Local telephone Competition and Broadband Reporting, FCC Form 477

FCC Form 477
Local Telephone Competition and
Broadband Reporting

Instructions
for Filings as of
December 31, 2019
and Beyond

OMB Control No. 3060-0816

Table of Contents
1. Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 4
2. Who Must File This Form?............................................................................................... 5
2.1

Facilities-based Providers of Broadband Connections to End Users ............................... 5

2.2

Providers of Wired or Fixed Wireless Local Exchange Telephone Service....................... 7

2.3

Providers of Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Service ...................... 8

2.4

Facilities-based Providers of Mobile Telephony (Mobile Voice) Service: ........................ 8

2.5

Form Sections to Be Completed by Each Type of Provider............................................ 10

3. Notes on Interface Mechanics ....................................................................................... 11
4. Submitting Data via File Upload or Interactive Data Entry ............................................. 13
5. Completing Each Section of FCC Form 477 ..................................................................... 15
5.1

Login & Main Menu ........................................................................................................ 15

5.2

Filer Identification .......................................................................................................... 16

5.3

Fixed Broadband Deployment ....................................................................................... 17

5.4

Fixed Broadband Subscription ....................................................................................... 19

5.5

Fixed Voice Subscription (Tract Data) ............................................................................ 19

5.6

Interconnected VoIP Subscription (State Data) ............................................................. 23

5.7

Mobile Broadband Deployment..................................................................................... 25

5.8

Mobile Broadband Subscription .................................................................................... 25

5.9

Mobile Voice Deployment.............................................................................................. 26

5.10 Mobile Voice Subscription ............................................................................................. 27
5.11 Explanations and Comments.......................................................................................... 27
6. Codes to Use in Data Upload Files ................................................................................. 30
7. General Information ..................................................................................................... 32
7.1

When to File ................................................................................................................... 32

7.2

Where and How to File .................................................................................................. 32

7.3

Certification of Filing Accuracy....................................................................................... 32

7.4

Requesting Confidentiality ............................................................................................. 32

7.5

Obligation to File Revisions ............................................................................................ 33

7.6

Compliance ..................................................................................................................... 33

FCC Form 477 Instructions

1

May 21, 2020

8. Glossary ....................................................................................................................... 34
9. Disclosure, Privacy Act, Paperwork Reduction Act Notice .............................................. 39

FCC Form 477 Instructions

2

May 21, 2020

Instructions Notations
Internal and external links to additional reference material use different colors and underlines
depending on whether the link has been visited or based on the format being accessed (e.g.,
PDF, eBook (.mobi), or iBook (.epub)).
•
•
•

Links to external web-based references appear as: Report and Order
Italicized items indicate terms that can be referenced in the Glossary of this document.
Terms in Green refer to items on the Form 477 filing interface.
Note: These Instructions apply to Form 477 filings as of December 31, 2019
and beyond. Instructions for earlier filings can be found at Form 477
Instructions (through June 30, 2019).

FCC Form 477 Instructions

3

May 21, 2020

1. Purpose
FCC Form 477 collects information about broadband connections to end-user locations, wired
and wireless local telephone services, and interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
services in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Territories and possessions (see 47
U.S.C. § 153(58)). Data obtained from this form will be used to describe the deployment of
broadband infrastructure and competition to provide local telecommunications services. For
additional information about this data collection, see Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data
Program, WC Docket No. 11-10, Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd 9887 (2013); and Establishing
the Digital Opportunity Data Collection and Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data Program, WC
Docket Nos. 19-195 and 11-10, Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, 34 FCC Rcd 7505 (2019).

FCC Form 477 Instructions

4

May 21, 2020

2. Who Must File This Form?
Four types of entities must file this form. For purposes of this information collection, the terms
“entity” and “entities” include all commonly-controlled or commonly-owned affiliates. (See 47
U.S.C. § 153(2) (establishing a greater than 10% equity interest, or the equivalent thereof, as
indicia of ownership.))

2.1

Facilities-based Providers of Broadband Connections to End Users

An entity that is a facilities-based provider of broadband connections to end users must
complete and file the applicable portions of this form if it has one or more broadband
connection in service to an end user on the as-of date associated with the form (either
June 30 or December 31). The italicized terms are defined below and in the Glossary.
Additional information can be found in these separate documents: Fixed Broadband
Deployment Terms and Mobile Broadband Deployment Terms.
•

Facilities-Based Provider: 47 CFR §1.7001(a)(2) states that an entity is a facilitiesbased provider of a service if it supplies such service using facilities that satisfy
any of the following criteria:
(i)
Physical facilities that the entity owns and that terminate at the end-user
premises;
(ii)
Facilities that the entity has obtained the right to use from other entities,
such as dark fiber or satellite transponder capacity as part of its own
network, or has obtained
(iii)
Unbundled network element (UNE) loops, special access lines, or other
leased facilities that the entity uses to complete terminations to the enduser premises;
(iv)
Wireless service for which the entity holds a license or that the entity
manages or has obtained the right to use via a spectrum leasing
arrangement or comparable arrangement pursuant to subpart X of this
Part (47 CFR §§ 1.9001-1.9080); or
(v)
Unlicensed spectrum.

•

Broadband Connection: A wired line or wireless channel that terminates at an
end-user location or mobile device and enables the end user to receive
information from and/or send information to the Internet at information
transfer rates exceeding 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in at least one direction.
Note: The facilities-based provider that is obligated to report the in-service
broadband connection may—or may not—sell the end user the Internet access
service that is delivered over that broadband connection. Nevertheless, for
convenience, the terms broadband connection and broadband subscription are
used interchangeably in these instructions.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

5

May 21, 2020

•

End User: A residential, business, institutional, or government entity that
subscribes to a service, uses that service for its own purposes, and does not
resell such services to other entities. For the purposes of this form, an Internet
Service Provider (ISP) is not an end user of a broadband connection.

•

In Service: A broadband connection is in service to an end user if: (1) it is
delivering Internet access service at the residential or non-residential premises
of the end-user that has purchased Internet access service on a month-to-month
or longer-term basis (in-service fixed broadband), or (2) it is delivering service to
a terrestrial mobile wireless service subscriber whose device and data plan
provide the ability to transfer, on a monthly basis, either a specified or unlimited
amount of data to and from lawful Internet sites of the subscriber’s choice (inservice mobile broadband).

A non-exhaustive list of examples of facilities-based providers of broadband connections
includes: incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers (LECs), cable television
system operators, terrestrial fixed wireless providers (including wireless ISPs, or WISPs)
that provide service to end user premises, satellite network operators, terrestrial mobile
wireless operators with owned network facilities, electric utilities, public utility districts,
municipalities, and other entities.
However, facilities-based providers of broadband connections do not include:
equipment suppliers unless the equipment supplier uses the equipment to provision a
broadband connection that it offers to the public for sale; providers of air-to-ground
service; providers of ship-to-shore service; or providers of terrestrial wireless “hot spot”
services—whether offered for an occasional-use fee or offered free of charge—that only
enable local distribution and sharing of a broadband connection within a residential or
non-residential premises (for example, local-area Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi within public places
such as libraries, schools, parks, shopping malls, coffee shops, hotels, and airports).
Note: The facilities-based provider that is obligated to report the in-service broadband

An entity is a facilities-based provider of broadband connections
to end users if:

1. it owns the portion of the physical facility that terminates broadband connections
at end-user premises; or
2. it obtains the right to use physical facilities, like dark fiber or satellite transponder
capacity, as part of its own network to terminate broadband connections at enduser premises; or
3. it obtains unbundled network element (UNE) loops, special access lines, or other
leased facilities that terminate at end-user premises and provisions/equips them
as broadband connections; or
4. it provisions/equips wireless broadband connections to end-user premises using
licensed or unlicensed spectrum; or
5. it provisions/equips terrestrial mobile wireless broadband connections using its
own network facilities and (1) spectrum for which it holds a license; (2) spectrum it
FCC Form 477 Instructions

6

May 21, 2020

manages or leases from another licensee pursuant to our rules; or (3) unlicensed
spectrum.

