September 1, 2021 – The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) has filed projected universal service fund (USF) contribution base data which will be used to determine the USF contribution factor for the fourth quarter of calendar year 2021.

USAC has determined that the total projected interstate and international end-user telecommunications revenue base for the fourth quarter of 2021 is $9,517,295,012.

To provide a comparison, the total USF contribution base amounts for the past seven quarters were as follows:

• Third Quarter 2021:  $9,665,944,070

• Second Quarter 2021:  $9,905,669,690

• First Quarter 2021:  $10,068,712,553

• Fourth Quarter 2020:  $10,428,377,862

• Third Quarter 2020:  $10,219,123,520

• Second Quarter 2020:  $10,865,131,593

• First Quarter 2020:  $11,129,976,956

USAC’s estimated revenue base for the fourth quarter of 2021 was derived from projected collected revenue for October to December 2021 reported by telecommunications service providers using FCC Form 499-Q submitted in August 2021 – 4,681 reporting providers, of which 3,194 are USF contributors and 1,487 are non-contributing de minimis service providers. As of August 19, 2021, USAC has yet to receive information from 155 non-de minimis telecommunications service providers that had previously submitted Form 499-Q revenue information to USAC.

After the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approves the total USF contribution base, the quarterly funding requirements for USF support mechanisms, and projected USF administrative costs, the FCC will establish a USF contribution factor for the fourth quarter of 2021. The new contribution factor will be announced by a Public Notice. USAC will then bill USF contributors on a monthly basis for their individual obligations based on the approved contribution factor.