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Step 10: Form 486 Deadlines

USAC cannot process a payment related to a Funding Request Number (FRN) unless a properly completed Receipt of Service Confirmation Form (Form 486) has been submitted by the applicant and processed for that FRN.

The Form 486 must be postmarked no later than:

• 120 days after the Service Start Date featured on the Form 486, or
• 120 days after the date of the Funding Commitment Decision Letter, whichever is later.

Example 1.  If your Service Start Date reported on Form 486 is July 15, 2002, and your FCDL is dated March 24, 2002, then your Form 486 must be postmarked no later than 120 days after July 15, 2002, the later of the two dates.

Example 2.  If your Service Start Date reported on Form 486 is November 1, 2001, and your FCDL is dated January 25, 2002, then your Form 486 must be postmarked no later than 120 days after January 25, 2002, the later of the two dates.

If the Form 486 is postmarked after the later of the two dates cited above, the date 120 days BEFORE the Form 486 postmark date will become the changed start date for discounted services.  If the Service Start Date is adjusted by USAC, your funding commitment may be reduced to account for the reduction in service time.

To find out if your Service Start Date has been changed, review the Funding Commitment Synopsis of the Form 486 Notification Letter.  If an asterisk appears next to the Service Start Date, your Service Start Date was changed and a Service Start Date Change Explanation was provided.

To appeal the change in date and the resulting funding commitment reduction, you may do so either by appealing to USAC or to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  Information for filing an appeal can be found in Appeals Procedures. Please note the deadlines for appeals.

You are advised to keep proof of the date of mailing of your Form 486.  See Proof of Postmark or Delivery.

In general, filing a SPIN Change request or a Service Substitution request does not affect the deadlines for filing Form 486.

SPIN Change requests. If you have filed or plan to file a SPIN Change request, your Form 486 must feature the correct SPIN for the appropriate FRN(s). Generally, the correct SPIN is the new SPIN (whether the SPIN Change is corrective or operational). You must submit a copy of your SPIN Change request with your Form 486. For information on filing a SPIN Change request, see SPIN Change Guidance.

Service Substitution requests. If you have filed or plan to file a Service Substitution request, remember that your Form 486 cannot be filed before services have started. (Early filing may not apply if services cannot start until the Service Substitution request has been approved.)

• If some services on a funding request have started but others will require approval of a Service Substitution request, the Service Start Date for the services that have started will determine the deadline for filing Form 486 as defined above.
• If all services on a funding request will require approval of a Service Substitution request before services can start, the Service Start Date after the Service Substitution request has been approved will determine the deadline for filing Form 486 as defined above.

For information on filing a Service Substitution request, see Service Substitutions.

For more information on deadlines for delivery of recurring and non-recurring services, see Service Delivery Deadlines and Extension Requests.
For more information on deadlines for filing invoices, see Invoicing Deadlines and Extension Requests.