.  If the data is correct and your total
regulatory fee obligation, including your ITSP fee and all other FCC regulatory fees obligations that 
you may have, is less than $10, then you do not owe any FCC regulatory fees for 2012.  If that is the 
case, you do not need to respond to the Commission regarding your ITSP regulatory fee. 
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question 1.  What is the FCC Form 499-A Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet? 
As required under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,2 the Commission has established, 
in a series of separate proceedings, procedures to finance interstate telecommunications relay services 
(TRS), universal service support mechanisms, administration of the North American Numbering Plan 
(NANPA), and shared costs of local number portability (LNPA).  To accomplish these Congressional 
directed objectives, contributions are collected from all telecommunications carriers providing 
interstate telecommunications and certain other providers of telecommunications.  In 1999, the 
Commission amended its rules so that for the purpose of determining their contribution(s), 
contributors to these mechanisms need only file the FCC Form 499-A Telecommunications 
Reporting Worksheet.3 The FCC Form 499-A is filed by interstate service providers each year on 
April 1.  A copy of the form and instructions can be downloaded at http://www.fcc.gov/forms.
Question 2.  Which companies must file an FCC Form 499-A?
All providers of telecommunications and Interconnected VoIP services within the United States, with 
very limited exceptions, must file an FCC Form 499-A.4 For this purpose, the United States is 
defined as the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, 
Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Island, Navassa Island, the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Wake Island.  As a 
general matter, each legal entity that provides interstate telecommunications and Interconnected VoIP 
services for a fee, including each affiliate or subsidiary of an entity, must complete separately and file 
a copy of the FCC Form 499-A.  The Commission, however, has adopted an exception to the separate 
legal-entity requirement, which enables contributors meeting certain criteria to file the FCC Form 
499-A on a consolidated basis.
For purposes of determining whether an entity provides telecommunications, please note that the 
term "telecommunications" means the transmission, between or among points specified by the user, 
of information of the user's choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent 
  
2 47 U.S.C. §§151, 225, 251, 254.
3 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review -- Streamlined Contributor Reporting Requirements Associated with Administration of 
Telecommunications Relay Services, North American Numbering Plan, Local Number Portability, and Universal Service 
Support Mechanisms, CC Docket No. 98-171, Report and Order, 14 FCC Rcd 16602 (1999) (Contributor Reporting 
Requirements Order).
4 Section 254(d) applies not only to “every telecommunications carrier that provides interstate telecommunications 
services” but also to certain “other providers of interstate telecommunications.”  47 U.S.C. §254(d) (emphasis added).
6and received.  For the purpose of filing, the term "interstate telecommunications" includes, but is not 
limited to, the following types of services:  wireless telephony including cellular and personal 
communications services (PCS); paging and messaging services; dispatch services; mobile radio 
services; operator services; access to interexchange service; interconnected Voice over Internet 
Protocol (VoIP) service, special access; wide area telecommunications services (WATS); subscriber 
toll-free services; 900 services; message telephone services (MTS); private line; telex; telegraph; 
video services; satellite services; and resale services. Note, for example, that all local exchange 
carriers provide access services and, therefore, provide interstate telecommunications.  
“Interconnected VoIP service” is defined in 47 CFR §9.3.
Note:  entities that offer interstate telecommunications and Interconnected VoIP services for a fee to 
the public, even if only to a narrow or limited class of users that utilize their services, must file the 
FCC Form 499-A and are subject to the universal service contribution requirement.  This includes 
entities that provide interstate telecommunications to entities other than themselves for a fee on a 
private, contractual basis.  In addition, owners of pay telephones, sometimes referred to as "pay 
telephone aggregators," must file this worksheet.  Most telecommunications carriers must file this 
worksheet even if they qualify for the de minimis exemption under the Commission's rules for 
universal service.5
Question 3.  Should all FCC Form 499-A filers also pay ITSP regulatory fees?
No.  Interstate service providers that have mobile service or satellite service revenues but that do not 
have interstate local revenues or interstate toll revenues are exempt from payment of ITSP fees.  
Interstate service providers that provide service to only other carriers are also exempt from paying 
ITSP regulatory fees.  Governmental entities and entities that are tax exempt under §501 of the 
Internal Revenue Code are exempt.  Carriers whose total regulatory fee payment obligation is less 
than $10 are also exempt.  However, the vast majority of FCC Form 499-A filers are required to pay 
ITSP regulatory fees.
Question 4.  Should a carrier make a regulatory fee payment if it has not filed an FCC Form 
499-A?
Yes.  If a telecommunications or Interconnected VoIP service provider offered interstate 
telecommunications services in 2011, then it should have filed an FCC Form 499-A, and it must also 
pay the appropriate regulatory fee payments.  The FCC Form 499-A was due on April 1, 2012 and 
should have contained revenue information for calendar year 2011.  Carriers which have not yet filed 
the FCC Form 499-A should contact the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) at 
(888) 641-8722 in order to obtain a filing package and to be assigned a 6-digit Filer 499 ID number.  
  
5 See Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review – Streamlined Contributor 
Reporting Requirements Associated with Administration of Telecommunications Relay Service, North American 
Numbering Plan, Local Number Portability, and Universal Service Support Mechanisms, Telecommunications Services 
for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Administration of 
the North American Numbering Plan Cost Recovery Contribution Factor and Fund Size, Number Resource Optimization, 
Telephone Number Portability, Truth-in-Billing and Billing Format, CC Docket Nos. 96-45, 98-171, 90-571, 92-237, 99-
200, 95-116, 98-170, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd 3752 (2002).
