Fcc Form 159-W - Interstate Telephone Service Provider Worksheet (Page 5 of 8) in pdf

All providers of telecommunications and Interconnected VoIP services within the United States, with

very limited exceptions, must file an FCC Form 499-A.

For this purpose, the United States is

defined as the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam,

Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Island, Navassa Island, the

Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Wake Island. As a

general matter, each legal entity that provides interstate telecommunications and Interconnected VoIP

services for a fee, including each affiliate or subsidiary of an entity, must complete separately and file

a copy of the FCC Form 499-A. The Commission, however, has adopted an exception to the separate

legal-entity requirement, which enables contributors meeting certain criteria to file the FCC Form

499-A on a consolidated basis.

For purposes of determining whether an entity provides telecommunications, please note that the

term "telecommunications" means the transmission, between or among points specified by the user,

of information of the user's choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent

and received. For the purpose of filing, the term "interstate telecommunications" includes, but is not

limited to, the following types of services: wireless telephony including cellular and personal

communications services (PCS); paging and messaging services; dispatch services; mobile radio

services; operator services; access to interexchange service; interconnected Voice over Internet

Protocol (VoIP) service, special access; wide area telecommunications services (WATS); subscriber

toll-free services; 900 services; message telephone services (MTS); private line; telex; telegraph;

video services; satellite services; and resale services. Note, for example, that all local exchange

carriers provide access services and, therefore, provide interstate telecommunications.

“Interconnected VoIP service” is defined in 47 CFR §9.3.

Note: entities that offer interstate telecommunications and Interconnected VoIP services for a fee to

the public, even if only to a narrow or limited class of users that utilize their services, must file the

FCC Form 499-A and are subject to the universal service contribution requirement. This includes

entities that provide interstate telecommunications to entities other than themselves for a fee on a

private, contractual basis. In addition, owners of pay telephones, sometimes referred to as "pay

telephone aggregators," must file this worksheet. Most telecommunications carriers must file this

worksheet even if they qualify for the de minimis exemption under the Commission's rules for

universal service.

Question 3. Should all FCC Form 499-A filers also pay ITSP regulatory fees?

Section 254(d) applies not only to “every telecommunications carrier that provides interstate telecommunications

services” but also to certain “other providers of interstate telecommunications.” 47 U.S.C. §254(d) (emphasis added).

See Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review – Streamlined Contributor

Reporting Requirements Associated with Administration of Telecommunications Relay Service, North American

Numbering Plan, Local Number Portability, and Universal Service Support Mechanisms, Telecommunications Services

for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Administration of

the North American Numbering Plan Cost Recovery Contribution Factor and Fund Size, Number Resource Optimization,

Telephone Number Portability, Truth-in-Billing and Billing Format, CC Docket Nos. 96-45, 98-171, 90-571, 92-237, 99-

200, 95-116, 98-170, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd 3752 (2002).

Fcc Form 159-W - Interstate Telephone Service Provider Worksheet Page 5