The Commission released a Public Notice reminding providers to file a complete and accurate Form 477 report every 6 months. The Form 477 must be filed twice each year, by March 1 (reporting data collected as of December 31 of the previous year) and September 1 (reporting data collected as of June 30 of the current year). Forms must be submitted electronically through the FCC website.
Additionally, the Commission provides notice to providers, including WISPs and other rural entities, that failure to timely file Form 477 reports may result in enforcement action, including monetary penalties. This is the result of a consent decree entered into with Rio Verde Wireless for a penalty of $10,500 resulting from a Commission investigation into repeated failures to file Form 477 reports.
The following entities, regardless of size, are required to file Form 477 reports:
- Common carriers and their affiliates providing telephone exchange or exchange access service;
- Facilities-based Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers offering mobile phone service;
- Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers;
- Facilities-based broadband Internet service providers (including, but not limited to Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs).
Additional information for filers is available at www.fcc.gov/form477.
Feel free to contact us with any questions.