2.2

Providers of Wired or Fixed Wireless Local Exchange Telephone
Service

Each incumbent or competitive Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) must complete and file the
applicable portions of the form if it has one or more end user customer of local
exchange telephone service on the as-of date associated with the form (either June 30
or December 31). The italicized terms are defined below and in the Glossary. Additional
information can be found in a separate document, Fixed Voice Subscription Terms.
•

Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC): The entity that was providing local
exchange telephone service (traditional local phone service) in a particular area
on February 8, 1996, the date on which the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was
enacted into law. See 47 CFR § 51.5. Each such area has a 6-digit Study Area
Code (SAC).

•

Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC): An entity authorized, by the state
regulatory authority (State commission), to provide local exchange telephone
service within the study areas of one or more ILECs in that state.

•

Local Exchange Telephone Service: Local exchange (local telephone) or exchange
access service that allows end users to originate and/or terminate local
telephone calls on the public switched telephone network, whether used by the
end user for voice telephone calls or for other types of calls carried over the
public switched telephone network (for example, lines connected to facsimile
equipment or lines used occasionally or exclusively for dial-up connection to the
Internet).

•

End-User Customer of Local Exchange Telephone Service: A residential, business,
institutional, or government entity that purchases local exchange telephone
service, uses that service for its own purposes, and does not resell that service to
other entities.
Note: The obligation to report information about local exchange telephone
service does not depend on whether the entity owns any telecommunications
network facilities.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

7

May 21, 2020

2.3

Providers of Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Service

Each provider of interconnected VoIP service must complete and file the applicable
portions of the form if it has one or more revenue-generating end-user customer of
interconnected VoIP service on the as-of date associated with the form (either June 30
or December 31). The italicized terms are defined below and in the Glossary. Additional
information can be found in a separate document, Fixed Voice Subscription Terms.
•

Interconnected VoIP Service: A service that: (1) enables real-time, two-way voice
communications; (2) requires a broadband connection from the user’s location;
(3) requires Internet-protocol compatible customer premises equipment; and (4)
permits users generally to receive calls that originate on the public switched
telephone network and to terminate calls to the public switched telephone
network. See 47 CFR § 9.3.
Note: A service must meet all four elements of the definition of
interconnected VoIP service to be considered interconnected VoIP. Local
exchange telephone service that is converted to IP format for transport within
the telecommunications network does not meet this definition.

•

End-User Customer of Interconnected VoIP Service: A residential, business,
institutional, or government entity that subscribes to interconnected VoIP
service, uses that service for its own purposes, does not resell that service to
other entities.
Note: The obligation to report information about interconnected VoIP service
does not depend on whether the entity owns any telecommunications
network facilities.

2.4

Facilities-based Providers of Mobile Telephony (Mobile Voice)
Service:

Each facilities-based provider of mobile telephony service must complete and file the
applicable portions of this form if its network serves one or more mobile telephony
subscriber on the as-of date associated with the form (either June 30 or December 31).
The subscriber served may be a customer of the facilities-based provider or a customer
of a mobile voice service reseller. The italicized terms are defined below and in the
Glossary. Additional information can be found in these separate documents: Mobile
Voice Deployment Terms and Mobile Voice Subscription Terms.
•

Mobile Telephony (Mobile Voice) Service: A real-time, two-way switched voice
service that is interconnected with the public switched network using an in-

FCC Form 477 Instructions

8

May 21, 2020

network switching facility that enables the provider to reuse frequencies and
accomplish seamless handoff of subscriber calls. (See 47 CFR § 20.15(b)(1))
•

Mobile Telephony (Mobile Voice) Subscriber: A mobile handset, car-phone, or
other revenue-generating, active, voice unit that has a unique phone number
and that can place calls to and receive calls from the public switched telephone
network.

•

Facilities-Based Mobile Voice Provider: A mobile voice provider is considered
facilities-based if it serves a subscriber using its own network facilities and
spectrum for which it holds a license, manages, or for which it has obtained the
right to use via a spectrum leasing arrangement.
Note: Mobile voice service resellers—including entities that have filed Lifeline
Compliance Plans with the Commission—are not facilities-based providers for
Form 477 purposes.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

9

May 21, 2020

2.5

Form Sections to Be Completed by Each Type of Provider
Provider Type

Section
Filer Identification

Facilities-based
Providers of
Broadband
Connections to
End-user
Premises

Facilitiesbased
Providers of
Terrestrial
Mobile
Wireless
Broadband

Providers of
Wired or
Fixed
Wireless
Local
Exchange
Telephone
Service

Providers of
Interconnected
VoIP Service

Facilitiesbased
Providers of
Mobile Voice
Service
















Fixed Services
Fixed Broadband Deployment
Fixed Broadband Subscription




Fixed Voice Subscription (Tract
Data)
Local Exchange Telephone
Subscriptions (State Data)
Interconnected VoIP
Subscription (State Data)



Mobile Services




Mobile Broadband Deployment
Mobile Broadband Subscription




Mobile Voice Deployment
Mobile Voice Subscription
Explanations and Comments

FCC Form 477 Instructions

As needed

As needed

10

As needed

As needed

As needed

May 21, 2020

3. Notes on Interface Mechanics
Using the Form 477 Filing Interface
How to …
The interface allows you to enter data or upload data files, in
accordance with the instructions for Completing Each Section of
Submit data over
Form 477, over multiple work sessions. The Main Menu screen
multiple sessions…
will generally show the submission’s status as Original – In
Progress during these sessions.
Save data
entered…
Logout of a
session…
Return to a
submission in
progress…
Edit Filer
Identification
information…

Submit a
completed form…

Revise a
Submitted filing…

Confirm a
Submission…

FCC Form 477 Instructions

To save data entered before moving to a different section of the
form or to complete at a later session, select the Save and
Return to Submission Menu button on the interface screen prior
to logging out of a work session.
The interface should be closed between sessions by selecting Log
Out in the upper right corner of the submission interface.
Login to the interface and, on the Main Menu, select the
View/Edit button in the View/Edit column to open the
Submission Menu
Select the Filer Identification link on the Submission Menu to
open the Filer Identification page
Once you have entered or uploaded all data for a particular
submission, you must officially submit the data to the FCC for
that filing to be complete. To do this, either (a) select the
Submit button in the Revise/Submit column on the Main Menu
or (b) select the Submit as Complete button that appears at the
top of the Submission Menu. Either option will ask you whether
you are sure you want to submit the filing. If so, select Submit
as Complete. If not, select Cancel.
Once a submission is accepted, its Status on the Main Menu will
be Original – Submitted. At this point, the submission will be
locked for editing unless you reopen it for revision. You can do
that by selecting the Revise button in the Revise/Submit column
on the Main Menu.
Once you have completed your filing and select the Submit as
Complete button, a Submission Confirmation page will appear.
This page will confirm your submission, provide the date and
time of submission, and allow you to view, save and print a
detailed summary of your filing.

11

May 21, 2020

The system will evaluate the completeness and internal consistency of the data and
return an error message if additional sections of the form must be completed or if data
must be modified in order for the submission to be accepted.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

12

May 21, 2020

4. Submitting Data via File Upload or Interactive Data Entry
The chart below lists the sections of the form, in the order in which they appear in the
Submission Menu interface, and how the data will be submitted. A filer’s census block- or
census tract-level data for the entire nation can be uploaded in a single delimited, plain text file
(CSV, or comma-separated values, is a file format used to store tabular data in plain-text form,
so we use the term CSV in the table below) for each section of the form. The sections of the
form that require interactive data entry are those in which fixed and mobile voice
subscribership information is submitted at the state level.
Section of Form 477 Filing Interface

Geography

Method of Data Submission

Filer Identification

NA

Interactive Data Entry

Fixed Broadband Deployment

Census block

CSV File Upload

Fixed Broadband Subscription

Census tract

CSV File Upload or Interactive
Data Entry

Fixed Voice Subscription (Tract Data)

Census tract

CSV File Upload or Interactive
Data Entry

Local Exchange Telephone
Subscriptions (State Data)

State

Interactive Data Entry

Interconnected VoIP Subscription
(State Data)

