Release Notes

This page is designed to communicate all major dataset and platform fixes, enhancements, and known issues/problems that USAC has addressed based on valuable USAC Open Data community user feedback. If you encounter any issues and problems please email us at opendata@usac.org. 

2023 Release Notes

Release Date – December 13, 2023

Dataset Update
High Cost: Connect America Fund Broadband Map (CAF Map)
The CAF Map Release 6.1.0 dataset displays the locations where carriers that receive CAF support had built out mass-market, high-speed Internet service and certified by carriers as of September 30, 2023, in High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal.
Replaced Deployment Year with Filing Year to align with carrier data submission and progress tracking in HUBB.
Removed the below columns from dataset, as these provide data at Carrier, fund and state level but do not relate with each location.
  • Locations Obligation
  • Target Build Out
  • Milestone Certification Date
  • Total State Support Received
Updated dataset metadata and PDF glossaries to reflect the above changes.

Release Date – November 14, 2023

Known Issue
E-Rate Supplemental Entity Information
We are in the process of updating this dataset's source of FCC Form 498 information. The fields below currently display stale data as of 9/22/2022; once the update is complete, then these fields will show the latest data available as of the prior day. Fields impacted:
  • FCC Form 498 Form Number
  • FCC Form 498 Status Date Time
  • FCC Form 498 Status

Release Date – November 14, 2023

Known Issue
E-Rate Request for Discount on Services: FRN Status (FCC Form 471 and Related Information)
We are in the process of updating this dataset to capture the new E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) invoicing related data. The fields below currently display stale data as of 11/3/2023; once the update is complete, then these fields will show the latest data available as of the prior day.
Fields impacted:
  • SPAC Filed?
  • Invoicing Mode
  • Total Disbursement Amount

Release Date – September 22, 2023

New Tool
E-Rate FCC Form 470 Download Tool
The E-Rate FCC Form 470 Download Tool can be used to:
  • View and export FCC Form 470 data found in the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) for Funding Year 2016 and onwards. This data includes applicant and requested services details such as contact information, application number, Billed Entity Number (BEN), funding year, service type, function, links to FCC Form 470 documents and related Request for Proposal (RFP) attachments; and other related information from the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC).
  • Download PDF versions of the FCC Form 470 (the latest form version either original or current) as well as any Request for Proposal (RFP) attachments.
 This tool provides an improved user interface for filtering and downloading the data from the E-Rate FCC Form 470 Tool Data dataset.

Release Date – September 21, 2023

New Dataset
E-Rate FCC Form 470 Tool Data
This dataset contains the most current information from the basic information section of each FCC Form 470 as well as information from the consulting firms listed and from the services requested. This data includes applicant details such as contact information, application number, Billed Entity Number (BEN), and funding year; consultant details such as consultant name, Consultant Registration Number (CRN), and consultant contact information; and requested services details such as service type, function, manufacturer, links to FCC Form 470 files and related Request for Proposal (RFP) attachments; and other related information from the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC).

Release Date – July 6, 2023

Dataset Update
High Cost: Connect America Fund Broadband Map (CAF Map)
The CAF Map Release 6.0 dataset displays the locations where carriers that receive CAF support had built out mass-market, high-speed Internet service as of December 31, 2022, and certified by carriers as of March 10, 2023, in High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal. Release 6.0 includes adding data from one additional fund – Puerto Rico Fixed (PR Fixed) – bringing the total number of funds in the dataset to nine.

Release Date – June 9, 2023

New Tool
Emergency Connectivity Fund Invoicing Deadline Tool
This tool provides Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program data for the invoice deadline dates and funds remaining on approved funding requests (FRNs).  ECF funds expire and cannot be invoiced after the invoice deadline date has passed for a given FRN.
This tool provides an improved user interface for filtering and downloading the data from the Emergency ConnectivityFund FCC Form 471 dataset.

Release Date – April 3, 2023

Dataset Retired
Eligible Locations Adjustment Process Map (ELAP Map)
The Eligible Locations Adjustment Process Map (ELAP Map) for the CAF II Auction Fund has been retired. If you have questions, please contact USAC's Customer Operations team for assistance at (888)641-8722.

Release Date – February 13, 2023

New Tool
E-Rate Search Commitments Tool
This tool allows users to search commitments data from FCC Form 471 applications starting in Funding Year 2016 (FY2016). Users can filter and export a detailed funding report to different formats (e.g., CSV for Excel) as well as explore the data through various summary charts.
This tool provides an improved user interface for filtering and downloading the data from the E-Rate Request for Discount on Services: FRN Status (FCC Form 471 and Related Information) dataset.

Release Date – February 13, 2023

New Tool
E-Rate Window Reporting Tool
This tool provides the latest data from the E-Rate FCC Form 471 applications filed in the most recent application filing window. Users can filter and export a detailed window data report to different formats (e.g., CSV for Excel) as well as explore the data through various summary charts.
  • Note: Estimated demand is calculated by USAC and sent to the FCC based on the total amount of funding requested after the filing window closes.

Previous Release Notes