1
Available for Public Use
Accessing E-File User Guide
Last updated September 2023
Contents
What is E-File?.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Sign In ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Multifactor Authentication .................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Reset Password ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Dashboard.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Forms ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Access Forms .................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Certify and Submit Forms ............................................................................................................................................................. 16
Check Form Status ......................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Revise Forms .................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Payments ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 18
Payment History .............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Balance Details ................................................................................................................................................................................ 20
USAC Invoices .................................................................................................................................................................................. 22
Invoice History ................................................................................................................................................................................. 25
True-Up Statements ...................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Contributor Messages ......................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Contributor Messages: Responding to 499-A Issues ............................................................................................................. 29
Contributor Messages: Sending General Questions ............................................................................................................. 31
Issue Emails ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
FCC Form 499-Q De Minimis Notification ...................................................................................................................................... 33
Who Uses the De Minimis Notification? .................................................................................................................................... 33
Selecting and Confirming the Notification .............................................................................................................................. 33
Special Scenarios ............................................................................................................................................................................ 34
Administrative Overview .................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Add or Remove Users .................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Temporary Access .......................................................................................................................................................................... 42
3
Available for Public Use
What is E-File?
E-File is USAC's online forms submission tool. E-File is the platform in which contributors and
service providers can register with USAC and manage their forms, including the FCC Forms 499.
This user guide will walk through how to access and navigate through the E-File system, and how
to manage the FCC Form(s) 499 as Preparers or Company Officers for one or multiple companies.
Before getting started, it is important to know your role within E-File.
The Preparer has authorization to prepare the FCC Form 499-A/Q, access invoice copies, account
histories, and other information related to the 499 Filer ID. The Preparer is not authorized to certify
or submit an FCC Form 499-A/Q.
The Company Officer can perform all the same activities as a Preparer. In addition, the Company
Officer can add or remove authorized users for the 499 Filer ID. Only the Company Officer can
certify and submit an FCC Form 499-A/Q.
Use the Table of Contents functionality to jump to each section.
Sign In
1. Visit USAC’s website at usac.org.
2. Click the blue Sign In button in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage.
3. Review the information and click Continue.
4
Available for Public Use
4. Enter your username and password.
5. Read the disclaimer. If you accept the terms and conditions, click the checkbox to accept
the disclaimer.
Note: The sign in button will become clickable once these steps are completed. Click the
blue sign in button at the bottom.
5
Available for Public Use
Multifactor Authentication
After signing in with your username and password, the system will prompt you to initiate the
multifactor authentication process. Follow the steps below to complete this process.
1. Click Send Email to have a verification code sent to the email address listed. Open the
email to retrieve the verification code.
2.
Enter the code from the email into the box and click Verify.
Note: This code is only valid for 10 minutes from the time it was sent.
6
Available for Public Use
3.
Click the down arrow next to each selection to see and access the USAC systems. If you
have access to only one USAC system, a page will appear giving you the option of either
going directly to that USAC system or managing your multifactor authentication settings. If
you have access to multiple USAC systems, you can manage your multifactor
authentication settings from this dashboard page.
7
Available for Public Use
4. Select Settings under the arrow by your username in the upper righthand corner. USAC
recommends that you visit this settings page to add a mobile phone number to your
account. This will allow you to choose to receive login verification codes by email or text
message. This is also the place where you may change the primary email address that
would receive authentication codes in the future.
Note: Updating the primary email address does not update the username address you use
when you log in.
5.
To enter a mobile number that will be used to text you a verification code, find the extra
verification box and click Setup.
Note: Make sure that the popup blocker is turned off on your internet browser as the next
few screens are mini windows that popup over the main screen.
8
Available for Public Use
6.
Enter the mobile phone that you wish to receive texts with the verification code. Then,
select Send Code to authenticate your phone number.
7.
A code will be immediately texted to the number that you entered. Enter that code in the
code verification box and click Verify. If you have entered the code accurately, the system
will give you a message that you verified successfully.
9
Available for Public Use
8.
Select Done to take you back to the main settings page. The next time you log in, you will
see a screen that prompts you to decide which method to deliver the code through email
or text message.
9.
Once you finish customizing your settings, click on the USAC banner on the top left to
return to the dashboard.
Reset Password
Follow the steps below to change or reset your password.
