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Minutes from the Wednesday Service Provider Conference Call
February 26, 2003

WAVE 23 TO BE ISSUED ON MARCH 3, 2003

Letters for Wave 23 will be issued on March 3, 2003, one week later than the usually scheduled date. We decided to issue the wave after March 1, 2003 to allow applicants to take advantage of the automatic one-year extension to September 30, 2004 for delivery and/or receipt of non-recurring services. Waves will now return to the regular schedule.

FCC OPENS COMMENT PERIOD ON FORM 498

The Service Provider Identification Number and Contact Form, FCC Form 498, is filed to obtain a SPIN and to update or change contact and remittance information. You can access the FCC’s Notice on proposed revisions to the form in the February 19, 2003 Federal Register, Volume 68, No. 33, page 8019.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS ON E-NOTIFICATION

For those of you who currently receive or would like to receive e-notifications of the data contained in certain letters (RALs, FCDLs, Form 486 Notification Letters and Form 500 Notification Letters), we are considering a transition to the elimination of the duplicate paper copies of these e-notifications. We are also soliciting comments from those service providers currently using e-notification and e-invoicing. Specifically, we would like to know of any strengths or weaknesses in the current system. If you have comments, please send an e-mail to the serviceprovider e-mail address. In addition, as part of this proposed transition, we will be communicating with those service providers whom we feel will benefit the most from this.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q

Do you think you will hit your March 10, 2003 goal for issuing FY2002 commitments?

A

So far we are still on schedule to meet our goal. Remember, however, that certain categories of applications are excluded from that goal — specifically, those with policy issues or those for which we are waiting for additional information.
   

Q

We haven’t received payments for the last three months. Is SLD experiencing any problems?

A 

It can take up to 90 days to process the payment files. If you have waited longer than 90 days, please send an e-mail with the details of your invoice(s) to the service provider e-mail address and we will investigate.

 

 

Q

Are you still aiming for appeals turnaround time to be 90 days?

A

Our goal is to reduce the age of appeals to 90 days by April 15, 2003, except for appeals that involve unresolved policy issues. We are still working hard to meet that goal.

 

 

Q 

When do you anticipate Funding Year 2003 FCDLs will start flowing?

A

We do not have an exact date yet, but our PIA team is hard at work reviewing those applications.

 

 

Q

If a Form 471 was postmarked after the close of the window, when it will be considered? Does it matter if that Form 471 contained Priority 1 services only?

A

All Forms 471 received or postmarked on or before the close of the Form 471 filing window will be considered as if they were simultaneously received. Forms 471 received or postmarked after the close of the window will be considered only if funds remain after all in-window Forms 471 have been considered, even if those out-of-window forms request only Priority 1 services.

 

 

Q  

Do you have any information on the NPRM?

A

The comment period is closed; however, the FCC will still accept comments. No orders have been released on issues raised in the NPRM since the First Order released on June 13, 2002, which provided for rollover of unused funds.

 

 

Q

How do we handle SPINs if we have undergone a merger or acquisition?

A

Follow the SPIN Change Guidance posted on our web site.

 

 
  Content Last Modified: May 1, 2003