2021 Annual Report

For the first time in its history, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) expanded beyond administering the four universal service programs: E-Rate, High Cost (Connect America Fund), Lifeline, and Rural Health Care. In 2021, USAC rose to the challenge and successfully administered four Federal Communications Commission initiatives, collectively known as the Congressional Response Programs. While this was far from a simple feat, USAC is proud of the effort, the execution, and ultimately the success of the programs, which served those most in need, alongside the universal service programs. 

• The E-Rate program continues to see year-over-year growth. E-Rate processed 19,723 applications, 54 percent of total applications, within 30 days of the window closing.
• The High Cost program undertook efforts to ensure service providers are meeting the obligations of different funds so communities receive access to broadband services.
• The Lifeline program served millions of subscribers, helping to offset the cost of internet service for low-income households. The National Verifier eligibility system can automatically verify the eligibility of more than 60 percent of Lifeline applicants, which decreases the number of manual reviews, thus reducing the cost of operations.
• In 2021, the Rural Health Care (RHC) team launched modernization efforts for the Healthcare Connect Fund application process, which had been a manually-intense process since its inception.