1. Click the Forgot Password link on the main login screen.
10
Available for Public Use
2. Enter your username in the box provided and click the Reset Via Email button.
11
Available for Public Use
3. USAC will send you an email that includes a link that will take you to a screen prompting
you to change your password. Click the link to reset your password. This link is valid for
only one hour.
4. Enter your new password and click the Reset Password button. The password must be
eight characters, one uppercase, one lowercase, one number, contain one special
character, and cannot be any of your last eight passwords.
12
Available for Public Use
5. Once the password reset is accepted, continue the login process with multifactor
authentication. Initiate the authentication by clicking the Send Email link.
6.
You will then receive an email with a six-digit code. Enter the code into the box marked
Enter Code. The code is only valid for 10 minutes.
13
Available for Public Use
Dashboard
On the left-hand side of your screen are important upcoming dates. On the right-hand side of your
screen are options to get in contact with the USAC Customer Service Center (CSC). Under the
Service Providers dropdown are options to enter the FCC Forms 499 and/or FCC Forms 498.
Click on Manage FCC Forms 499 to view your filer status, company contacts, and associated 498
IDs. If you are a Preparer or Company Officer for multiple companies, you will be able to select a
company from the dropdown menu. To manage your FCC Forms 499, toggle between 499 Forms,
Payments, and Messages.
14
Available for Public Use
Forms
This section will walk through how to access, check status, and revise FCC Forms 499 A/Q in E-File.
Access Forms
Once you are logged into E-File, you will only be able to see the systems in which you have access.
Follow the steps below to access forms in E-File.
1. On your dashboard, click on the paragraph Manage FCC Forms 499.
15
Available for Public Use
2. Navigate to the Filer ID you wish to work on. Scroll to the bottom of the screen to see most
current forms.
3. There will be several options to click on to access the form. To view a PDF version of your
form, navigate to the View column and click the PDF icon.
16
Available for Public Use
4. To start the form, select the Start Form action. To continue a form that’s been started,
click Continue. To revise a form, select the Revise action.
Note: Forms can be previewed, saved, certified, and submitted once you enter the form. The form
can only be submitted by the Company Officer designated in E-File.
Certify and Submit Forms
Forms must be certified before they are submitted to USAC. The form can only be submitted by
the Company Officer designated in E-File. Review the form, and if you are ready to submit it, click
the Preview and Certify the Form button. When certifying the form, enter the date on which you
are completing the form. If needed, you can also save the form and come back to it later.
17
Available for Public Use
Check Form Status
You can find your form status under the Status column. Visit our What to Expect After Filing
webpage to view a list of the possible terms for each Filer ID’s individual forms.
Revise Forms
Follow the steps below to revise a form.
1. Under the Action column, click on the word Revise in blue text. Please note that if Revise
is not blue and clickable, you cannot revise the form.
2. Once you click Revise, you will be taken into the data entry screen. Revenues are carried
forward to the revision you are working on. Find the line number you need to revise and
enter the new revenue number.
Note: Only Company Officers can certify to submit the revision to USAC. Revisions are processed in
the next month with invoice processing. Your revision data is sent to third party administrators on
or around the 20th of each month.
18
Available for Public Use
Payments
Payment History
Follow the steps below to view your payment history.
1. Click the Payments tab.
19
Available for Public Use
2. Click the blue hyperlink under the company name column for the account you would like
to view and click Payment History.
Note: If you click on Make a Payment, you will be routed to the Department of Treasury’s
website.
20
Available for Public Use
Balance Details
Follow the steps below to view your balance details.
1. Click the Payments tab.
2. From the Select Payment View drop-down, click Balance Details.
21
Available for Public Use
22
Available for Public Use
USAC Invoices
Follow the steps below to view USAC invoices.
1. Click the Payments tab.
23
Available for Public Use
2. Find the drop down under the Select Payment View heading and click Invoices. A list of
filer invoices for the past 24 months will be displayed with the most current invoice at the
top of the list.
24
Available for Public Use
3. Click on the PDF icon to display the invoice. A separate window will open displaying the
invoice.
25
Available for Public Use
Invoice History
Follow the steps below to view your invoice history.
1. Click the Payments tab.
2. Click on the option titled Invoice History under the Select Payment View dropdown.
26
Available for Public Use
3. Enter a Begin Date and End Date to view your invoice history for a specific time period, or
you can leave this section blank to view your entire invoice history.
Note: Click Search to download an Excel spreadsheet with your invoice history.
