FCC Seeks Comment on Proposed Changes to Forms 499-A and 499-Q

The FCC is seeking comment on its proposed changes to the FCC Forms 499-A and 499-Q.  Comments are due on Monday, August 2.

The most noteworthy proposed change would include on line 308 of the Form 499-A revenues received from the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB), and the COVID-19 Telehealth Program.  If adopted, this change would mean that revenues from these programs would be treated the same as universal services revenues:  filers may report funding received from these programs as non-assessable revenue on line 308.  As with USF, any amounts end-users pay for non-discounted portions of services must be reported as end-user revenue and may not be included on line 308.  This proposed change appears on page 29 of the FCC Form 499-A instructions.  The Commission also released the draft proposed 499-Q instructions.