September 1, 2022 – 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 2022.[1] The contribution base data was calculated using projected revenue amounts for October through December 2022 reported by telecommunications service providers on their FCC Forms 499-Q which were filed August 1, 2022.

USAC has determined that the total projected collected interstate and international end-user telecommunications revenue base for the fourth quarter of 2022 is $8,624,083,282. This is a slight increase in the USF base from the third quarter of 2022 ($8.285 billion). To provide a historical comparison, total USF contribution base amounts for the past 11 quarters were as follows:

• Third Quarter 2022  –  $8,285,056,307

• Second Quarter 2022  –  $8,751,403,396

• First Quarter 2022  –  $9,235,845,776

• Fourth Quarter 2021  –  $9,517,295,012

• 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

For the fourth quarter of 2022, USAC received revenue data from 3,188 USF contributors who filed the August 2022 Form 499-Q. USAC estimated revenue data for 181 non-de minimis service providers that had previously submitted Form 499-Q information to USAC, but failed to file in August. 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 2022. The new contribution factor will be announced by an FCC Public Notice. USAC will then bill USF contributors on a monthly basis for their individual obligations based on the approved contribution factor.

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[1] Universal Service Administrative Company, Federal Universal Service Support Mechanisms Quarterly Contribution Base for the Fourth Quarter 2022, WC Docket No. 06-122 and CC Docket No. 96-45 (Sep. 1, 2022) https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10901274810244.