State

Interactive Data Entry

Mobile Broadband Deployment

Coverage area

Shapefile Upload

Mobile Broadband Subscription

State

CSV File Upload or Interactive
Data Entry

Mobile Voice Deployment

Coverage area

Shapefile Upload

Mobile Voice Subscription

State

Interactive Data Entry

NA

Interactive Text Entry

Fixed Services

Mobile Services

Explanations and Comments

In the Fixed Broadband Subscription, Fixed Voice Subscription – Tract Data, and Mobile
Broadband Subscription sections, information may be submitted by interactive data
entry or by uploading a delimited plain text / CSV file.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

13

May 21, 2020

Note: Regardless of size, files can take a while to upload and process, especially at
times of peak usage. We recommend starting the upload and then moving to
another part of the form and returning to the page at a later time. You can also log
out without interrupting the upload.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

14

May 21, 2020

5. Completing Each Section of FCC Form 477
5.1

Login & Main Menu

You can access the Form 477 Filing Interface using one of the methods listed below. The
interface can be accessed in different web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Internet
Explorer, and Safari. However, filers using Internet Explorer must use version 9 or
higher.
• Enter the following URL into a web browser:
https://apps2.fcc.gov/form477/login.xhtml; or
• At the FCC’s Form 477 Resources webpage (at
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/form-477-resources-filers), click on the link to file
Form 477, or
• On the FCC Forms webpage, scroll down the “Form No.” column until you reach
“477,” then click on the link for 477 Electronic Filing.
Log In: Once you have accessed the Form 477 Filing Interface Login page, enter the FCC
Registration Number (FRN) that will be used for this submission, and the password
associated with either the FRN or the user’s username.
Main Menu: After automatically validating the LOGIN information (FRN and password),
the Form 477 filing interface presents a Main Menu screen, where you will Create a
New Form 477 submission, either ILEC or Non-ILEC, for the entity(ies) associated with
the FRN. The Main Menu also tracks the status of submissions as they are created,
edited, and officially submitted.
Note on ILEC / Non-ILEC Filings: A filer (including affiliates) may submit a single file to
report information for all areas of the nation in which it operates—except that
information about ILEC fixed voice services (local exchange telephone service and
interconnected VoIP service) sold within the filer’s ILEC Study Area(s), if any, must be
reported on a filing for ILEC operations, and information about fixed voice services
sold outside the filer’s ILEC Study Area(s) must be reported on a filing for Non-ILEC
operations. Filers may—at their convenience—submit more than one file for ILEC
operations and/or more than one file for Non-ILEC operations, but a single FRN may
be used to create no more than one ILEC operations file and one Non-ILEC
operations file.
To start a new Form 477 submission, first use the Main Menu drop-down list to specify
the Data as of date for the data to be reported in the submission. Next, use the option
buttons to Create New ILEC or to Create New Non-ILEC filing.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

15

May 21, 2020

5.2

Filer Identification

The interface will then present a Filer Identification screen where you will complete the
required information that was not automatically populated and correct information as
appropriate. Below is a list of fields to be entered on the Filer Identification page:
(1)

FRN: Automatically populated by LOGIN step.

(2)

Provider Name: The business entity name associated with the FRN, automatically
populated by the LOGIN step.

(3)

Holding Company / Common Control Name: Use a single name, such as the
holding company name, to identify all commonly-owned or commonly-controlled
entities that are filing Form 477 data. (See 47 U.S.C. § 153(2), which establishes a
greater than 10% equity interest, or the equivalent thereof, as indicia of
ownership.) You can identify a single name by clicking the Company Select List
button and selecting a name from the drop-down list. Filers that have no holding
company but are controlled by the same owners should decide on a single name
to use for this entry. Filers that are not affiliated with any other Form 477 filer
should use the company name entered in (2); if that name does not appear in the
drop-down menu, you can enter it in the box to the right of the Company Select
List button.

(4)

Operations: ILEC or Non-ILEC, as automatically populated in Create New Filing
step.

(5)

Study Area Codes: Voice providers eligible for Universal Service Fund support
(Eligible Telecommunications Carriers, or ETCs) have a 6-digit Study Area Code.
This includes all ILECs as well as some other fixed voice and some mobile voice
providers. Each fixed or mobile voice provider covered by this filing that is an ETC
must enter its Study Area Code(s). You can search for your study area codes here.

(6)

Form 499 Filer IDs: Providers of telecommunications services will have had a
499A Filer ID issued to them after fulfilling the FCC’s registration requirement at
47 CFR § 64.1195. Enter the 6-digit Form 499A Filer IDs for all providers that are
entirely or partially covered by this filing. You can search for your Form 499A
Filer IDs here.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

16

May 21, 2020

The interface won’t accept my Form 499 Filer ID!
The master list of valid Form 499 Filer IDs used for verification in the Form 477 filing
interface is not updated in real-time. If your 499 Filer ID was issued or updated
recently, it might not be on the master list and therefore won’t be accepted by the
interface. If this is the case, please enter an older Form 499 Filing ID or the 499 Filer
ID of an affiliate, and provide an explanation in the Explanations and Comments
section of the form. If you are a Non-ILEC, you can leave this field blank and provide
your current 499 Filer ID in the Explanations and Comments section.
(7)

Provider’s Website Address: Provide a website for the filing entity if there is one.

(8)

Emergency Operations Contact Information: Enter the requested contact
information for the individual who can be contacted to provide network status
information in a natural disaster or other emergency.

(9)

Form 477 Contact Information: Enter the requested information for the filer’s
contact person who should receive any follow-up questions about the data
submitted in the filing.

(10) Certifying Official Contact Information: Enter the requested information for the
person (corporate officer, managing partner, or sole proprietor) whose signature
certifies that he/she has examined the information contained in this Form 477
and that, to the best of his/her knowledge, information and belief, all statements
of fact contained in this Form 477 are true and correct. For purposes of this Form
477, the entry of the official’s name on this line shall constitute that official’s
electronic signature to this certification. Persons making willful false statements
in a Form 477 can be punished by fine or imprisonment under the
Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 220(e).
(11) Non-disclosure Check Box: Use this check box to indicate whether nondisclosure
is requested for some or all of the subscription (broadband connections or voice
service subscribers) information in this submission because the filer believes that
this information is privileged and confidential and public disclosure of such
information would likely cause substantial harm to the competitive position of the
filer.
After completing the Filer Identification information, click Save & Continue to reach the
Submission Menu screen. The Submission Menu contains links to submit data for each
section of the form.

5.3

Fixed Broadband Deployment

Information in this section is reported by facilities-based providers of fixed broadband
connections to end users. For more information on these terms, see Who Must File This
FCC Form 477 Instructions

17

May 21, 2020

Form? and the Glossary. Additional information can be found in a separate document,
Fixed Broadband Deployment Terms. Note that, for convenience, the terms broadband
connection and broadband service are used interchangeably in these instructions.
These Instructions reflect changes to the Fixed Broadband Deployment section that
apply to Form 477 filings as of December 31, 2019 and beyond. Instructions for earlier
filings can be found at Form 477 Instructions (through June 30, 2019).
Report a list – uploaded as a delimited, plain text / CSV file – of all census blocks in
which the filer (including affiliates) makes broadband connections available to end-user
premises, along with the associated information on technology of transmission (see
Technology of Transmission Codes for Deployment of Fixed Services table in Codes to
Use in Data Upload Files section), maximum upload and download speeds (in Mbps,
with a maximum of 3 decimal places), and consumer versus business/government
service, as specified in a separate document, How Should I Format My Fixed Broadband
Deployment Data? This document provides detailed information on the required fields
and how to format them in a delimited, plain text / CSV file for upload. A Sample Fixed
Broadband Deployment CSV File and an Excel Template are also available for download.
•

Available: For purposes of this form, fixed broadband connections are available
in a census block if the provider does, or could, within a service interval that is
typical for that type of connection—that is, without an extraordinary
commitment of resources—provision two-way data transmission to and from the
Internet with advertised speeds exceeding 200 kbps in at least one direction to
end-user premises in the census block. Clarification Notes, added September 10,
2014: (1) Companies that would rely on the ordering or installation of a not-yet
leased circuit (including unbundled network elements defined in 47 CFR §
51.319, TDM-based connections, or packet-based connections) to provide
service in a census block not currently served should not treat that census block
as having service available. (2) Dark fiber acquired under an Indefeasible Right of
Use (IRU) should be considered the “owned” facilities of the company that
acquired the IRU when the dark fiber is used as part of that entity’s own system.
Satellite Providers: Satellite providers that believe their deployment footprint
can be best represented by every block in a particular state or set of states may
abbreviate their upload file by submitting only one block-level record for each
state included in the footprint and providing a note in the Explanations and
Comments section. For more information, see the separate document, How
Should I Format My Fixed Broadband Deployment Data? (section 4).

