Summary of Order

Applicants “directly affected” by Hurricane Katrina are eligible to participate in an extended Funding Year 2006 application filing window that will provide additional funds to restore networks to pre-Hurricane Katrina functionality. Schools and libraries “directly affected” by Hurricane Katrina are eligible for a 90% discount on funding requests for Funding Year 2006. Schools and libraries “directly affected” by Hurricane Katrina are defined as both located in counties and parishes eligible for FEMA individual disaster assistance (see the Eligibility section of this website) and having incurred substantial damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

These schools and libraries can also request a waiver of the “Two-in-Five” rule for Internal Connections.

Audit Information

To safeguard the USF from potential program violations, all beneficiaries and service providers receiving these monies are subject to potential audit and those that receive more than $1 million will automatically be audited by the Administrator to ensure the funds are used for their intended purposes. All eligible telecommunications carriers, service providers, or beneficiaries requesting support under these temporary rules shall be subject to audit or investigation by the FCC’s Office of Inspector General (“OIG”), or other authorized federal or state governmental agency and, upon request, must make available any documentation and records necessary to verify compliance with these rules.