Billing Questions

What do I do if I forgot my portal password, or if I try to log in to the portal, and receive an “invalid login” message?

Use the “Forgot Password” option:

• Select forgot password, and enter your email address associated with the portal account.

• You will then receive an email from the website with a link to reset your password. If you do not see the message within 60 minutes, please check your spam/junk folder to ensure it was not delivered to that location.

• If you are unsure of which email address is linked to your portal account, please submit a ticket to the TRS Contributor Service Portal requesting a password reset.

• Once you reset your password, you will be able to log into the portal with the new password.

After I update the bank account information within the portal, will the Interstate TRS Fund automatically debit my account, or is there another step?

After you save your banking information, you will need to select the invoice you are intending to pay under the correct account. Select “Make Payment” to proceed. After you have made the payment, you will see the invoice status change from open to pending. After the payment has been applied, the invoice will show as paid.

Why do we receive a notification from the TRS Fund that our invoice is available on the portal instead of receiving it via USPS?

Rolka Loube recognizes that your company may be used to receiving Interstate TRS Fund invoices through USPS. We have set up a modern electronic portal which will notify you via email when a new invoice has been posted. Please contact Rolka Loube if you need to discuss the delivery of invoices.

Through this system:

• You will be able to receive your invoice much faster than USPS can deliver it.

• You can print your invoice if and when you would like.

• The time between receiving the TRS invoice and the due date are greatly expanded using this portal.

• You can review unpaid and paid invoices.

• You can make a last minute payment that will be considered on time if it is authorized by 5:00 p.m. on the day it’s due, rather than hoping your USPS check payment arrives by noon (banking deadline to receive and process a payment) that day.

• The expense your company experiences (for the check stock, envelope, mailing, and handling costs) is reduced or eliminated.

• Copies of the invoice can be distributed more widely at reduced expense in less time.

• Rolka Loube can keep your contact information up-to-date more quickly.

For payments authorized through the portal, what is the ACH originator information we would expect to see on our account?

You will see the following information:

• Your name

• Your ID

• INTERSTATE TRS

• Your account number

I authorized an ACH debit payment through the portal. The receipt that I received says “Status – Open and Payment Status – Payment Authorized”, but our payment has not come out of our account yet. Is there something wrong?

Payments are posted in our network first, and then our files go to the bank. It may take up to five days for the amount to be deducted from your bank account. Your payment is considered paid at the time of the authorization, not the date/time that it comes out of your account.

How are accounts grouped within the portal?

Accounts can be grouped together where there is a match of contact information, namely the email address, provided to USAC through one of the following:

• Filing Form 499-A

• Filing an Alternative Billing Arrangements Form with USAC

• Other means acceptable to USAC, including emailing form499@usac.org

Once the accounts have been grouped, the individual filer accounts set up within the portal will no longer receive new invoices. Group credentials will provide access to all of the grouped filer invoices from that point forward. Individuals associated with the individual filers will still receive notifications that an invoice has been added to the Interstate TRS Fund Administration Portal, but unless they are given the group login credentials by the group’s primary contact, they won’t be able to access those invoices. Rolka Loube will not give the group credentials to anyone other than the group’s primary contact.

499-A Form Questions

How is the Interstate TRS Fund assessment calculated?

The assessment is calculated based on the 499-A data that is due to USAC by April 1st. To find your annual assessment for the billing year, the calculations are as follows:

Line 514(b) x [Program Year Assessment Rate] = The Annual Assessment Rate

What changes cause the assessment to be higher than in previous years, other than the amount reported on the 499-A form? 

The assessment rate changes each year. Contemporary rate information can be found here.

Why does a company’s contribution calculation include international revenues?

See the filing instructions for the 499-A form on USAC’s website: http://www.usac.org/cont/tools/forms/default.aspx. There are sections on jurisdiction, contribution calculations, and many references to the laws and rules that support the calculation determined by the FCC.

What is the penalty for filing a late 499-A form?

All companies are subject to late filing sanctions regarding the Form 499-A, as it is a required filing regardless of de minimis status. If a TRS Fund contributor is more than 30 days late (i.e. delinquent) in filing a Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet (“Worksheet”) Form 499-A, the Administrator may assess an administrative remedial charge for reasonable administrative expenses resulting from improper filing or failure to file, as well as interest on overdue contributions. The minimum administratively imposed remedial charge imposed for failure to timely submit a Worksheet is $100. The Commission may also pursue enforcement action against delinquent contributors and late filers as well as assess costs for collection activities, in addition to those imposed by the Administrator.

Our 499-A form was filed on time, but we have been assessed a late filing charge. Why?

As the Interstate TRS Fund administrator, RolkaLoube receives filing data from USAC. If we have assessed a late filing penalty, but your company’s filing was timely, contact USAC to have them correct the data they have provided to us. RolkaLoube can only adjust your account after USAC corrects the data. USAC can be reached at 888-641-8722 or form499@usac.org.

Where can I find FCC Form 499-A information?

You can find Form 499-A information on USAC’s website at http://www.usac.org/cont/tools/forms/default.aspx.

Service Provider Questions

When can a service provider first submit a request for reimbursement from the Interstate TRS Fund?

Service providers can submit the first request for reimbursement 30 days after Rolka Loube receives 1) notice of participation and 2) if a VRS provider, a call center list. For example, if Rolka Loube receives the form(s) on December 31st, Rolka Loube cannot accept the service provider’s first request for reimbursement until January 30th. In this case, the deadline to submit for January service would be the 10th business day of February. If the reimbursement request made the filing deadline, it would be considered for reimbursement on the March payment schedule. If the reimbursement request missed the filing deadline, it would be delayed for reimbursement.

How does a company get access to the Extranet?

The Interstate TRS Fund Extranet is only for registered TRS service providers, not telecommunications carriers. To gain access to the Extranet, click here for the form needed to register. Providers will also need to acquire an FCC Registration Number (FRN), which may require a separate registration process with the FCC. See https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do for details.

What happens when a service provider misses the filing due date? 

Requests for reimbursement that are uploaded to the Extranet after the 10th business day following the end of a month will only be considered for reimbursement if they are made within four and a half months of the services having been provided. Reimbursements for late filings will not be made according to the prescribed payment schedule.

Does the Fund reimburse providers for all IP calls?

Not all IP calls are compensable. There are a number of criteria used to determine if a call is compensable or not.  For example, the Commission does not allow for compensation for IP Relay calls that originate or terminate outside the United States. See Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Order 19 FC Rcd 12224, 12242, at ¶ 48, n.121(2004).

Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

Questions can be directed to RolkaLoube’s Customer Service Team at 717-585-6605, Option #2 or acoby@rolkaloube.com.