The Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) has granted a limited waiver to all eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) of the July 1, 2024, filing deadline for FCC Form 481. ETCs that request federal high-cost or low-income universal service support from the Universal Service Administrative Company are required to file Form 481 by July 1 every year. However, on June 26, 2024, USAC began experiencing technical difficulties that disrupted the filing process. USAC temporarily disabled the FCC Form 481 filing portal while they attempt to resolve the issue.
The WCB found that these technical difficulties and the closing of the portal serve as good cause to justify the limited waiver. The Form 481 filing deadline is now July 10, 2024.
