FCC Filing · United StatesIf you sell voice service in the US, the FCC and USAC expect to hear from you several times a year.
We set up your FRN and 499 Filer ID, prepare the Form 499 revenue worksheets, and keep CPNI and Robocall Mitigation Database filings on schedule, working alongside your telecom counsel where legal judgment is needed.
Tax
At a glance
- Authorities
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) · Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
- Forms & references
- FCC Form 499-AFCC Form 499-QCPNI Annual Certification (EB Docket No. 06-36)Robocall Mitigation Database filingBroadband Data Collection filing
- Filed with
- FCC and USAC
- Form 499-A
- Annual, due April 1, reporting prior-year revenue
- Form 499-Q
- Quarterly, due around February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1; not required for de minimis filers
- March 1
- CPNI certification and Robocall Mitigation Database recertification
Overview
What it is, and why it matters.
Providers of interstate telecommunications and interconnected VoIP must register with the FCC and report revenue for the Universal Service Fund. Registration starts with an FCC Registration Number (FRN) from the Commission Registration System (CORES), followed by Form 499-A, which gives you a 499 Filer ID and records your agent for service of process in Washington, DC. New carriers and VoIP providers are expected to register within 30 days of starting service.
Revenue reporting runs through the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Form 499-A, due April 1, reports the previous calendar year’s revenue. Form 499-Q, due around the first of February, May, August and November, reports and projects quarterly revenue. Providers whose estimated annual USF contribution would be under $10,000 are treated as de minimis and generally file Form 499-A only.
Other filings sit alongside: the annual CPNI certification, due March 1; the Robocall Mitigation Database, which now requires annual recertification by March 1; and, for some providers, twice-yearly Broadband Data Collection filings and Section 214 authorization for international service. Several of these involve legal judgments. We prepare and coordinate the filings, and your telecom counsel advises on regulatory status and legal positions.
Who needs it
Who typically needs it.
- 01
Interconnected VoIP providers
Hosted PBX, SIP trunking and business voice providers whose service connects to the public telephone network.
- 02
Telecom resellers and MVNOs
Companies reselling voice or wireless service under their own brand, including those that believe they are de minimis.
- 03
Wholesale and intermediate carriers
Providers carrying traffic between networks, which have their own Robocall Mitigation Database obligations.
- 04
International and prepaid calling providers
Businesses carrying international traffic or selling prepaid calling, which may need Section 214 authorization.
- 05
Foreign-owned US telecom companies
US entities owned from Pakistan, the UK or elsewhere, where foreign ownership affects FCC applications and reviews.
When you need it
The moments that usually trigger it.
- You’re about to launch a US voice or VoIP service and haven’t registered with the FCC.
- April 1 is approaching and Form 499-A hasn’t been started.
- You’ve received a USAC invoice or late-filing notice you don’t understand.
- An upstream carrier wants your Robocall Mitigation Database listing or 499 Filer ID before it will accept your traffic.
- Your company’s ownership, address or officers have changed and FCC records need updating.
- You want to check whether you qualify as de minimis for USF purposes.
Scope
Exactly what we handle.
Our engagement letter lists these specifically, so you know what is included before any work begins.
- 01
Obtaining your FRN through CORES and keeping your CORES information current.
- 02
Registering in the Form 499 Filer Database, including the required contacts and a DC agent for service of process.
- 03
Preparing Forms 499-A and 499-Q from your revenue data, including the interstate, intrastate and international split and the classification of reseller revenue.
- 04
Running the de minimis calculation from the Form 499-A instructions and keeping the worksheet on file.
- 05
Preparing the annual CPNI certification and accompanying statement of procedures for filing in EB Docket No. 06-36.
- 06
Preparing Robocall Mitigation Database filings and annual recertifications, and tracking the 10-business-day update rule when details change.
- 07
Tracking Broadband Data Collection deadlines (March 1 and September 1) where you must file, and annual FCC regulatory fees.
- 08
Coordinating Section 214 applications and ownership-change filings with your telecom counsel.
The process
How it runs, step by step.
Timings depend on the authority and on how quickly documents come together. We tell you what’s typical for your case at the start.
Start with a conversationStatus review
We review your services, network arrangements and ownership and, with your counsel, confirm which FCC obligations apply.
Registrations
We set up or correct your FRN, CORES record and 499 Filer ID.
Revenue mapping
We map your billing data to the Form 499 revenue lines and jurisdictional categories.
Prepare and certify
We prepare each filing, an authorized officer of your company reviews and certifies it, and it is submitted by the deadline.