FCC Form 477 Instructions

18

May 21, 2020

5.4

Fixed Broadband Subscription

Information in this section is reported by facilities-based providers of in-service fixed
broadband connections to end users. For more information on these terms, see Who
Must File This Form? and the Glossary. Additional information can be found in a
separate document, Fixed Broadband Subscription Terms. Note that, for convenience,
the terms broadband connection, broadband subscription, and broadband subscriber are
used interchangeably in these instructions.
Information in this section may be submitted by uploading a delimited plain text / CSV
file or by entering data interactively one row at a time. Data for upload should be
formatted in accordance with the directions provided in a separate document, How
Should I Format My Fixed Broadband Subscription Data? To assist with uploading, a
Sample Fixed Broadband Subscription CSV File and an Excel Template are available for
download.
Report connections to end-user premises by census tract that you (including affiliates)
equip to enable the end user to receive information from and/or send information to
the Internet at information transfer rates exceeding 200 kbps in at least one direction.
Report connections that are delivering Internet access service that the end user
purchased on a month-to-month or longer-term basis. That Internet access service may
be purchased from you (including affiliates) or from an unaffiliated entity.
Do not report anywhere on this form high-capacity connections between two or more
locations of the same end-user customer, Internet Service Provider (ISP), or
communications carrier.
Report the total number of in-service connections—and report the number of in-service
connections that are in consumer service plans—for each unique combination of census
tract and service characteristic. For this section of the form, a service characteristic is a
unique combination of technology of transmission (based on the Technology of
Transmission Codes for Subscription to Fixed Services table in Codes to Use in Data
Upload Files section below), downstream bandwidth as sold in Mbps, and upstream
bandwidth as sold in Mbps (with a maximum of 3 decimal places).
• Consumer Service Plan (or Mass Market / Consumer Service Plan): A service plan
designed for, marketed to, or purchased by primarily residential end users.

5.5

Fixed Voice Subscription (Tract Data)

This section of the form collects information about voice services to end-user premises.
Information in this section is reported by local exchange carriers that have end-user
customers and by providers of interconnected VoIP service that have end-user
FCC Form 477 Instructions

19

May 21, 2020

customers. For more information on these and the other italicized terms in this section,
see Who Must File This Form? and the Glossary. Additional information can be found in
a separate document, Fixed Voice Subscription Terms.
Information in this section may be submitted by uploading a delimited plain text / CSV
file or by entering data interactively one row at a time. Data for upload should be
formatted in accordance with the directions provided in a separate document, How
Should I Format My Fixed Voice Subscription Data? To assist with uploading, a Sample
Fixed Voice Subscription CSV File and an Excel Template are also available for download.
Once you have uploaded or entered the required census tract-level data on fixed voice
subscribership, you will be able to enter interactively the required state-level totals
related to Local Exchange Telephone Subscriptions (State Data) and Interconnected VoIP
Subscription (State Data).
Local exchange carriers shall report the number of local exchange telephone service
lines in service to their own end-user customers by census tract and, for each census
tract, shall provide the number of lines provided under consumer service plans. The
census tract shall be identified by the end-user customer’s service address rather than
billing address, if the two addresses differ.
Interconnected VoIP service providers shall report the number of interconnected VoIP
service subscriptions sold to their own end-user customers by census tract and, for each
census tract, shall provide the number of subscriptions provided under consumer service
plans. For over-the-top interconnected VoIP customers, the census tract shall be
identified by the customer’s Registered Location. For other customers, the census tract
shall be identified by the service location of the broadband connection to the end user.
•

Consumer Service Plan (or Mass Market / Consumer Service Plan): A service plan
designed for, marketed to, or purchased by primarily residential end users.

Do not report voice transmission capacity (or other transmission capacity) between two
or more locations of the same end-user customer, ISP, or communications service
provider.
Report local exchange telephone service lines in voice-grade equivalents (VGEs) based
on how they are charged to the end-user customer rather than on how they are
physically provisioned.
•

Single-line and channelized local exchange telephone service: A traditional
analog POTS line, Centrex-CO extension, or Centrex-CU trunk is one VGE. A Basic
Rate Integrated (BRI) Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines is two VGEs. A fully
channelized PRI circuit is 23 VGEs. An end-user customer charged for 8 trunks—
for example—that happen to be provisioned over a DS1 circuit is 8 VGEs.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

20

May 21, 2020

However, an end-user customer charged for a fully-channelized DS1 circuit is 24
VGEs.
•

Do not report: lines not yet in service, lines used for interoffice trunking,
company official lines, or lines used for special access (toll bypass) service.
Where you are already reporting the portion of a circuit between the end-user
customer and your switching center, do not separately count the portion of that
circuit between your switching center and a circuit-switched, IP, or other
communications network—irrespective of whether you multiplexed the circuit
onto a higher-capacity facility between your switching center and that network.

Report interconnected VoIP subscriptions based on the maximum number of
interconnected VoIP calls that customers may have active—at the same time—between
their physical location and the public switched telephone network (for more information
on these italicized terms, see the Glossary). The maximum number of such calls may be
set out under the terms of service agreements with business, institutional, or
government customers, or it may be determined by some other method that best
reflects customer needs and requirements. For example, providers that market against
traditional business telephone systems should be able reliably to estimate what their
customers’ requirements would be for trunks between a traditional PBX and the
telephone company. Please describe the method used in the Explanations and
Comments section of the form.
•

Do not report: interconnected VoIP service plans for wireless devices unless the
wireless device is affixed to or otherwise dedicated to use at the end-user
premises—that is, unless wireless interconnected VoIP is used in a fixed-services
deployment. Also, do not count as a separate subscription any add-on charge for
the added capability of signing into the subscription over broadband connections
away from the end-user premises.

Information in this section is reported by incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and
by competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs). For more information on these and the
other italicized terms in this section, see Who Must File This Form? and the Glossary.
Additional information can be found in a separate document, Fixed Voice Subscription
Terms. The state-level information reported in this section is in addition to, but partially
based on, the census tract-level information reported in the Fixed Voice Subscription
(Tract Data) section of the form.
Information in this section must be entered interactively. You will be presented with a
page for each state for which you reported census-tract level subscription data in the
Fixed Voice Subscription (Tract Data) section of the form. You must fill in each box on
each state page with either a positive whole number or zero.
FCC Form 477 Instructions

21

May 21, 2020

Note: If you enter state data and then make changes to your tract data, you will
need to re-enter all of your state data.
Lines Provided to Unaffiliated Providers: Report the number of wholesale-service lines
and the number of unbundled network element loops (UNE-L) that you (including
affiliates) provided to unaffiliated service providers:
•

Wholesale: Count VGEs provided to unaffiliated service providers under resale
arrangements including, among others, commercial agreements that replaced
UNE-Platform and resold services such as local exchange, Centrex, and
channelized special access.

•

UNE-L: Count lines provided under any UNE loop arrangement where you did
not also provide UNE switching for the line. Do not convert UNEs to VGEs.
(Local loop UNEs are defined in the FCC Rules at 47 CFR § 51.319(a)-(b).)

