Starting August 31, 2010, all Universal Service payments must be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT). After August 31, if a service provider fails to provide the required financial institution information on its FCC Form 498 to enable payment by EFT, USAC will withhold payment until the required information is provided.
Service providers that have not yet provided their automated clearing house (ACH) information to USAC must file a revision to the Form 498 and include the required financial institution information (account and routing numbers) before August 31, to avoid any delays in funding.
A service provider can update their Form 498 by logging into USAC’s e-file system and adding the necessary financial institution information under Financial Institution Account Number for ACH. Once updated, general contacts may select the “submit” option but may not certify the form; only company officers may certify the form. Submitting the form will notify the company officer via email that there is a form in need of certification. After the required information is updated, submitted, and certified, the service provider will begin receiving all USAC payments through the accounts designated on the form.
More information about the EFT payments and other changes to the Form 498 can be viewed here.