Compliance calendar
Every FCC and USAC deadline, plus update triggers such as ownership changes, goes into a shared calendar.
What we’ll need
The information to have ready.
A typical checklist. After the first conversation we send a version specific to your situation, so you don’t gather anything you don’t need.
Company details
- Legal name, EIN, address and ownership, including any foreign ownership
- Officers who can certify filings
- Existing FRN, CORES login and 499 Filer ID, if any
Service information
- A description of each service and how it reaches customers
- Upstream and downstream carriers
- STIR/SHAKEN implementation status and your robocall mitigation plan
Revenue data
- Revenue by service type and by month
- The split between interstate, intrastate and international revenue
- Revenue from reseller customers, with their 499 Filer IDs and reseller certifications
Policies
- CPNI procedures and any related customer complaints received during the year
Please don’t email passports or bank statements. Once we’ve spoken, you’ll get access to a secure upload.
Common mistakes
Where this usually goes wrong.
The problems we are most often asked to fix, and what they tend to cost.
- Mistake 01
Skipping Form 499-A because you are de minimis
De minimis carriers and interconnected VoIP providers are generally still required to file Form 499-A, partly because it supports other programs and fees. Without it, USAC may estimate your revenue and bill you on that basis.
- Mistake 02
Letting the Robocall Mitigation Database filing go stale
Filings must be recertified every year by March 1 and updated within 10 business days of a change. Providers removed from the database can have their traffic blocked by other carriers.
- Mistake 03
Misclassifying revenue
Treating end-user revenue as reseller revenue, or misallocating interstate and international revenue, changes your USF contribution base and can lead to back-billing after an audit.
- Mistake 04
Missing the CPNI certification
The annual CPNI certification applies to small providers too, and the FCC has taken enforcement action against providers that did not file.
Worth knowing
The limits, stated upfront.
We are not a law firm. Regulatory classification, Section 214 applications, foreign ownership reviews and enforcement matters need telecom counsel, and we work with yours.
Each filing is certified by an officer of your company. We prepare and coordinate, but the certifying officer remains responsible for its accuracy.
FCC rules, fees and deadlines change. We confirm current requirements on fcc.gov and usac.org before each filing.
USF contribution factors and USAC invoices are set by the FCC and USAC and are outside our control.
We are not affiliated with the FCC or USAC.
Questions
FCC Filing: frequently asked.
If yours isn’t here, ask us directly. We’ll answer in plain terms.
Ask a questionWhat is an FRN and how do I get one?
An FCC Registration Number (FRN) is the 10-digit number that identifies your company in FCC systems. It is issued online through the Commission Registration System (CORES), and you need it before you can make most other FCC filings.
Do I need to file Form 499-A if I am de minimis?
Usually, yes. De minimis status, meaning an estimated annual USF contribution under $10,000, generally removes the obligation to contribute directly and to file Form 499-Q. Carriers and interconnected VoIP providers must still file Form 499-A each year.
When are the Form 499 filings due?
Form 499-A is due April 1 and reports the previous calendar year’s revenue. Form 499-Q is due around February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, moving to the next business day when the date falls on a weekend. USAC publishes the exact dates each year, and we check them before filing.
What is the Robocall Mitigation Database?
It is an FCC database in which voice service providers, gateway providers and intermediate providers certify their STIR/SHAKEN status and describe their robocall mitigation programs. Filings must now be recertified every year by March 1 (the first annual deadline was in 2026) and updated within 10 business days of any change. The FCC has also adopted a filing fee whose start date is tied to system upgrades, so we check the current position before each filing.
What is the annual CPNI certification?
It is a certification, signed by an officer, that your company complied with the FCC’s rules protecting customer proprietary network information (such as call records and account data) during the previous calendar year. It is filed in EB Docket No. 06-36 by March 1, or the next business day when March 1 falls on a weekend.
Do we need Section 214 authorization?
You may, if you provide international telecommunications services, including some resale. Whether it applies to your service, and how foreign ownership affects the application, is a legal question for telecom counsel. We help assemble the information and coordinate the filing.
Can you file on our behalf?
We prepare the filings and manage the submission process with you, but certifications must be made by an officer of your company. That officer remains responsible for the accuracy of what is filed.
Related
Often needed alongside this.
Speak with a consultant
Talk to us about fCC Filing.
Pick the closest match and we’ll take it from there. You’ll get a written scope and fee before any work begins.
Or use our three-step guide, or email hello@fiscorra.com