Lines Provided to End Users: Report the service characteristics listed below for the enduser lines in service (VGEs) in each state. To assist filers in this process, the filing
interface will add up census tract-level information reported in the Fixed Voice
Subscription (Tract Data) section of the form and will use that information to
prepopulate, in this section, state-level total end-user lines, state-level Consumer enduser lines, and state-level Business/Government end-user lines. Each state-level service
characteristic breakdown listed below must add up to these respective totals.
•

by Services Sold: For Voice with Internet, enter the number of VGE lines where
you (including affiliates) sell voice and broadband Internet access service to the
same end-user customer. It does not matter if the two services are billed
separately or if they are billed by different affiliates. The filing interface will then
calculate the number of VGE lines for Voice without Internet—that is, without
the end user also purchasing broadband Internet access service—as a residual.

•

by Product Type, Consumer: Count the consumer-grade VGE as Consumer & No
PIC if you (including affiliates) do not automatically carry interstate long-distance
calls made by the end user. Count the VGE as Consumer & PIC if you (including
affiliates) are the service provider (either facilities-based or reseller) to which an
interstate long-distance call is routed automatically, without the use of any
access code by the end user.

•

by Product Type, Business/Government: Count the business/government-grade
VGE as Business/Government & No PIC if you (including affiliates) do not
automatically carry interstate long-distance calls made by the end user. Count
the VGE as Business/Government & PIC if you (including affiliates) are the

FCC Form 477 Instructions

22

May 21, 2020

service provider (either facilities-based or reseller) to which an interstate longdistance call is routed automatically, without the use of any access code by the
end user.
•

by Ownership: Count as Owned those VGE that terminate at the end user’s
premises over last-mile facilities that you (including affiliates) own or have
obtained the right to use as dark fiber within your own system, or that you
(including affiliates) have deployed over spectrum for which you hold a license,
manage, or have obtained the right to use via a spectrum leasing arrangement.
Count as UNE-L those VGE that terminate at the end user’s premises over
unbundled network element loops obtained from an unaffiliated carrier without
also obtaining that carrier’s unbundled network element switching for that line.
All VGE that do not count as Owned or UNE-L shall be counted as Resale. Any
VGE deployed as UNE-Platform and not yet converted to a commercial
agreement shall be counted as Resale.

•

by Last-mile Medium: Count VGE by the technology in use at the termination at
the end-user’s premises.
Note on Technology/Last-Mile Medium for Local Telephone Subscriptions: Fiber-tothe-Premises (FTTP) requires an optical termination at the end-user premises;
Coaxial Cable is the typical infrastructure used by cable television system operators,
and it includes hybrid fiber-coax distribution plant; and Fixed Wireless, in this
context, includes any type of wireless spectrum equipped to deliver fixed voice
service to the end user’s premises.

5.6

Interconnected VoIP Subscription (State Data)

Information in this section is reported by interconnected VoIP service providers. For
more information on the italicized terms in this section, see Who Must File This Form?
and the Glossary. Additional information can be found in a separate document, Fixed
Voice Subscription Terms. The state-level information reported in this section is in
additional to, but partially based on, the census tract-level information reported in the
Fixed Voice Subscription (Tract Data) section of the form.
Information in this section must be entered interactively. You will be presented with a
page for each state for which you reported census-tract level subscription data in the
Fixed Voice Subscription (Tract Data) section of the form. You must fill in each box on
each state page with either a positive whole number or zero.
Report the service characteristics listed below for interconnected VoIP subscriptions in
each state. To assist filers in this process, the filing interface will add up the census
tract-level subscription information reported in the Fixed Voice Subscription (Tract Data)
FCC Form 477 Instructions

23

May 21, 2020

section of the form and will use that information to pre-populate, in this section, statelevel total subscriptions, state-level consumer-grade subscriptions, and state-level
business/government-grade subscriptions. Each state-level service characteristic
breakdown listed below must add up to these respective totals.
Over-the-top Subscriptions and All Other Subscriptions: By definition (in 47 CFR § 9.3),
interconnected VoIP service requires a high-capacity, or broadband, connection from the
end user’s location. That high-capacity connection may, or may not, also be delivering
Internet access service to the end user. In this section of the form, count a subscription
as an Over-the-top Subscription if you (including affiliates) do not supply (that is, do not
sell to the end user) the high-capacity connection that terminates at the end user’s
premises and delivers the interconnected VoIP service. If a subscription is not an Overthe-top Subscription, count it among All Other Subscriptions.
•

Over-the-top Subscriptions: Report Total and Consumer subscriptions. The filing
interface will then calculate the number of Business/Government subscriptions as a
residual.

•

All Other Subscriptions: Report Total and Consumer subscriptions. The filing
interface will then calculate the number of Business/Government subscriptions as a
residual. You also need to distribute All Other Subscriptions in the following ways:
o by Service Sold: For Voice with Internet, enter the number of subscriptions
where you (including affiliates) sell voice and broadband Internet access service
to the same end-user customer. It does not matter if the two services are billed
separately or if they are billed by different affiliates. The filing interface will then
calculate the number of subscriptions for Voice without Internet—that is,
without the end user also purchasing broadband Internet access service—as a
residual.
o by Last-mile Medium: As explained above, All Other Subscriptions are
subscriptions for which you (including affiliates) also supply the end user with
the high-capacity connection that delivers the interconnected VoIP service.
Count these subscriptions according to the technology of the high-capacity
connection that terminates at the end user’s premises.
Note on Technology/Last-Mile Medium for Interconnected VoIP Subscriptions: Fiberto-the-Premises (FTTP) requires an optical termination at the end-user premises;
Coaxial Cable is the typical infrastructure used by cable television system operators,
and it includes hybrid fiber-coax distribution plant; and Fixed Wireless, in this
context, includes any type of wireless spectrum equipped to deliver fixed voice
service to the end user’s premises.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

24

May 21, 2020

5.7

Mobile Broadband Deployment

Information in this section is reported by facilities-based providers of mobile wireless
broadband connections. For more information on these terms, see Who Must File This
Form? and the Glossary. Additional information can be found in a separate document,
Mobile Broadband Deployment Terms. Note that, for convenience, the terms
broadband connection and broadband service are used interchangeably in these
instructions.
These Instructions reflect changes to the Mobile Broadband Deployment section that
apply to Form 477 filings as of December 31, 2019 and beyond. Instructions for earlier
filings can be found at Form 477 Instructions (through June 30, 2019).
Mobile broadband providers shall submit polygons in a shapefile format representing
geographic coverage nationwide (including the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, and the Territories and possessions) for each mobile broadband transmission
technology (as specified in Technology of Transmission Codes for Mobile Wireless
Services table in Codes to Use in Data Upload Files section). The data associated with
each polygon should indicate the minimum advertised upload and download data
speeds associated with that network technology (in Mbps, with a maximum of 3 decimal
places), and the coverage area polygon should depict the boundaries where, according
to providers, users should expect to receive those advertised speeds. If a provider
advertises different minimum upload and download speeds in different areas of the
country using the same technology, then the provider should submit separate polygons
showing the coverage area for each speed. A variation in technology or speed would
require the submission of a separate polygon. If a provider does not advertise the
minimum upload and/or download data speeds, the provider must indicate the
minimum upload/download data speeds that users should expect to receive within the
polygon depicting the geographic coverage area of the deployed technology. For more
information, see Mobile Broadband Deployment Terms.
The shapefiles must be formatted in accordance with the directions provided in a
separate document, How Should I Format My Mobile Broadband Deployment Data?,
and uploaded as a .zip file to the Form 477 filing interface. A Mobile Broadband
Deployment Shapefile Template is available for download.

5.8

Mobile Broadband Subscription

Information in this section is reported by facilities-based providers of mobile wireless
broadband connections. For more information on these terms, see Who Must File This
Form? and the Glossary. Additional information can be found in a separate document,
Mobile Broadband Subscription Terms. Note that, for convenience, the terms
broadband connection and broadband subscription are used interchangeably in these
instructions.
FCC Form 477 Instructions

25

May 21, 2020

Information in this section may be submitted by uploading a delimited plain text / CSV
file or by entering data interactively one row at a time. Data for upload should be
formatted in accordance with the directions provided in a separate document, How
Should I Format My Mobile Broadband Subscription Data? To assist with uploading, a
Sample Mobile Broadband Subscription CSV File and an Excel Template are available for
download.
Report the number of connections in each state in which the subscriber’s device and
subscription permit access to lawful Internet content of the subscriber’s choice at
information transfer rates exceeding 200 kbps in at least one direction. Of the total
number of connections in each state, report the number of consumer connections. In
addition, report the minimum upload and download bandwidth/speed (in Mbps, with
up to 3 decimal places) associated with the connections in each state.
•

Consumer Connection: With respect to mobile broadband, a connection not
billed to a corporate, non-corporate business, government, or institutional
customer account.