27
Available for Public Use
True-Up Statements
A True-Up is the process of reconciling the revenue reported on an FCC Form 499-A to the
projected revenue on the respective FCC Forms 499-Q. Service providers are now able to see the
past two years of true-up statements in E-File.
To view True-Up statements, follow the step below.
1. Select the Payments tab.
28
Available for Public Use
2. Under Select Payment View, click True-Up Statements from the drop-down list.
Note: You can only view your two most recent True-Up Statements. The PDF icon under the
View column provides the true-up calculation for your Filer ID.
29
Available for Public Use
Contributor Messages
Contributor Messages: Responding to 499-A Issues
USAC analysts review submitted FCC Forms 499-A to ensure that revenues are reported accurately.
On occasion, they have questions regarding revenues reported on these forms and will send a
message to request a response. If USAC sends a message requesting a response, the FCC Form
499-A status will be changed to Issue-Carrier Response Required.
When USAC sends a message, the Preparer receives an automated email notification alerting them
to the new message. In some cases, USAC may send an email notification to the Company Officers
as well.
Regardless of whether they received the automated notice, all company users with access to E-File
can view and reply to the message. You can respond with any questions or answers you may have,
though please note that your responses will be visible to all company users as well.
If the information you provide satisfies the analyst’s question, the analyst will respond to let you
know that the FCC Form 499-A was approved. If the information you provide needs further
clarification, they will continue to communicate through messages until it is determined that a
revision of the FCC Form 499-A is required, or the FCC Form 499-A is approved.
Follow the steps below to view messages with 499-A issues:
1. On the Filer ID main page, from the options tabs, select Messages.
2. In the Inbox, look for messages with “ISSUE” in the message name as well as the correct
year of the FCC Form 499-A.
a. If you don’t see the message, check the message archive by selecting Archive in the
left-side menu.
30
Available for Public Use
3. Click on the message name to open the message.
4. Click the reply arrow in the top-right corner to add your reply, then click the blue “Send”
button to submit the reply.
31
Available for Public Use
Contributor Messages: Sending General Questions
Contributor Messages allows you to send a message about topics related to the FCC Form 499-A,
e.g., billing, payments, or information on your company’s submitted form. USAC analysts will
review the message and respond within 24-48 hours (not including weekends or federal holidays).
Please follow the steps below to send a message:
1. In the “Inbox” view, click the blue “Compose” button.
2. Select the appropriate company and message category.
3. Write the subject line and message content.
4. Click the “Send” button.
Note: For general USAC questions or requests for technical assistance, please continue to contact
the USAC Customer Service Center (CSC) using our Contact Form or calling (888) 641-8722. The
CSC is operational Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
For example, direct these common questions to the CSC:
• Where is the login page/guide/Form 499-A?
• How do I certify a form?
• I need help adding a new user.
• How do I reset to an incomplete 499-A?
32
Available for Public Use
Issue Emails
The E-File Contributor Messages feature (p. 28-30) replaced the Issue Emails tab in E-File on May
15, 2023.
Previously, USAC sent Issue Emails when the USAC analysts who review FCC Forms 499-A needed
to ask follow-up questions. As of May 15, 2023, USAC now uses Contributor Messages for these
communications instead of sending an Issue Email.
Note: You can still respond to any issue emails received before this transition date. USAC will
continue to communicate on either communication channel until announced otherwise.
As described in the Contributor Messages section, if information you provide satisfies the analyst’s
question, the analyst will send you an email to let you know that the FCC Form 499-A was
approved. If the information you provide needs further clarification, they will continue to
communicate through email until it is determined that a revision of the FCC Form 499-A is
required, or the FCC Form 499-A is approved.
33
Available for Public Use
FCC Form 499-Q De Minimis Notification
All company users with access to E-File will see a toggleable “De Minimis” button on their FCC
Form 499 home page in E-File.
Who Uses the De Minimis Notification?
USAC does not require service providers with de minimis status to file quarterly FCC Forms 499-Q.
However, USAC recommends that de minimis service providers use this E-File notification button
to inform USAC of their status. Service providers who are not de minimis should leave this button
unselected.
Note: If you use the notification button, you do not need to email USAC each quarter to notify us
of your status.
Selecting and Confirming the Notification
To notify USAC of your company’s de minimis status, click the notification button. In most cases,
you will immediately see the standard confirmation screen:
34
Available for Public Use
Select the blue “Notify USAC” button to confirm your notification. USAC won’t receive your
notification until you click this button.