7If a carrier has forgotten its Filer 499 ID, it may contact USAC at (888) 641-8722, or it may access 
the Commission’s online carrier Locator: http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cib/form499/499a.cfm.
Question 5.  What types of revenues are reported on the FCC Form 499-A?
The FCC Form 499-A requires filers to disclose all revenues from all goods and services, including 
revenues from non-regulated and non-telecommunications services.  Detailed information is 
submitted for telecommunications and Interconnected VoIP services provided to other carriers, for 
telecommunications and Interconnected VoIP provided to end users, and for other goods and 
services.  The detailed information is used to classify revenues.  Only certain revenues are subject to 
the ITSP regulatory fee.
Question 6.  When calculating the ITSP regulatory fee, what kind of costs can be deducted from 
revenues that appear on FCC Form 499-A?
None.   The ITSP regulatory fee is based on billed interstate and international end-user revenues for 
local and most toll services.  Other types of revenues provided on FCC Form 499-A are excluded.  
Filers are not allowed to deduct any expenses from subject end-user revenues.  Filers may not reduce 
revenues to reflect uncollectible amounts. 
Question 7.  Where can I call to get help calculating my ITSP regulatory fee?
Call the FCC Financial Operations Help Desk at (877) 480-3201, and select Option 4.
8DO NOT MAIL IN THIS FORM
Approved by OMB
3060-0589
FCC FORM 159-W
INTERSTATE TELEPHONE SERVICE PROVIDER WORKSHEET
Payer Name: Filer 499 ID (FCC Form 499-A, Line 101):
Calendar Year 2011 Revenue Information (show amounts in whole dollars)
1 Service provided by U.S. carriers that both originates and terminates in foreign 
points.  FCC Form 499-A, Line 412 (e)
2 Interstate end-user revenues from all telecommunications services.  FCC Form 499-
A, Line 420 (d)
3 International end-user revenues from all telecommunications and IVoIP services 
except international-to-international. FCC Form 499-A, Line 420 (e)
4 Total interstate and international end-user revenues (Sum of lines 1, 2 and 3)  
Note: Also enter this number on Block (28A) - FCC Code 1.   
5 End-user interstate mobile service monthly and activation charges.  FCC Form 499-
A, Line 409 (d)
6 End-user international mobile service monthly and activation charges.  FCC Form 
499-A, Line 409 (e)
7 End-user interstate mobile service message charges including roaming charges but 
excluding toll charges.  FCC Form 499-A, Line 410 (d)
8 End-user international mobile service message charges including roaming charges 
but excluding toll charges.  FCC Form 499-A, Line 410 (e)
9 End-user interstate satellite service.  FCC Form 499-A Line 416 (d)
10 End-user international satellite service.  FCC Form 499-A Line 416 (e).
11 Surcharges on mobile and satellite services identified as recovering universal service 
contributions and included in Line 403 (d) or 403 (e) on your FCC Form 499-A.  
Note:  You may not include surcharges applied to local or toll services, nor any 
surcharges identified as intrastate surcharges. 
12 Interstate and international revenues from resellers that do not contribute to USF.  
FCC Form 499-A, Line 511 (b)
13 Total excluded end-user revenues.  (Sum of lines 5 through 12.)  
Note: Also enter this number on Block (29A) – FCC Code 2.
14 Total subject revenues.  (Line 4 minus Line 13)  
Also enter this number on Block (25A) – Quantity. Please round to nearest dollar.
15 Interstate telecommunications service provider fee factor .00375
16 2012 Regulatory Fee (Line 14 times Line 15).  Also enter this number on Block 
(27A) – Total Fee.  You are exempt from filing if the sum of all regulatory fees due 
on Line 16 is less than $10.  Note: This is only a worksheet for your records and 
should not be used to accompany your payment.
Please Round to Nearest Dollar
FCC FORM 159-W
August 2012
9APPROVED BY OMB
3060-0589
FCC NOTICE TO INDIVIDUALS REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
The public reporting for the two collections of information mentioned herein are estimated as 
follows:  FCC Form 159-W (3060-0949), 15 minutes per response; FCC Form 499-A (3060-0855), 
10 to 13.5 hours per response; and FCC Forms 159 and 159-C (3060-0589), 10 minutes to 4 hours.  
The estimated time to respond includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data 
sources, gathering and maintaining the required data, and completing and reviewing the collection of 
information.  If you have any comments on this burden estimate, or how we can improve the 
collection, please write to the Federal Communications Commission, AMD-PERM, Paperwork 
Reduction Project ((3060-0949), (3060-0855), and/or (3060-0589), Washington, DC 20554.  We will 
also accept your comments via the Internet if you send them to pra@fcc.gov.  PLEASE DO NOT 
SEND COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS.   
You are not required to respond to a collection of information sponsored by the federal government, 
and the government may not conduct or sponsor a collection, unless it displays a currently valid 
OMB control number.  FCC Form 159-W has been assigned OMB Control Number 3060-0949; FCC 
Form 499-A has been assigned OMB Control Number 3060-0855; and FCC Forms 159 and 159-C 
have been assigned OMB Control Number 3060-0589.
THE FOREGOING NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT 
OF 1995, P.L. 104-13, OCTOBER 1, 1995, 44 U.S.C. SECTION 3507.
-FCC-
FCC FORM 159-W
August 2012