Do not report connections in which the subscriber’s choice of content is restricted to
only customized-for-mobile content.
Include subscriptions to data plans purchased either on a standalone basis, as an add-on
feature to a voice subscription, or bundled with a voice subscription, and which provide
the ability to transfer, on a monthly basis, either a specified or an unlimited amount of
data to and from the Internet.
Include directly-billed subscribers, pre-paid subscribers, and subscribers served via
resellers.

5.9

Mobile Voice Deployment

Information in this section is reported by facilities-based mobile voice providers, as
defined in Who Must File This Form? and the Glossary. Additional information can be
found in a separate document, Mobile Voice Deployment Terms.
These Instructions reflect changes to the Mobile Broadband Deployment section that
apply to Form 477 filings as of December 31, 2019 and beyond. Instructions for earlier
filings can be found at Form 477 Instructions (through June 30, 2019).
Mobile voice providers shall submit polygons in a shapefile format representing
geographic coverage nationwide (including the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, and the Territories and possessions) for each mobile voice transmission technology
(as specified in Technology of Transmission Codes for Mobile Wireless Services table in
FCC Form 477 Instructions

26

May 21, 2020

Codes to Use in Data Upload Files section). A variation in technology would require the
submission of a separate polygon.
The shapefiles should be formatted in accordance with the instructions provided in a
separate document, How Should I Format My Mobile Voice Deployment Data?, and
uploaded as a .zip file to the Form 477 filing interface. A Mobile Voice Deployment
Shapefile Template is also available for download.

5.10 Mobile Voice Subscription
Information in this section is reported by facilities-based providers of mobile telephony
(mobile voice) service. For more information on these and other blue bolded terms used
in this section, see Who Must File This Form? and the Glossary. Additional information
can be found in a separate document, Mobile Voice Subscription Terms.
Information in this section must be entered interactively. You must fill in each box for
each record with either a positive whole number or zero.
Report the following information for each state in which you serve one or more mobile
telephony (mobile voice) subscribers using your own network facilities and spectrum for
which you hold a license, manage, or have obtained the right to use via a spectrum
leasing arrangement:
•

Subscribers: The number of mobile telephony (mobile voice) subscribers in
service—including subscribers that you (including affiliates) bill directly (including
through agents), pre-paid subscribers, and subscribers served via unaffiliated
mobile voice service resellers. Count as a subscriber a mobile handset, carphone, or other revenue-generating, active, voice unit that has a unique phone
number and that can place calls to and receive calls from the public switched
telephone network. Subscribers can be assigned to a state based on the area
code of the device’s phone number or by using some other method that best
reflects the subscriber’s location, such as billing address or place of primary use
address. Please describe the method used in the Explanations and Comments
section of the form.

•

Direct Subscribers: The number of mobile telephony (mobile voice) subscribers
in service that are directly billed or prepaid subscribers of the facilities-based
provider.

5.11 Explanations and Comments
You may include explanatory comments in the Explanations and Comments section
about any information in the filing. Additionally, we require or recommend that you
FCC Form 477 Instructions

27

May 21, 2020

provide information on the topics below if they relate to your filing. Topics marked with
an asterisk (*) require an explanation in this section.
•

Holding Company / Common Control Name. If you enter a new Holding
Company / Common Control Name on the Filer Identification page, please
provide any additional information about this new entry.

•

Form 499 Filer ID. If your company’s Form 499 Filer ID did not appear when you
tried to enter in on the Filer Identification page, please provide the correct Form
499 Filer ID in this section. The list of Form 499 Filer IDs used in the Form 477
filing interface is not updated in real-time, so if your Filer ID was issued or
updated recently, it may not be included in the list used by the interface.

•

Emergency Contact Information. If you wish to provide additional information
about your emergency contact, beyond what is included on the Filer
Identification page, please enter in this section. This could include, for example,
additional phone numbers or a back-up contact person.

•

*Satellite Providers Filing Abbreviated Fixed Broadband Deployment Data.
Satellite providers that filed abbreviated fixed broadband deployment data must
provide an explanation in this section. Specifically, satellite providers that filed a
single block record of fixed broadband deployment data for a state or group of
state in which provider’s deployment can be represented by identical records for
every block in that state or group of state, must indicate that is was their intent.
For more information, see How Should I Format My Fixed Broadband
Deployment Data?, section 4.

•

*Use of “All Other” or “Other” Technology Codes. If you used the technology
code “All Other” or “0” (see Codes to Use in Data Upload Files below) in your
fixed broadband deployment or fixed broadband subscription data, please
provide an explanation of the technology here. However, please consider that
we expect that each widely-deployed fixed broadband technology will fit into
one of the specified technology categories. If you used the “Terrestrial Mobile
Wireless – Other” or “0” code in your mobile broadband deployment or mobile
voice deployment shapefiles, please provide an explanation of the technology
here.

•

*Method for Determining the Number of Interconnected VoIP Subscriptions.
Please explain the methodology used to determine the number of
interconnected VoIP subscriptions reported in the Fixed Voice Subscription (Tract
Data) section. This number must be based on the maximum number of
interconnected VoIP calls that customers may have active – at the same time –
between their physical location and the public switched telephone network (for

FCC Form 477 Instructions

28

May 21, 2020

more information on these italicized terms, see the Glossary). The maximum
number of such calls may be set out under the terms of service agreements with
business, institutional, or government customers, or it may be determined by
some other method that best reflects customer needs and requirements. For
example, providers that market against traditional business telephone systems
should be able to estimate reliably what their customers’ requirements would be
for trunks between a traditional PBX and the telephone company.
•

*Method for Assigning Mobile Subscriptions to States. Mobile broadband and
mobile voice subscribers can be assigned to a state based on the area code or
the device’s phone number of by using some other method that best reflects the
subscriber’s locations, such as billing address or place of primary use address.
Please explain the methodology used to assign mobile broadband and mobile
voice subscribers to a state in the Mobile Broadband Subscription and Mobile
Voice Subscription sections of the form, respectively.

•

Substantial Changes. If your subscriber counts or bandwidth entries have
changed substantially from your previous submission, please provide an
explanation of those changes on this page.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

29

May 21, 2020

6. Codes to Use in Data Upload Files
The following codes are referenced in these instructions:
Table 1: Technology of Transmission Codes for Deployment of Fixed Services
Technology Code

Description

Details

10

Asymmetric xDSL

Asymmetric xDSL other than ADSL2 and
VDSL

11

ADSL2

For example: ADSL2, ADSL2+

12

VDSL

For example: VHDSL, VDSL2

20

Symmetric xDSL

For example: SDSL, HDSL2, HDSL4

30

Other Copper Wireline

All copper-wire based technologies
other than xDSL (Ethernet over copper
and T-1 are examples)

40

Cable Modem

Cable modem other than DOCSIS 1, 1.1,
2.0, 3.0 or 3.1

41

Cable Modem – DOCSIS 1, 1.1, and 2.0

42

Cable Modem – DOCSIS 3.0

43

Cable Modem – DOCSIS 3.1

50

Optical Carrier/Fiber to the End User

60

Satellite

70

Terrestrial Fixed Wireless

90

Electric Power Line

0

All Other

Fiber to the home or business end user
(does not include “fiber to the curb”)

Any specific technology not listed
above

Table 2: Technology of Transmission Codes for Subscription to Fixed Services
Technology Code

Description

Details

10

Asymmetric xDSL

20

Symmetric xDSL

For example: SDSL, HDSL2, HDSL4

30

Other Copper Wireline

All copper-wire based technologies
other than xDSL (Ethernet over copper
and T-1 are examples)

40

Cable Modem

50

Optical Carrier/Fiber to the End User

60

Satellite

70

Terrestrial Fixed Wireless

90

Electric Power Line

0

All Other

FCC Form 477 Instructions

Fiber to the home or business end user
(does not include “fiber to the curb”)

Any specific technology not listed
above

30

May 21, 2020

Table 3: Technology of Transmission Codes for Mobile Wireless Services
Technology Code

Description

Details

0

Other

83

LTE

85

CDMA-based

includes CDMA and EVDO/EVDO Rev A

86

GSM-based

includes GSM, WCDMA/UMTS/HSPA, and HSPA+

89

5G-NR

FCC Form 477 Instructions

31

May 21, 2020

7. General Information
7.1

When to File

March 1st of each year: providers must file data as of December 31 of the preceding
year.
September 1st of each year: providers must file data as of June 30 of the same year.
Note on “Holidays”: FCC rules provide that, if the filing date falls on a holiday, the
filing is due the next business day. The term “holiday” means Saturday, Sunday,
officially recognized Federal legal holidays and any other day on which the
Commission’s offices are closed and not reopened prior to 5:30 p.m. The term
“business day” means all days which are not “holidays” as defined above.

