2018 Means Changes to Form 555, Lifeline Recertification Filing

The New Year brings changes to the FCC Form 555, which ETCs use to report the results of their Lifeline recertification efforts in 2017. The updated Form 555 is due on January 31, 2018. This year, Form 555 must be completed and submitted using the Universal Service Administrative Company’s (USAC) E-file system rather than mailing in paper forms or submitting them via email. Certified copies of Form 555 must also be filed at the FCC and applicable state commissions.

Also new for 2018, ETCs will report the results of the monthly rolling recertification rather than a yearly aggregate as in previous years. Finally, the 2017 results will not include data for January through June 2017 due to the rolling recertification transition period. Companies will only report July through December 2017 results. Next year, however, ETCs will report data for the entire year.

Depending on your needs, JSI is available to assist you with Form 555 by filing it through USAC’s E-file system, guiding you through the process, and/or filing the necessary copies with the FCC and state commissions. If you would like JSI to submit the form in E-file, your company officer or general contact will need to create an account to designate someone as an Authorized Agent through the USAC website. The Single-SAC or Multi-SAC monthly recertification trackers can be used to track and compile your company’s rolling recertification results monthly and can be found on USAC’s website.

If you have any questions or you would like JSI’s help, please contact Lans Chase in JSI’s Georgia office at 770-569-2105 or Lisa McLaughlin in JSI’s Texas office at 512-338-0473.