FUSF Exemption FAQs
What is the Federal Universal Service Fund?
The Federal Universal Service Fund supports programs intended to increase public access to telecommunications and advanced services at just, reasonable, and affordable rates. You can find information on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website: https://www.fcc.gov/general/universal-service
Who pays into the Federal Universal Service Fund?
Carriers and other entities identified by the FCC contribute to the Fund.
What is Verizon's Federal Universal Service Fund surcharge?
The FCC permits carriers to recover their FUSF contributions in the form of a surcharge.
Why would a local exchange carrier need to obtain an exemption?
Verizon bills local exchange carriers the federal subscriber line charge (SLC), and Verizon is required to contribute to the FUSF on SLC revenues.
How does a customer qualify for an exemption?
To be eligible for an exemption from Verizon's FUSF surcharge for a particular service, a customer must: (1) have an FCC Form 499 Filer ID number; (2) sign the Verizon FUSF Resale Certification; and (3) be listed on the FCC website as a direct contributor to the FUSF.
What is the timeline for submitting a FUSF Resale Certification?
Customers may seek an exemption at any time and once granted the exemption will apply until the end of the current year. For customers that receive an exemption, a new Resale Certification must be submitted every year. The annual Certification process typically takes place between January 1st and February 28th.
What if I do not submit a FUSF Resale Certification by the deadline?
If you do not submit a FUSF Resale Certification by the deadline, the FUSF surcharge will be applied to your services.
When will the exemption be reflected on my bill?
If a carrier submits the annual FUSF Resale Certification before the deadline, the FUSF surcharge will not be billed. For any new exemptions, please allow one to two billing cycles.
Can a carrier lose its exemption?
Yes. Annually, Verizon will verify a carrier's status as a FUSF contributor through the FCC's website. If your company has submitted a FUSF Resale Certification but is not identified on the FCC website as a contributor, Verizon will not apply the exemption.
Who can access the Partner Solutions Portal to submit FUSF Exemptions?
You must have a valid user ID and password with access to the FUSF Resale Certification application to submit an exemption.
What is a Company User Administrator (CUA)?
A Company User Administrator (CUA) is someone designated by your company to validate and approve user ID requests, provide password resets, and deactivate/reactivate user IDs on behalf of your company.
Each carrier must register more than one Company User Administrator (CUA) with Verizon.
How do I apply for a user ID and password?
The process to register for either Company User Administrator (CUA) access or End User (EU) access is documented within the Register and Request Application Access page.
Can multiple representatives from the same company be assigned as End Users (EU)?
Yes. All such users will be able to add or remove exemption certifications. Verizon tracks multiple exemption submissions and updates its billing records based on the most recent date an exemption was added or removed by an authorized representative.
What is an ACNA?
An ACNA is an Access Customer Name Abbreviation, which is a three digit alpha code assigned to identify a carrier for billing and other purposes. An ACNA is required for the Verizon Telecom (VZT) FUSF Resale Certification application and can be obtained through an application to the Common Language Group at iconectiv.
What is a BAN?
A BAN is a Billing Account Number created when a customer subscribes to Verizon service. A BAN is required for the Verizon Business (VZB) FUSF Resale Certification process and can be found on the customer’s invoice.
Will I be able to certify all of my Verizon Telecom BANs and ACNAs?
Yes. All ACNAs and BANs associated with your user ID and password should appear on the portal with the exception of any newly established accounts. If you have previously certified at the BAN level, any newly established account will be reflected in the portal within 24 hours of the account being established. Once the newly established account(s) shows up in the portal, you may then perform the exemption certification. If you have previously certified at the ACNA level, any newly established accounts under that ACNA will automatically be exempted by the exemption certification system.
Will I be able to certify all of my Verizon Business BANs?
Yes. All FUSF exempt BANs associated with your user ID and password should appear on the portal with the exception of any newly established accounts. Any BANS not listed in the portal will need a paper certification completed.
What if I need to go back and edit something I have already updated?
The portal is available at any time to make corrections or adjustments to ACNAs, BANs, or Circuits.
What if I believe a BAN or ACNA is missing?
If you do not see an ACNA or a BAN that you think should be included in the recertification, please send an email to connectivity.management.team@verizon.com
What if my account contains a mix of exempt and non-exempt circuits?
For Verizon Telecom (VZT). If you have non-exempt circuits that are billed on exempt BANs or ACNAs, please identify all non-exempt circuits by clicking "yes" to the question “exempt at circuit level” and then proceed as instructed. Simply update the circuits you wish to change, upload the list, and proceed through the subsequent screens to submit and sign the certification.
For Verizon Business (VZB). Any circuits identified as not exempt must be moved to a new or existing non-exempt VZB BAN. If a VZB BAN is not located in the portal, the customer should contact customer service and request a FUSF Exemption via a paper form.
Who do I contact if I need assistance?
If you are a Verizon Partner Solutions Exchange user, you can open a CARE ticket within VPS Exchange. If you are a non Exchange user, you can send an email to connectivity.management.team@verizon.com and copy either vzfusfverification@verizon.com (for Verizon Telecom accounts) or FUSF@verizon.com (for Verizon Business accounts) with any issues you are having with the website.