Note: You will need to notify USAC at least once per year, as your status will reset on October 1.
The confirmation popup will list the upcoming quarters that are covered by your notification. The
deadlines to notify USAC that you will not be filing each quarter’s FCC Form 499-Q are:
• November - Notify USAC on or before November 1
• February - Notify USAC on or before February 1
• May - Notify USAC on or before May 1
• August - Notify USAC before on or before August 1
Special Scenarios
Changing Your Status
While most companies will not need to change their de minimis status throughout the year, you
can select and deselect the notification button throughout the year. Please note the above
deadlines for using the notification button.
35
Available for Public Use
Using the Button After Filing an FCC Form 499-Q or Missing a Deadline
If your company already filed an FCC Form 499-Q, you will receive a different confirmation popup
when you try to select the notification button:
Similarly, if USAC has already generated estimates for the FCC Form 499-Q due to a missed
deadline, you’ll receive a different confirmation popup:
In both cases, follow the instructions in the popup for your next steps.
36
Available for Public Use
Administrative Overview
Add or Remove Users
In E-File, Company Officers can fill out FCC Forms 499, pay USAC invoices, add or remove
users, and certify FCC Forms 499. A maximum of five Company Officers can be assigned to an
account. Only Company Officers can grant access to additional users or remove existing users in E-
File.
Follow the steps below to learn how to add additional users.
1. Click the down arrow next to your user ID in the top right-hand corner of the screen, then
select the option Add/Remove 499 Users.
2. To create or add a user to an account, click Add User Accounts at the top of your screen.
37
Available for Public Use
3. Enter in the contact information of the user you are adding.
4. Place a check mark in the box confirming that the user ID you are adding meets the USAC
terms and conditions. Scroll down to assign a role to the new user.
38
Available for Public Use
5. Determine the level of access you will grant to the new user. Company Officers are the only
persons who can certify an FCC Form 499. Company Officers can also add/remove users
who have authority to access the account.
39
Available for Public Use
6. Select which Filer IDs the new user will have access to by highlighting the Filer ID and
clicking the right arrow button to move it to the Selected Filer IDs column.
40
Available for Public Use
7. Complete the set up by clicking the Submit button.
41
Available for Public Use
Follow the steps below to learn how to remove additional users.
1. Click the down arrow next to your user ID in the top right-hand corner of the screen,
then select the option Add/Remove 499 Users. The next screen will list current users
assigned to that account.
2. To remove a user’s access to an account, check the Remove check box next to the
person’s name and click Save.
42
Available for Public Use
Temporary Access
Occasionally, USAC will require a company to submit a missing form on an inactive 499 Filer ID.
You must reactivate the Filer ID to complete any missing forms.
Follow the steps below to temporarily reactivate a 499 Filer ID.
1. Go to usac.org and click on the blue Sign In button in the upper right-hand corner of the
page.
2. Review the information and click Continue to proceed.
43
Available for Public Use
3. On the main login screen, scroll down and select Create an account. Do not log in if you
are requesting temporary access.
44
Available for Public Use
4. From the Who am I? screen, select 499 Company Officer.
45
Available for Public Use
5. From the dropdown, click the Add an Officer button.
6. Enter the Company Officer’s email address and the Filer ID of the company and click
Submit.
46
Available for Public Use
Note: The email address you enter should be the Company Officer’s email address instead
of a generic email address. As of the addition of E-File Contributor Messages on May 15,
2023, USAC now sends financial information through E-File messages instead of emails.
However, USAC may send automatic notifications about new messages to this email
address.
7. The system will recognize that the 499 Filer ID you’ve entered is currently inactive and will
display the day that it was deactivated. By selecting Yes, the system will set up temporary
access to the 499 Filer ID using the email address that was entered on the previous screen.
47
Available for Public Use
8. On the next screen, enter the information required to build a temporary user ID. Please
provide a reason for requesting the temporary access.
48
Available for Public Use
Note: Include dashes when entering a phone number.
9. Read the terms outlined for the temporary access and check each of the boxes to certify
that you understand and will adhere to the terms outlined and click Submit.
Note: Once approved, the access will be at the Company Officer level, meaning the user
can both enter and certify the form.
10. Once successfully submitted, you will see a screen with a green checkmark. The Company
Officer will receive further instructions from USAC via email to validate the request. This
may take up to two business days.