7.2

Where and How to File

FCC Form 477 must be filed electronically using the Form 477 filing interface that is
available on the Internet at the following address:
https://apps2.fcc.gov/form477/login.xhtml. (The interface also may be reached via the
“File online” link on the Form 477 Resources for Filers webpage at
http://www.fcc.gov/form477.) See Login & Main Menu and Notes on Interface
Mechanics.

7.3

Certification of Filing Accuracy

Each Form 477 submission must include, in the Filer Identification information, the
name of the official (corporate officer, managing partner, or sole proprietor) whose
signature certifies that he/she has examined the information contained in this Form 477
and that, to the best of his/her knowledge, information and belief, all statements of fact
contained in this Form 477 are true and correct. For purposes of this Form 477, the
entry of the official’s name on this line shall constitute that official’s electronic signature
to this certification. Persons making willful false statements in a Form 477 can be
punished by fine or imprisonment under the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. 220(e).

7.4

Requesting Confidentiality

Filers may submit a request that certain information in a Form 477 submission not be
made routinely available for public inspection by so indicating in the Filer Identification
information for that submission. See also 47 CFR §§ 0.457, 0.459, 1.7001(d), 43.11(c);
Examination of the Current Policy Concerning the Treatment of Confidential Information
Submitted to the Commission, GC Docket No. 96-55, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd
24816 (1998).

FCC Form 477 Instructions

32

May 21, 2020

7.5

Obligation to File Revisions

Filers must submit revised data if the filer discovers a significant error. For counts, a
difference amounting to 5% or more of the filed number is considered significant and
requires that filers submit the revised data.

7.6

Compliance

Service providers that are required to file the Form 477 but fail to do so may be subject
to enforcement action under sections 502 and 503 of the Communications Act and any
other applicable law. See 47 U.S.C. §§ 502, 503.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

33

May 21, 2020

8. Glossary
The following terms are as defined for the specific purposes of this information collection. The
filer must interpret these terms in the context of the detailed reporting instructions above.
Advertised speeds: For purposes of this form, the terms “advertised speeds” or “advertised
bandwidths” are to be distinguished from “theoretical capacity” or other engineering-based
concepts that do not represent the downstream and upstream bandwidths that the end user
reasonably may expect to receive. “Advertising” is not restricted to “on the web,” “in print,”
“by broadcast,” “in person,” or any other specific format. Among other methods, a service is
“advertised” to the end user when it is described at point of sale or when the end user is
charged at a rate associated with a particular grade of service in the end user’s area. The grade
of service may be characterized by, among other features, the downstream and upstream
bandwidths that the end user may reasonably expect to receive. (Clarification added
December 5, 2016.)
Available: For purposes of this form, broadband connections are available in a census block if
the provider does, or could, within a service interval that is typical for that type of connection—
that is, without an extraordinary commitment of resources—provision two-way data
transmission to and from the Internet with advertised speeds exceeding 200 kbps in at least
one direction to end-user premises in the census block. Clarification Notes, added September
10, 2014: (1) Companies that would rely on the ordering or installation of a not-yet leased
circuit (including unbundled network elements defined in 47 CFR § 51.319, TDM-based
connections, or packet-based connections) to provide service in a census block not currently
served should not treat that census block as having service available. (2) Dark fiber acquired
under an Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) should be considered the “owned” facilities of the
company that acquired the IRU when the dark fiber is used as part of that entity’s own system.
Broadband connections: Lines (or wireless channels) that terminate at an end-user location
and enable the end user to receive information from and/or send information to the Internet at
information-transfer rates exceeding 200 kbps in at least one direction. See 47 CFR
§1.7001(a)(1).
Competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC): An entity authorized, by the state regulatory
authority (State commission), to provide local exchange telephone service within the Study
Areas of one or more incumbent local exchange carriers in that state.
Consumer Connection: With respect to mobile broadband, a connection not billed to a
corporate, non-corporate business, government, or institutional customer account.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

34

May 21, 2020

Consumer Service Plan (or Mass Market / Consumer Service Plan): A service plan that is
designed for, marketed to, or purchased by primarily residential end users.
End user: A residential, business, institutional, or government entity that uses services for its
own purposes and does not resell such services to other entities. For the purposes of this form,
an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is not an end user of a broadband connection. See 47 CFR
§1.7001(a)(3).
End-user premises: A building, store, shop, apartment, or other structure, or group of
structures, occupied by or under the control of an end user.
Facilities-based provider: An entity is a facilities-based provider of a service if it supplies such
service using facilities that satisfy any of the following criteria:
(i)
Physical facilities that the entity owns and that terminate at the end-user premises;
(ii)
Facilities that the entity has obtained the right to use from other entities, such as
dark fiber or satellite transponder capacity as part of its own network, or has
obtained
(iii)
Unbundled network element (UNE) loops, special access lines, or other leased
facilities that the entity uses to complete terminations to the end-user premises;
(iv)
Wireless service for which the entity holds a license or that the entity manages or
has obtained the right to use via a spectrum leasing arrangement or comparable
arrangement pursuant to subpart X of this Part (47 CFR §§ 1.9001-1.9080); or
(v)
Unlicensed spectrum.
See 47 CFR §1.7001(a)(2).
(Mobile voice service resellers— including entities that have filed Lifeline Compliance Plans—
are not facilities-based providers for purposes of Form 477.)
Incumbent local exchange carrier (incumbent LEC, or ILEC): The company that was providing
telephone exchange service (local phone service) in a particular area on February 8, 1996, the
date on which the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted into law. See 47 CFR § 51.5.
In-service broadband: A connection with information-transfer rates above 200 kbps in at least
one direction that is (1) delivering Internet access service at the residential or non-residential
premises of the end user that has purchased Internet access service on a month-to-month or
longer-term basis (in-service fixed broadband), or (2) is service to a terrestrial mobile wireless
service subscriber whose device and data plan provide the ability to transfer, on a monthly
basis, either a specified or unlimited amount of data to and from lawful Internet sites of the
subscriber’s choice (in-service mobile broadband).

