On August 4, 1997, the Commission released the Universal Service Worksheet Public
Notice.(1) The Public Notice announced the release of the Universal Service Worksheet and
instructions, which require contributors to universal service support mechanisms to submit
information regarding their end-user telecommunications revenues.
Attached are revised instructions that do not include substantive changes. The
following paragraphs were inadvertently omitted from the instructions attached to the August
4, 1997 Public Notice.
Paragraph four:
The Commission is authorized under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to
collect the personal information we request in this form. We will use the information
you provide to determine contribution amounts. If we believe there may be a violation
or potential violation of a statute or a Commission regulation, rule or order, your
Worksheet may be referred to the Federal, state, or local agency responsible for
investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing the statute, rule, regulation, or
order. In certain cases, the information in your Worksheet may be disclosed to the
Department of Justice, court, or other adjudicative body when (a) the Commission; or
(b) any employee of the Commission; or (c) the United States government, is a party to
a proceeding before the body or has an interest in the proceeding.
Paragraph five:
If you owe a past due debt to the federal government, the taxpayer identification
number (such as your social security number) and other information you provide also
may be disclosed to the Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service,
other federal agencies, and/or your employer to offset your salary, IRS tax refund, or
other payments to collect that debt. The Commission also may provide this
information to these agencies through the matching of computer records where
authorized.
Paragraph six:
With the exception of your social security number, if you do not provide the
information we request on the Worksheet, the Commission may consider you in
violation of section 54.713 of the Commission's rules. 47 C.F.R. § 54.713.
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IV. Reminders.
- Each affiliate or subsidiary must file separately. Each affiliate or subsidiary should
show the same holding company name on Line (5).
- Provide data for all lines that apply. Show a zero for all items for which the
contributor had no revenues for the filing period.
- Contributors must file twice a year. Contributors must provide revenue data for
January 1 through June 30 by September 1 of each year. Contributors must provide
revenue data for January 1 through December 31 of the prior year by March 31 of each
year.
- The Worksheet must be signed by an officer of the company. An officer is a person
who occupies a position specified in the corporate by-laws (or partnership agreement),
and would typically be president, vice president for operations, comptroller, treasurer,
or a comparable position.
Requests for Commission nondisclosure of information contained in the Worksheet can
be made under section 0.459 of the Commission's rules at the time that the subject data
is submitted to the administrator. 47 C.F.R. § 0.459. As required by our rules, such
requests for nondisclosure must contain a statement of the reasons for withholding the
materials from disclosure (e.g., competitive harm) and the facts supporting that
statement. In any event, all decisions regarding disclosure of company-specific
information will be made by the Commission.
For further information regarding the Worksheet and instructions, contact Diane Law or
Frances Downey, (202) 418-7400.
-FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION-
1. See FCC Announces Release of Universal Service Worksheet, FCC Form 457, Public Notice, DA 97-1671
(rel. Aug. 4, 1997).
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