Status of FY 2006 (Year 9) E-rate Funding Commitments
Message Posted August 28, 2006
Many PA applicants have been questioning why they haven't yet been funded in Funding Year 9 (2006) and it's a valid question. Here's my analysis of how widespread the problem is and the probable causes.
According to my calculations, PA has a total of 1167 separate school and library E-rate applicants, and as of August 28, 2006, only 53% of these applicants' priority 1 (telecom and internet) funding requests have been decided. Therefore approx. 550 PA applicants still have not received their Year 9 E-rate Funding Commitments.
You may recall that this year the SLD had a goal of having all Priority 1 funding requests decided by July 1, a goal they had hoped would be achieved by the increased use of PINs and the online Item 21 attachment tool. But those plans were modified when the FCC released the Bishop Perry Order, granting applicants great latitude in correcting mistakes on applications -- including applications that had already been decided. In the Order, the FCC directed the SLD to not only process 200+ appeals included in the BP decision within a few short weeks, but also to re-review all applications that were pending at the SLD for possible correctable mistakes, and process corrections from all applicants that had already been denied but that now wanted to correct their applications. All of these requirements diverted resources from the PIA review teams that were in the process of reviewing new applications.
Also, many applicants have asked me why they went through PIA review several months ago, but haven't yet received their FCDLs. The reason is because the SLD has been or will be reaching out to those applicants to give them one last chance to correct any mistakes they may have made before the FCDL is issued. After the applicant replies with any corrections, or indicating that they have no corrections, the FCDL is typically issued in the following funding wave. When you receive one of the "final chance" e-mails, don't worry or think the reviewer is being coy. We have confirmed that if the SLD has detected any errors, they will bring it to the attention of the applicant. The "final chance" e-mail is just one last chance for you to detect errors in your application… not as any indication that there are actually any errors.
Another possible reason why you haven't yet received your Year 9 FCDL is if you combined your Priority 1 and Priority 2 requests on the same Form 471. In that case, the SLD cannot issue a funding commitment for the Priority 1 funding requests until they are permitted to issue a decision on the Priority 2 funding requests. If you are in this situation, you should contact the SLD at 888-203-8100 and request to split your Form 471 into two separate applications.
Should you panic? Absolutely not. If your application was filed within the funding window, it will be processed. Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done to move your application up in the funding queue. But as soon as you are asked questions from PIA staff, you can speed-up the processing time by responding to their questions quickly. Technically, you have 15 days to respond, but I would attempt to respond within 48 hours if possible. If you're unsure how to answer a question, e-mail me!
When will Priority 2 funding be released? It's too early to say, but I'm guessing that it won't be released before November 1, 2006 (due to processing of P1 applications and also the uncertainty of demand from the special Katrina filing window that will close in October 2006). And if you're keeping track, the Year 8 (2005) Priority 2 applications are still pending for funding requests between 83% and 77%, with no word yet on whether funding will be available to fund any of those FRNs.
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at jtschell@comcast.net.
A few reminders:
-- Year 8 BEAR deadline for recurring services is October 28.
-- You may begin filing your Year 10 Forms 470 now!
-- Julie
Julie Tritt Schell
717-730-7133 - o
717-730-9060 - f
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org
Penn*link
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