Step 2 Competitive Bidding

Missing or Late Certifications

Applicants that failed to submit their form certification by the close of the filing window or submitted an incomplete certification (e.g., missing signature, missing date, or information inconsistent with the originally filed form) may submit or correct a certification as long as the form was completed and submitted in a timely manner.

FCC Form 470 Certifications

Applicants can certify the form online or on paper before Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) review of their FCC Form 471, or submit a paper certification during PIA review. If the PIA reviewer notifies the applicant that the form cited on an FCC Form 471 Block 5 funding request has not been certified, the applicant will have 15 days from that notification to submit the certification.

If you miss this deadline, funding requests that cite this uncertified FCC Form 470 will not be considered for funding.

FCC Form 471 Certifications

USAC issues a Notification of FCC Form 471 with No Certification letter if your form was submitted online before the filing window closed but it has not yet been certified. You must certify your form online or on paper within 20 days of the date on this letter.

If you miss this deadline, your application will not be considered for funding. For more information, refer to FCC Order 06-54, released May 19, 2006.

FCC Form 486 Certifications

USAC issues an FCC Form 486 Urgent Reminder letter to applicants that appear to have missed the deadline to submit and/or certify an FCC Form 486. The deadline to file an FCC Form 486 is 120 days after the date of the Funding Commitment Decision Letter or 120 days after the service start date, whichever is later.

USAC calculates the date to issue this letter based on the service start date reported on the FCC Form 471. If your actual service start date is later than the date you reported on FCC Form 471, your deadline may not have passed. In this case, you have the responsibility to calculate and meet your actual deadline, as USAC will not issue a second reminder letter.

Applicants have 20 days from the date of the notification to submit and certify an FCC Form 486 online or on paper with no penalty (if the service start date reported on the FCC Form 471 was the actual service start date).

If you miss this deadline, USAC will adjust your service start date to a date 120 days before the date you certified your form, and your funding commitment may be reduced to reflect the reduction in service time.

For more information, refer to Order DA 06-1871, released September 14, 2006.