US:PA-4: FCC 3rd Universal Service Order: Priority for Schools and Libraries

FCC 3rd Universal Service Order: Priority for Schools and Libraries

Gene Hastings (hastings@info-ren.org)
Fri, 17 Oct 1997 10:27:34 -0400 

>Date:         Thu, 16 Oct 1997 21:27:03 -0400
>From: Robert Cannon <cannon@DC.NET>
>Subject:  FCC 3rd Universal Service Order:  Priority for Schools and Libraries
>To: CYBERTELECOM-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
>
>On October 14, 1997, the FCC released the Third Report and Order in the
>Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service Proceeding.
><http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Orders/1997/fcc97380.html> This
>short order revises the rules for the school and library universal service
>fund.  The Fund contains $2.25 Billion and while the FCC does not believe
>that it is possible that this Fund will be exhausted, it acknowledges that
>it is conceivable.  If the situation arises that there is only $250 Million
>left in the Fund, a priority system will go into place.  Schools and
>libraries in the two most disadvantaged categories will be honored first.
>If funds are left over, the rest of the applications will be honored on a
>first come / first serve basis.
>
>The October 14, 1997, Order addresses the priority system.  According to the
>Order, when the Fund first starts to accept applications, there will be a
>window period that would give equal priority to all schools, libraries, and
>rural health care applicants filing for funds within that period.  All
>applications filed during the window will be treated as if simultaneously
>received.  The length of the window must be determined by the School and
>Library Fund Administrator and must be announced by October 31, 1997.  The
>Universal Service Fund Administrator is expected to start accepting
>applications in mid November.
>
>The FCC also clarified that an entity's priority is set by the date on which
>the entity submits a negotiated contract to the Fund Administrator for
>commitment of funds (FCC Form 471), and not the date on which the entity
>first submits its technology plan for four weeks of competitive bidding (FCC
>Form 470).
>
>For more information on how ISPs can take advantage of the Universal Service
>Fund for Schools and Libraries, see http://www.cais.net/cannon/
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Robert Cannon, Esq.            ||      Leashes!
>cannon@dc.net            \     @@==*   We Dont Need No
>www.cais.net/cannon       ======       Stinkin' Leashes!
>                          ||  ||          -Pancho Villa
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>