Funding Status
The first funding wave for FY 2011 is still expected later this month following FCC approval of USAC's PIA review procedures. Assuming no significant FCC changes, the SLD expects to fund approximately 18,000 Priority 1 applications in Wave 1. The current outlook for Priority 2 funding much below 90% is bleak.
The SLD did not issue any funding waves last week, reportedly due to system work related to the issuance of FY 2011 FCDLs, but they are set to resume this week. Wave 50 for FY 2010 is scheduled for release today, May 16th. Priority 2 funding is still being awarded at 81% and above, and denied at 79% and below.
E-Rate Updates and Reminders
Missing Item 21 Attachment Reminders:
As a follow-up to the roughly 15,500 reminders it mailed April 27th to the Form 471 contacts on FY 2011 applications that may not have included Item 21 attachments, USAC e-mailed similar reminders to the authorized signers of the same applications last week (at least for those who had included e-mail addresses).
If Item 21 attachments are not submitted for each FRN by the May 17th reminder deadline, those applications and/or FRNs are subject to denial. Applicants will be notified in these cases by PIA via "intent to deny" e-mails or faxes. Applicants receiving these notices, who believe that their attachments were filed on time, will have to document their submission. It would not be a bad idea, therefore, to confirm and/or document USAC's receipt of Item 21 attachments by submitting a query online using Submit a Question or by calling the Client Service Bureau (888-203-8100). The Client Service Bureau is doing a nice job of responding to individual requests in a timely manner.
Additional information on these reminder letters is included in an earlier newsletter and the SLD's News Brief dated April 22. One important point to note is that applicants submitting Item 21 attachments online must be careful to click the "Submit" button before exiting the program.
Text Messaging and USF Contributions:
In line with efforts to broaden the contribution base for the Universal Service Fund, the FCC is seeking comments (DA 11-853) or on USAC's request for guidance on the proper classification of text messaging revenues as telecommunications or non-telecommunications. Comments on this issue are due June 6th; reply comments are due June 20th.
The SLD's News Brief for May 13, 2011, provides additional information on the SLD's fall training sessions first announced the preceding week. As is customary, training begins in Washington DC (September 26) and then works its way around the country on a weekly basis. This year's schedule includes Newark, Minneapolis, Portland, St. Louis, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Orlando (ending November 8).