Universal service fund - high cost
Active
- Assistance listing
- 32.002
- Grant awards
- Not on record
Program facts
- Treasury account
-
- 27-5183-0-2-376
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated .
About this program
The Federal Communications Commission administers the Universal Service Fund—High Cost program (CFDA 32.002) to fund eligible telecommunications carriers for broadband and voice service deployment in high-cost, remote, and underserved communities. The program is ongoing with no application deadline specified in the source; FCC public notices authorize carrier support through various funding mechanisms on a rolling basis.
This program funds the provision of broadband and voice telecommunications infrastructure and service delivery in areas where service costs are prohibitively high relative to densely served markets. Eligible applicants must hold an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) designation from either their state regulator or the FCC (for carriers outside state jurisdiction). Wireless and wireline carriers meeting FCC compliance requirements for the High Cost Program are eligible. The FCC defines award procedures and selection criteria through regulatory orders and public notices; carriers submit various certifications and forms to qualify for support under specific funding mechanisms rather than through a traditional grant application process.
The source does not provide recent award amounts, award count, award dates, or a portfolio breakdown of assistance types. No recent grant opportunities with specific due dates are listed. The program operates under 47 CFR Part 54 and is subject to extensive compliance oversight: recipients must undergo random and risk-based audits, maintain records for ten years, and face a 60-day appeal window for adverse funding decisions.
The source characterizes this as a longstanding program with defined regulatory procedures but does not quantify recent funding activity, typical award magnitudes, or the distribution of awards among funding mechanisms. Organizations considering pursuit should verify current funding availability and mechanism eligibility through recent FCC public notices and orders, as the support structure varies by carrier type and program component.
Objective and description
- Objective
Universal service has been defined by Congress as "an evolving level of telecommunications services . . . taking into account advances in telecommunications and information technologies and services." 47 U.S.C. 254(c). Universal service support gene
- Description
The high-cost program (also known as the Connect America Fund) is one of four programs that currently make up the federal Universal Service Fund. This program provides funding to eligible telecommunications carriers for the provision of broadband and voice services in high cost areas, including remote and underserved communities.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Applicants must be an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC). Wireless and wireline carriers that are ETCs and that comply with requirements established by the FCC for the High Cost Program.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Beneficiaries are broadband and voice customers located in high cost areas. The USF Administrator maintains the Connect America Fund Map (https://data.usac.org/publicreports/caf-map/) which illustrates whether a location is in an eligible area or not, as well as reported deployed locations.
- Credentials and documentation
Documentation varies depending on the type of program
- Uses of assistance
Eligible Telecommunications Carriers are allowed to use the assistance to deploy and maintain broadband and voice networks serving high cost areas.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
There are various mechanisms within the High Cost Program and availability is dependent on the support term of each program.
How to apply
- Application procedure
Carriers are required to have an eligible telecommunication carrier designation (ETC) awarded either by the state or, if the carrier is outside of state jurisdiction, the FCC. There are other certifications and forms carriers must submit to receive support from certain mechanisms. In other cases, the FCC authorizes or provides notice of carrier support through High Cost Program funds via public notice. Given the complexity of the High Cost program, carriers provide various forms and certifications to receive the funding for which they "apply".
- Criteria for selecting proposals
The FCC defines criteria based on the goals of the specific fund.
- Award procedure
The FCC defines the award procedure for each fund.
- Appeals
Applicants have 60 days to appeal a decision. 47 CFR § 54.719.
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 32.002?
Assistance Listing 32.002 is Universal service fund - high cost, a federal grant program run by Federal Communications Commission.
What is the CFDA number for Universal service fund - high cost?
Its CFDA number is 32.002: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every grant award and opportunity under it
- Funding by recipient, agency and assistance type
- Alerts for new opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this program