SLD Releases Yr 7 (2004-2005) Demand Level to FCC
~ First Wave Likely to Arrive in Early May ~
Message Posted April 14, 2004
Last week the SLD released their demand estimates for Year 7, Funding Year
2004, and for the second straight year, demand is down from the previous
year. Demand for Yr 7 totals $4.278 billion, although this figure is likely
to be reduced as applications are unfortunately denied. The Yr 5 demand was
$5.7 billion, and Yr 6 demand was $4.7 billion. This figure, although
promising, is still well over the annual cap of $2.25 billion. Based on
prior years' demand, this figure likely indicates that
Year 7 internal connections funding will reach at least 80%, if not lower. The basic breakdown by service category, showing a total drop in each
compared with FY 2003, is provided below. A more detailed breakdown of the
SLD’s demand estimates for Yr 7 is available at
http://www.sl.universalservice.org/data/pdf/Demand%20Estimate2004.pdf.
Yr 7 (2004) Yr 6 (2003)
Telecommunications $1,273,840,843 $1,303,667,767
Internet Access 326,703,020 438,503,564
Internal Connections 2,677,816,964 2,972,817,611
Total Initial Demand $4,278,360,828 $4,717,988,941
The SLD has been working overtime to review applications and I anticipate
the first wave (a huge one) will be mailed at the beginning of May. As
always, I'll send an advance notice to you the week prior.
A special note to consortium applicants:
The SLD is reviewing consortia applications much more quickly than in
previous years and we've heard anecdotes that they are requesting random or
all copies of the consortia's Letters of Agency (LOAs), which were supposed
to be collected before the 471 was submitted. If you are a consortia leader
and you still haven't collected all of your LOAs, you should do so ASAP
because it appears that you'll be asked for them this year. Also, make
certain the LOA contains the required information, such as funding category
(internet access, telecom, etc). For complete requirements of the LOAs,
visit: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/reference/letters.asp.
Julie Tritt Schell
jtschell@comcast.net
(717) 730.7133 (voice)
(717) 730.9060 (fax)
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