Funding Status
SLD staff reported in calls with stakeholder groups last week that the first wave of FY 2012 has been delayed as they work through system issues and seek FCC approval to run the wave. June 17th is the target date to run the wave, which will include Priority 1 services only. The Funding Commitment Decision Letters would be dated a week after the wave is actually run. During the delay period, applications are being reviewed and there is a large volume of applications ready to go. Because of the expected volume of the wave, it may take longer than usual to stuff the envelopes, but funded applicants are expected to receive the letters by the end of this month. The online Form 486 should be available when the wave is issued, which will be important for applicants who are eager to begin discounted billing at the beginning of the funding year. As discussed in our newsletter of April 30th, USAC's preliminary estimate of FY 2012 demand showed a total increase of 21.5% over the comparable figure for FY 2011. At this level, funding for Priority 2 may not be fully available even at 90%. SLD staff do not expect to know what will be done about P2 funding for FY 2012 for several months.
Wave 48 for FY 2011 will be released on Tuesday, June 12th, for $6.4 million. Cumulative funding for FY 2011 is $2.21 billion. This wave will include Priority 2 funding for FY 2011 at the 90% level. Priority 2 funding is being denied at 79% and below.
Wave 96 for FY 2010 is scheduled for release on Wednesday, June 13th. It will be another small wave – a total of $3.06 million for 16 applicants. SLD staff have reported that FY 2010 is "just about wrapped up." As always, some applications linger because of various issues, for example, those that require action by FCC.
E-Rate Updates and Reminders
FCC Appeal Decisions Watch:
The FCC issued one appeal decision (DA 12-894) last week granting waivers for 12 petitioners seeking the reversal of USAC denials or funding reductions because the applicant failed to timely submit its FCC Form 486.
Tech Plan and CIPA Deadline Reminders:
With less than a month remaining before the start of FY 2012, school applicants for services other than pure telecommunications are reminded that their Internet safety policies must be updated to include a component regarding the education of minors about appropriate online behavior (including cyberbullying). Priority 2 applicants with technology plan approvals expiring June 30, 2012, need to have updated plans approved by the start of the coming year. Additional information on these deadlines is available in our newsletter of April 23rd.
SLD System Problems:
The SLD is still working to resolve some outstanding problems with the DRT and the Form 486 notification process. Certain large FY 2012 applications, categorized as "statewide," are still not in the DRT, but SLD staff expect that all applications certified in window will appear this week. Also, the database is to be refreshed so that the remaining applications that were certified by the May 9th deadline will appear in the DRT. In the meantime, those applications are being reviewed. Some earlier-year applications for which FCDLs have been issued may also not be currently appearing in the DRT.
Please note that E-Rate Central's funding history tools, which rely on the DRT, will also be missing some data until the SLD's system problems are resolved.
Schools and Libraries News Brief Dated June 8 – Service Provider Summer Tips
The SLD's News Brief for June 1, 2012, provided tips to applicants seeking to speed application and invoice processing over the summer. The News Brief for June 8, 2012, provides tips for service providers:
- Monitor the progress of any paper forms you submit to USAC (for example, Form 473, the Service Provider Annual Certification (SPAC) form, and Form 474, the Service Provider Invoice (SPI) form).
- Complete your activities related to billing customers and invoicing USAC for any remaining FY 2011 recurring services.
- Assist applicants with responses to PIA review questions if asked.
- Review USAC's Web site for posted FCC Forms 470.
- Label and file program-related documents.
- Consider attending applicant training in the fall.