Customer Help Portal
< All Topics
Print

ACP Data Collection Updates

PostedOctober 3, 2023
UpdatedOctober 3, 2023

ACP Data Collection Updates

The ACP Transparency Data Collection System (ACP Data Collection System) is the system of record for the annual data collection of ACP service provider service plan information and subscriber metrics.  Affordable Connectivity Program transparency data collection will collect information on price, subscription rates, and plan characteristics of the internet service offerings of ACP participating providers as required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

MACC has addressed ACP reporting requirements by adding data fields to Customer Master to report on:

  1. Every broadband plan (including price) available to ACP enrollees.
  2. The number of ACP households enrolled in each.
  3. Specified plan characteristic associated with each plan.

Additionally, a new “ACP Transparency Data Collection” tool was created to assist Providers in submitting this data to the FCC.

Maintenance Tables

Maintenance | Common | USP COdes: An ACP group box was added to the FCC tab in the USP Code Editor. The data entered here represents data needed for ACP reporting.

  • Unique Plan Identifier (UPI): The Unique Plan Identifier should be exactly 26 characters and should begin with an identifier for the broadband type of the plan (“F” for fixed plans, “M” for mobile plans, “B” for both fixed and mobile plans), followed by the broadband provider’s FCC Registration Number (FRN), and ending with a provider-chosen string of exactly 15 alphanumeric characters uniquely identifying the specific plan within the broadband provider’s offerings. (Example Plan ID: F + 0001234567 + ABC123DEF456GHI = F0001234567ABC123DEF456GHI) The Unique Plan Identifier should not include special characters such as & * and %. Providers should use the FRN associated with their Broadband Data Collection filing (if applicable).
  • Broadband Service group box: A “Type” drop-down to select the Broadband Service types of:
    • Fixed
    • Mobile
    • Both
    • Download Speed: Enter the download speed for the USP.
    • Upload Speed: Enter an upload speed for the USP.
  • Mobile Technology: A description field for Mobile Technology.
  • Equipment group box: Check the equipment type(s) the user has.
    • Router
    • Modem
    • Other – If selected a Description needs to be populated. Any multiples need to be separated by a semicolon.
  • Data Cap group box: A “Type” drop-down to select the type of Data Cap for the USP:
    • 0 – No Data Cap (unlimited data)
    • 1 – Yes, Soft Data Cap (De-Prioritization)
    • 2 – Yes, Soft Data Cap (Throttling)
    • 3 – Yes, Hard Data Cap
    • 4 – Yes, Multi-Tiered Data Cap
    • 5 – Yes, Other Data Cap
    • Amount (GB): The Data Cap Amount
    • Additional Data Usage Charge: Data Cap Charge

Maintenance | Common | Bundles: An FCC tab was added to the Bundle Editor. The Affordable Connectivity Program group box contains a field to enter the “Unique Plan Identifier.” Like the USP Editor, the format of the ID for Bundles must contain:

  • F, M or B (Fixed, Mobile or Both)
  • 10-digit FRN Number
  • 15 alphanumeric characters – Example: F0001234567ABC123DEF456GHI

If the Bundle is a Static Bundle the Unique Plan Identifier can be a length of 26 characters. If the Bundle is a Selective Bundle a length of 23 characters is allowed leaving the final 3 digits for the Variant number. The field will not accept the following characters: & * and %.

Tools

Tools | Mass Processing | FCC ACP | ACP Transparency Data Collection: A new “ACP Transparency Data Collection” tool is available to create and export this required FCC report that collects information on price, subscription rates and plan characteristics of the internet service offerings of ACP participating providers. The ACP Transparency Data Collection menu item was also added to Network Suites under the Processing menu. Two tabs for the “Service Plan” and “Subscriber Metrics” are available for those applicable reports. Toolbar buttons can be used to:

  • Create New Reports:
  • View Selected Report: 
  • Create ACP File:
  • Delete selected Report:

Service Plans tab: When highlighted on the “Service Plan” tab clicking the “Create New Reports” button will open the “ACP Transparency Reports” screen with the following options:

  • Report Date: A calendar drop down to select the snapshot date. The snapshot date will always be the first day of the month and represents the last full month. Example: If the Report Date is August 1st the report results will pull data between July 1-31.
  • Options: The fields in the Options group box are disabled for Service Plans.
  • Cancel: Clicking “Cancel” will cancel any changes and return the user to the grid.
  • Create Report: Clicking “Create Report” will open the “FCC ACP Service Plans” grid, extract all Service Plans that had services in that date range, and a new report row will be added to the grid.

The “FCC ACP Service Plans” grid is editable to allow the user to add or change the information in the fields. The grid is populated with USP and Bundle information from Customer Master as well as additional ACP fields. Not all the columns are populated with data from Customer Master but are available for the user to input any additional ACP data.

Double-clicking a row will open an editor box below the row and allow the user to edit all the fields. The screen can be resized to expand and reveal all the fields for editing. Once edits are complete the “Update” button will update the changed fields and return the user to the grid. Clicking the “Export Grid” button will produce a CSV file of the data.

Subscriber Metrics tab: When highlighted on the “Subscriber Metrics” tab clicking the “Create New Reports” button will open the “ACP Transparency Reports” screen with the following options:

  • Report Date: A calendar drop-down to select the snapshot date.
  • Options: A drop-down field to select the following:
    • Unique Plan Identifier: (Pulls from the UPI assigned to USPs/Bundles)
    • SAC: (Pulls from Report Area of the tier assigned the USP code)
    • Zip Code: (Pulls from the address on the tier assigned the USP code)
  • Cancel: Clicking “Cancel” will cancel any changes and return the user to the grid.
  • Create Report: Clicking “Create Report” will open the “FCC ACP Subscriber Metrics” grid, extract a summary of the selections on the first screen, and a new report row will be added to the grid.

The grid is populated with the UPI, SAC, and Zip Code information from the first screen.

Double-clicking a row will open an editor box below the row and allow the user to edit the fields in real-time. Three group boxes allow editing of the following:

  • Subscriber Details
  • Data Cap Details
  • Subscriber Price Details

Once edits are complete clicking the “Update” button will update the changed fields, populate the “Changed Date” field, and return the user to the grid. Clicking the “Export Grid” button will produce a CSV file of the data.

Tools | Mass Processing | USP Copy: USP Mass copy tool is utilized, the new ACP information will be copied, including the Unique Plan Identifier, to the new USP codes. The existing message that appears after executing the copy lets the user know they need to review/update any new codes missing Unique Plan Identifiers for ACP. An asterisk (*) next to a USP row on the tools report indicates the USP code has a Unique Plan Identifer.

Table of Contents