FCC Form 477 Instructions

35

May 21, 2020

Interconnected VoIP Service: A service that: (1) enables real-time, two-way voice
communications; (2) requires a broadband connection from the user’s location; (3) requires
Internet-protocol compatible customer premises equipment; and (4) permits users generally to
receive calls that originate on the public switched telephone network and to terminate calls to
the public switched telephone network. See 47 CFR § 9.3. Interconnected VoIP service uses IP
packet format to transmit voice calls between the end-user customer’s specialized equipment
(such as an IP telephone, IP PBX, or TDM-to-IP converter device that is attached to an ordinary
telephone or conventional PBX) and the telecommunications network. By contrast, local
exchange telephone service uses analog or Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) to transmit voice
calls between the end-user customer’s device and the public switched telephone network. Note
that some end-user customer devices (such as an IP PBX or conventional PBX) can be
configured to connect to both local exchange telephone service and interconnected VoIP
service, but the two types of service connections are distinct. A single end-user service
connection cannot be both interconnected VoIP service and local exchange telephone service
at the same time.
Interconnected VoIP Subscription: Interconnected VoIP service purchased by an end user (that
is, by an entity that does not resell the VoIP service to other entities).
Local exchange telephone service: Local exchange (local telephone) or exchange access service
that allows end users to originate and/or terminate local telephone calls on the public switched
telephone network, whether used by the end user for voice telephone calls or for other types of
calls carried over the public switched telephone network (for example, lines connected to
facsimile equipment or lines used occasionally or exclusively for dial-up connection to the
Internet). Local exchange telephone service uses analog or Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
format to transmit voice calls between the end-user customer’s device and the
telecommunications network. Commonly, the end-user device is an ordinary dial pulse or
touch-tone (wired or cordless) telephone or a conventional PBX, but the device also could be an
IP PBX to the extent that the PBX connects to TDM service at the end user’s premises. By
contrast, interconnected VoIP service requires, among other things, the end-user customer to
have specialized equipment (such as an IP telephone or a TDM-to-IP converter device attached
to an ordinary telephone), and it uses IP packet format to transmit voice calls between that
specialized equipment and the telecommunications network. Note that a single end-user
service connection cannot be both local exchange telephone service and interconnected VoIP
service at the same time.
Mobile telephony (mobile voice) service: A real-time, two-way switched voice service that is
interconnected with the public switched network using an in-network switching facility that
enables the provider to reuse frequencies and accomplish seamless handoff of subscriber calls.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

36

May 21, 2020

Mobile telephony (mobile voice) subscriber: A mobile handset, car-phone, or other revenuegenerating, active, voice unit that has a unique phone number and that can place and receive
calls from the public switched telephone network.
Over-the-top interconnected VoIP: Service delivered to the end-user customer over a highcapacity connection that the customer obtains from an entity not affiliated with the
interconnected VoIP service provider. (Colloquially, “bring-your-own-broadband.”)
Owned local exchange service line: A local exchange service line that terminate at the end
user’s premises over last-mile facilities that the filer (including affiliates) owns or has obtained
the right to use as dark fiber within its own system.
Place of Primary Use: The street address representative of where the customer’s use of the
mobile telecommunications service primarily occurs, which must be—
(a) the residential street address or the primary business street address of the customer;
and
(b) within the licensed service area of the home service provider.
See 4 U.S.C. § 124(8).
Presubscribed interstate long distance carrier: The (facilities-based or reseller) carrier to which
an interstate long distance call is routed automatically, without the use of any access code by
the end user.
Public switched telephone network: The interconnected set of telecommunications networks
that use analog or Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) format to transmit voice calls between
end-user customers and the telecommunications network. The modern public switched
telephone network frequently converts these voice calls into IP packet format for transport
within and among networks (“IP-in-the-middle”). However, such within-network format
conversion is not relevant to the definitions of—and distinction between—local exchange
telephone service and interconnected VoIP service.
Registered location: The most recent information obtained by an interconnected VoIP service
provider that identifies the physical location of an end user. See 47 CFR § 9.3.
Residential end-user premises: Residential living units (e.g., single family dwellings and
individual households in multiple dwelling units such as apartments, condominiums, mobile
home parks, etc.) and individual living units in institutional settings such as college dormitories
and nursing homes. (Clarification added March 23, 2016.)
Residential lines: Lines (Clarification added March 23, 2016: that is, local exchange telephone
service lines or interconnected VoIP service subscriptions) provided to residential end-user
FCC Form 477 Instructions

37

May 21, 2020

premises. Also includes any lines the filer provides to a shared-tenant service provider in an
apartment building or similar residential setting.
Study Area: The particular area within which an incumbent local exchange carrier was
providing local exchange telephone service (traditional local phone service) on February 8,
1996, the date on which the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted into law. See 47 CFR
§ 51.5. Each such area has a 6-digit Study Area Code (SAC). Additionally, some other voice
service providers are eligible for Universal Service Fund support and therefore have a 6digit
SAC.
UNE-Platform: The combination of loop UNE, switching UNE, and transport UNE. (UNEs are
defined in the FCC Rules. See 47 CFR § 51.319.) UNE-P no longer exists as a required
unbundling obligation.
Voice-grade equivalent (VGE): Generally, the number of DS0 (64 kbps) lines/channels in a
higher-capacity circuit. In Form 477, the VGEs in a higher-capacity circuit must be counted
according to how the end user is charged rather than on how the service is physically
provisioned.

FCC Form 477 Instructions

38

May 21, 2020

9. Disclosure, Privacy Act, Paperwork Reduction Act Notice
The Privacy Act of 1974 and the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 require that, when we ask
you for information, we must first tell you our legal right to ask for the information, why we are
asking for it, and how it will be used. We must also tell you what could happen if we do not
receive it and whether your response is voluntary, required to obtain a benefit, or mandatory
under the law. See Privacy Act of 1974, P.L. 93-579, December 31, 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a (e)(3),
and the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, P.L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. § 3501, et seq.
Our legal right to ask for this information is sections 1.7000-1.7002, 20.15, 43.01, 43.11 of the
Federal Communications Commission’s rules. 47 CFR §§ 1.7000-1.7002, 20.15, 43.01,
43.11. Your response is mandatory.
This collection of information stems from the Commission's authority under sections 1-5, 11,
201-205, 211, 215, 218-220, 251-271, 303(r), 332, 403, 502, and 503 of the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151-155, 161, 201-205, 211, 215, 218-220, 251-271,
303(r), 332, 403, 502, and 503, and section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. § 157nt. The data in the Form 477 will be used to monitor the deployment
of broadband services and the development of local telephone service competition. Summary
information derived from the form will be made available to the public in a manner consistent
with the Commission’s rules and orders.
The Commission is authorized under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to collect
the personal information we request in this form. If we believe there may be a violation or
potential violation of a statute or a Commission regulation, rule, or order, your filing may be
referred to the Federal, state, or local agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting,
enforcing, or implementing the statute, rule, regulation, or order. In certain cases, the
information in your filing may be disclosed to the Department of Justice, court, or other
adjudicative body when (a) the Commission; or (b) any employee of the Commission; or (c) the
United States government, is a party to a proceeding before the body or has an interest in the
proceeding.
Reporting entities failing to file Form 477 in a timely fashion may be subject to penalties under
the Communications Act, including sections 502 and 503(b).
We have estimated that each response to this collection of information will take approximately
348 hours per response. Our estimate includes the time to read the instructions, look through
existing records, gather and maintain the required data, and actually complete and review the
form or response. If you have any comments on this estimate, or on how we can improve the
collection and reduce the burden it causes you, please write the Federal Communications
Commission, AMD-PERM, Paperwork Reduction Project (3060-0816), Washington, DC 20554.
FCC Form 477 Instructions

39

May 21, 2020

We will also accept your comments via the Internet if you send them to pra@fcc.gov. Please
DO NOT SEND COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO THIS ADDRESS. Remember - you are not required
to respond to a collection of information sponsored by the Federal government, and the
government may not conduct or sponsor this collection, unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number or if we fail to provide you with this notice. This collection has been assigned an
OMB control number of 3060-0816.
Remember – You are not required to respond to a collection of information sponsored by the
Federal government, and the government may not conduct or sponsor this collection, unless it
displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This
collection has been assigned an OMB control number of 3060-0816.
The Commission is authorized under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to collect
the personal information we request in this form. If we believe there may be a violation or
potential violation of a statute or a Commission regulation, rule, or order, your filing may be
referred to the Federal, state, or local agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting,
enforcing, or implementing the statute, rule, regulation, or order. In certain cases, the
information in your filing may be disclosed to the Department of Justice, court, or other
adjudicative body when (a) the Commission; or (b) any employee of the Commission; or (c) the
United States government, is a party to a proceeding before the body or has an interest in the
proceeding.
Reporting entities failing to file Form 477 in a timely fashion may be subject to penalties under
the Communications Act, including sections 502 and 503(b).

FCC Form 477 Instructions

40

May 21, 2020